Higher Physical Activity of School Personnel Is Related to More Positive Attitudes towards Children’s Physical Activity at School

Getter Marie Lemberg, Merike Kull, Katrin Mägi, Henri Tilga, Kerli Mooses and Evelin Mäestu
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Getter Marie Lemberg: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 51008 Tartu, Estonia
Merike Kull: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 51008 Tartu, Estonia
Katrin Mägi: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 51008 Tartu, Estonia
Henri Tilga: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 51008 Tartu, Estonia
Kerli Mooses: Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
Evelin Mäestu: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 51008 Tartu, Estonia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: School personnel can struggle with meeting the daily physical activity recommendation; however, they are role models for students, and their attitudes towards physical activity can impact students’ physical activity habits. The aim was to assess school personnel’s physical activity and their attitudes regarding the importance of physical activity among students. The physical activity levels of 1030 school employees in Estonia were assessed using an accelerometer. Participants also responded to a questionnaire about physical activity habits, overall health, and attitudes about the importance of physical activity among students. About 92.6% of the participants met the World Health Organisation’s weekly physical activity recommendation. However, 69.1% of the accelerometer wearing time was spent being sedentary. Only 5.8% of the wearing time was spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity. More active school personnel believed their lead affects students’ attitudes towards physical activity (r = 0.072–0.156, p < 0.05) and being active at recess facilitates a peaceful learning environment in the classroom (r = 0.064–0.072, p < 0.05). Whereas more sedentary school personnel did not encourage students to be active at recess (r = −0.073, p < 0.05). More active school personnel had more positive attitudes towards physical activity, which demonstrates the importance of focusing on encouraging physical activity among school personnel as they can affect the behaviour of students.

Keywords: physical activity; teachers; school personnel; accelerometers; attitude (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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