Development of Primary School Teachers’ Competences in Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle and Well-Being in Children Aged 6 to 12

Abstract

Primary school teachers are one of the largest professional groups in education. Their competences cover a wide range of knowledge, abilities, and skills. However, the curricula for teacher education rarely contain topics related to children’s health and lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into the role of primary school teachers in supporting a healthy lifestyle and the well-being of children. A systematic literature review with meta-analysis was implemented on a sample of N = 37 studies. The results showed that teachers have a significant role in strengthening physical and mental health in schoolchildren aged between 6 to 12. School-based mental health promotion programs were statistically significantly more often implemented by primary school teachers undergoing special training for program implementation (p = .025). In their early school years, children are susceptible to establishing a longterm healthy lifestyle. Hence, the development of health promotion competences should be a priority in the curriculum of teacher education.