Health and Wellness

Regular physical activity has many documented health benefits for young people [3,19]. Yet rates of physical activity among youth are low. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data indicates that 64% of U.S. students participated in vigorous physical activity, three or more days a week for more than 20 minutes [8]. The National Children and Youth Fitness Study found that minutes of physical activity declined sharply between grades 9 and 12 [18]. Biddle found that 48 % of adolescents are physically active at least 60 minutes per day [6]. In a study that assessed exercise intensity, Petosa et al. surveyed 1200 students in grades 5 ± 11 and found only 15% participated in aerobic activity. Most important, this study reported an increase in frequency of students who report no bouts of physical activity from 61% to 81% between the 5th and 11th grades [16]. Collectively, these studies suggest that frequency of physical activity among youth: are low, vary by method of assessment, and decrease during high school years. Because the adolescent years are characterized by a significant decline in physical activity, the study of physical activity during this stage of life is critical. Research is needed to examine the factors related to adolescent physical activity participation. Moreover, it is vital that the relationships between theoretical variables and physical activity behavior be clarified [4]. This information would support development of evidence-based models of physical activity. Empirically verified, theoretically based models can serve as a guide to the development of interventions to enhance physical activity rates among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships between Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) variables and days of physical activity in a sample of high school students from a small, mid

Law enforcement can be a physically and mentally demanding occupation. It is well known that health and fitness is highly related to job performance, career longevity and safety. There is insufficient research on the development of higher education-based coursework in criminal justice programs that emphasize the development of healthful behavior patterns and physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to determine if successful completion of a 14-week health education and fitness training course would increase participants’ physical fitness and capabilities to perform essential physical fitness tasks needed for a career in law enforcement. Fifty-one college students participated in a health promotion program that included multiple components of wellness such as physical fitness, exercise principles, healthy eating behaviors, goal setting and stress management. Results indicated that a college-based health promotion course can successfully prepare physically fit and police academ...

PURPOSE: In general, teachers who are highly satisfied are more motivated teachers and positively affect health and student learning to improve academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to provide national-level data with regard to teachers’ attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs related to teaching, job satisfaction, and working environment. Findings were compared to health teachers due to their specific knowledge related to health and academics and their potential leadership roles when implementing the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. METHODS: Data reported for this study were extracted from the most recent Schools and Staffing Survey, a comprehensive nationally representative survey of school employees conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to identify health education teachers’ attitudes toward teaching, job satisfaction, and the working environment as compared to all other teachers. RESULTS: H...

One of the primary goals of most teacher education programs is to help students make a connection between the body of knowledge and research which encompasses learning theory, pedagogy and realities of the classroom. Another goal, a complement to the first, is to provide schools with the type of candidate they need and assist students in finding teaching jobs. Analysis of the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Schools and Staffing Survey and Teacher Follow-up Survey Questionnaires 1990-91 (1994) indicated that overall level of satisfaction with teachers as reported by school administrators was fairly high. About 32 percent of public school administrators and 45 percent of private administrators rated theft teaching staff as "excellent" on a 5 point Likert type scale (Roden & Cardina, 1995). However, when asked to rate the quality of newly hired teachers (three or fewer years experience) teachers, only 23 percent of the public school administrators and 19 per...

PURPOSE: In general, teachers who are highly satisfied are more motivated teachers and positively affect health and student learning to improve academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to provide national-level data with regard to teachers' attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs related to teaching, job satisfaction, and working environment. Findings were compared to health teachers due to their specific knowledge related to health and academics and their potential leadership roles when implementing the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. METHODS: Data reported for this study were extracted from the most recent Schools and Staffing Survey, a comprehensive nationally representative survey of school employees conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to identify health education teachers' attitudes toward teaching, job satisfaction, and the working environment as compared to all other teachers. RE...