The Importance of School Leaders’ Attitudes and Health Literacy to the Implementation of a Health-Promoting Schools Approach

Betschart, Simona; Sandmeier, Anita; Skedsmo, Guri; Hascher, Tina; Okan, Orkan; Dadaczynski, Kevin

doi:10.3390/ijerph192214829

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 65 publications

(114 reference statements)

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“…The majority of senior leaders in this study reported low well-being, lower than the general adult population pre-pandemic [ 60 ] and COVID-HL international study data from Hong Kong [ 33 , 34 ] and Switzerland [ 35 ]. Elsewhere, reports from 2020 to 2022 suggest negative impacts of the sustained work-related pressures on senior leaders’ well-being and mental health [ 20 , 61 , 62 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The well-being and work-related stress of senior school leaders in Wales and Northern Ireland during COVID-19 “educational leadership crisis”: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Marchant,

Dowd,

Bray

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The COVID-19 pandemic caused far-reaching societal changes, including significant educational impacts affecting over 1.6 billion pupils and 100 million education practitioners globally. Senior school leaders were at the forefront and were exposed to particularly high demands during a period of “crisis leadership”. This occupation were already reporting high work-related stress and large numbers leaving the profession preceding COVID-19. This cross-sectional descriptive study through the international COVID-Health Literacy network aimed to examine the well-being and work-related stress of senior school leaders (n = 323) in Wales (n = 172) and Northern Ireland (n = 151) during COVID-19 (2021–2022). Findings suggest that senior school leaders reported high workloads (54.22±11.30 hours/week), low well-being (65.2% n = 202, mean WHO-5 40.85±21.57), depressive symptoms (WHO-5 34.8% n = 108) and high work-related stress (PSS-10: 29.91±4.92). High exhaustion (BAT: high/very high 89.0% n = 285) and specific psychosomatic complaints (experiencing muscle pain 48.2% n = 151) were also reported, and females had statistically higher outcomes in these areas. School leaders were engaging in self-endangering working behaviours; 74.7% (n = 239) gave up leisure activities in favour of work and 63.4% (n = 202) sacrificed sufficient sleep, which was statistically higher for females. These findings are concerning given that the UK is currently experiencing a “crisis” in educational leadership against a backdrop of pandemic-related pressures. Senior leaders’ high attrition rates further exacerbate this, proving costly to educational systems and placing additional financial and other pressures on educational settings and policy response. This has implications for senior leaders and pupil-level outcomes including health, well-being and educational attainment, requiring urgent tailored and targeted support from the education and health sectors. This is particularly pertinent for Wales and Northern Ireland as devolved nations in the UK, who are both implementing or contemplating major education system level reforms, including new statutory national curricula, requiring significant leadership, engagement and ownership from the education profession.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The well-being and work-related stress of senior school leaders in Wales and Northern Ireland during COVID-19 “educational leadership crisis”: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Marchant,

Dowd,

Bray

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

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“…The HL for “understanding” (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.7; 3.0) and “applying” (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.7; 3.0) was significantly associated with HPS-principles. As Betschart et al [ 48 ] indicated, attitudes toward health promotion amplified the positive relationship between HL and HPS approach. Specifically, when positive attitudes and understanding toward health promotion occurs, school principals’ HL is significantly associated with HPS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between Polish school principals’ health literacy and implementation of the Health Promoting School approach during the COVID-19 pandemic

Leksy,

Gawron,

Rosário

2024

PLoS ONE

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The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to increasing the responsibility of school principals for the health of all school community members. Moreover, evidence confirms the significant role of school principals’ health literacy (HL) for health promotion in schools. Therefore, the presented study aims to evaluate the associations between Polish school principals HL and the implementation of the Health Promoting School (HPS) approach in Polish schools. The present study was conducted as part of an international survey on the global COVID-HL network (www.covid-hl.eu) between June 2021 and December 2021. Three subscales of the HPS were considered and an exploratory analysis were used in this study. Associations between the median split of each subscale of HPS (outcome) and health literacy (predictor) were performed using logistic regression. Research results showed that the highest level of HPS implementation was directed at pupils. Principals perceived themselves as having the highest HL on the ‘accessibility’ subscale and these respondents had significantly higher odds of implementing learning opportunities for students. The study suggests that principals with adequate HL may be more likely to effectively implement HPS strategies in schools. This research could provide insights into the complex interplay between HL and the HPS approach and inform the development of more effective strategies for promoting health and HL in schools.

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“…Improving job satisfaction can make a significant contribution to promoting teachers' health (Faragher et al, 2005). Studies showed that the attitudes of school leaders in particular played a decisive role in health promotion programs (Betschart et al, 2022).…”

Section: Conclusion and Practical Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of job satisfaction among teachers in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: cross-sectional results of a nationwide online questionnaire

et al. 2023

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IntroductionDuring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic teaching was changed several times to distance learning. To consider the associated stresses and challenges for teachers a nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in March 2021 in which N = 31,089 teachers from Germany participated.MethodsA multiple linear regression model with stepwise inclusion of thematically sorted variables (sociodemographic, SARS-CoV-2- and work-related variables) was used to identify relevant predictors of job satisfaction.ResultsThe analysis revealed that work-related variables were significant predictors of job satisfaction. In the third regression model, when all variables are included the adjusted R2 was 0.364. Overall, the results showed that, e.g., work predictability (b = 0.097), influence at work (b = 0.118), and meaning of work (b = 0.212) increased job satisfaction. In contrast, increased emotional exhaustion (b = −0.016), feelings of unfair treatment (b = −0.048), and work family conflicts (b = −0.154) deteriorated job satisfaction.DiscussionThe results indicate that future research should focus especially the work-related topics in more detail and that job satisfaction is a useful concept for analyzing working conditions from a public health point of view.

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The Importance of School Leaders’ Attitudes and Health Literacy to the Implementation of a Health-Promoting Schools Approach

Cited by 12 publications

References 65 publications

The well-being and work-related stress of senior school leaders in Wales and Northern Ireland during COVID-19 “educational leadership crisis”: A cross-sectional descriptive study

The well-being and work-related stress of senior school leaders in Wales and Northern Ireland during COVID-19 “educational leadership crisis”: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Associations between Polish school principals’ health literacy and implementation of the Health Promoting School approach during the COVID-19 pandemic

Predictors of job satisfaction among teachers in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: cross-sectional results of a nationwide online questionnaire

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