Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals
Introduction Currently, about 2% of the European working population (~5 million people) are teachers, who are a characterized occupational group with various roles as educators, partners, counselors, social directors, professional managers, and political theorists. Teachers’ health has a remarkable...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Swansea University
2022-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Population Data Science |
| Online Access: | https://ijpds.org/article/view/1747 |
| _version_ | 1827613303532158976 |
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| author | Derrick R. Tanous Mohamad Motevalli Katharina Wirnitzer |
| author_facet | Derrick R. Tanous Mohamad Motevalli Katharina Wirnitzer |
| author_sort | Derrick R. Tanous |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Currently, about 2% of the European working population (~5 million people) are teachers, who are a characterized occupational group with various roles as educators, partners, counselors, social directors, professional managers, and political theorists. Teachers’ health has a remarkable effect on teaching quality, and consequently, on the success of students of future generations. Public and occupational health are highly related to lifestyle behaviors (including diet type and PA); however, little is known regarding lifestyle patterns in different groups of teachers, particularly males and females. This study aimed to investigate sex differences in health/lifestyle behaviors of Austrian secondary-level teachers and school principals.
Methods
This cross-sectional and multidisciplinary study is a part of the bigger Austrian-wide research project From Science 2 School (www.science2.school/en; supported by Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research). A sample size of 89,243 teachers and principals from 2,554 secondary schools (level I & II) were invited to participate, and a total number of 1,350 teachers and principals (1.5% of eligible Austrian participants; aged 45.8±11.4; 69.7% females) completed an online survey. In addition to sociodemographic information, a complete profile of lifestyle behaviors (e.g., diet type: omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan; nutritional patterns; exercise and sports activities; smoking habits; and alcohol consumption) was evaluated.
Findings
Male teachers were 2.1 years older than females (p<0.01). While there was no sex difference in leisure-time sports participation (p>0.05), males engaged in club sports more than females (39.1% vs. 24.9%; p<0.01). The frequency of sports/exercise engagement was higher in males compared to females (3.1 ± 1.5 vs. 2.9 ± 1.4; p=0.02). Omnivorous diet was significantly more common in male teachers (93.9% vs. 87.2%; p<0.01), while a vegetarian diet was significantly more prevalent in females compared to male teachers (9.8% vs. 3.4%; p<0.01). There was no significant difference between male and female teachers in the prevalence of vegan diet (p>0.05).
Conclusion
Despite some differences in lifestyle components between females and males, teachers in both sexes appeared to have a healthier lifestyle compared to general populations reported by similar investigations. This finding might be associated with the higher educational level of teachers, particularly their improved individual capabilities (including knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and qualifications) and social advantages (e.g., networks, general living conditions) to implement toward scientifically well-accepted healthy behaviors. This study can serve as a starting point for future health-related interventions focusing on sex differences in the dual approach of “healthy eating – active living” considered the practical recommendation to achieve sustainable health.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:37:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ffbfb2db30d433db9994df1b80d1ab6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-4908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:37:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Swansea University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Population Data Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ffbfb2db30d433db9994df1b80d1ab62023-12-02T17:48:47ZengSwansea UniversityInternational Journal of Population Data Science2399-49082022-03-017210.23889/ijpds.v7i2.1747Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School PrincipalsDerrick R. Tanous0Mohamad Motevalli1Katharina Wirnitzer2Department of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Subject Didactics and Educational Research and Development, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Subject Didactics and Educational Research and Development, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Subject Didactics and Educational Research and Development, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, Austria Introduction Currently, about 2% of the European working population (~5 million people) are teachers, who are a characterized occupational group with various roles as educators, partners, counselors, social directors, professional managers, and political theorists. Teachers’ health has a remarkable effect on teaching quality, and consequently, on the success of students of future generations. Public and occupational health are highly related to lifestyle behaviors (including diet type and PA); however, little is known regarding lifestyle patterns in different groups of teachers, particularly males and females. This study aimed to investigate sex differences in health/lifestyle behaviors of Austrian secondary-level teachers and school principals. Methods This cross-sectional and multidisciplinary study is a part of the bigger Austrian-wide research project From Science 2 School (www.science2.school/en; supported by Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research). A sample size of 89,243 teachers and principals from 2,554 secondary schools (level I & II) were invited to participate, and a total number of 1,350 teachers and principals (1.5% of eligible Austrian participants; aged 45.8±11.4; 69.7% females) completed an online survey. In addition to sociodemographic information, a complete profile of lifestyle behaviors (e.g., diet type: omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan; nutritional patterns; exercise and sports activities; smoking habits; and alcohol consumption) was evaluated. Findings Male teachers were 2.1 years older than females (p<0.01). While there was no sex difference in leisure-time sports participation (p>0.05), males engaged in club sports more than females (39.1% vs. 24.9%; p<0.01). The frequency of sports/exercise engagement was higher in males compared to females (3.1 ± 1.5 vs. 2.9 ± 1.4; p=0.02). Omnivorous diet was significantly more common in male teachers (93.9% vs. 87.2%; p<0.01), while a vegetarian diet was significantly more prevalent in females compared to male teachers (9.8% vs. 3.4%; p<0.01). There was no significant difference between male and female teachers in the prevalence of vegan diet (p>0.05). Conclusion Despite some differences in lifestyle components between females and males, teachers in both sexes appeared to have a healthier lifestyle compared to general populations reported by similar investigations. This finding might be associated with the higher educational level of teachers, particularly their improved individual capabilities (including knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and qualifications) and social advantages (e.g., networks, general living conditions) to implement toward scientifically well-accepted healthy behaviors. This study can serve as a starting point for future health-related interventions focusing on sex differences in the dual approach of “healthy eating – active living” considered the practical recommendation to achieve sustainable health. https://ijpds.org/article/view/1747 |
| spellingShingle | Derrick R. Tanous Mohamad Motevalli Katharina Wirnitzer Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals International Journal of Population Data Science |
| title | Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals |
| title_full | Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals |
| title_fullStr | Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals |
| title_short | Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals |
| title_sort | sex differences in health behaviors of austrian teachers and school principals |
| url | https://ijpds.org/article/view/1747 |
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