Levels of wellbeing, resilience, and physical activity amongst Irish pre-service teachers: a baseline study. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O' Brien, Niamh; Lawlor, Martin; Chambers, Fiona; Breslin, Gavin; O' Brien, Wesley
• Is Part Of: Irish educational studies. Volume 39:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 389
• Page End: 406
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: wellbeing -- resilience -- physical activity -- pre-service teachers -- intervention; Education -- Ireland -- Periodicals; 370.9415
• DOI: 10.1080/03323315.2019.1697948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0332-3315

Abstract

Abstract : The current study examines the wellbeing, resilience and physical activity (PA) levels among Irish pre-service teachers. Participants were a sample of 128 higher education students (29% male; 71% female; mean age range 18–27 years old) who completed a self-report questionnaire, using a combination of established instruments for wellbeing, resilience, and PA. Descriptive data revealed that 39.1% presented with low levels of resilience, and 74% were not meeting the PA guidelines for health. One sample t -tests further revealed the sample population of higher education students had lower wellbeing ( t (127) = −3.05, p = .003) and resilience ( t (127) = −6.48, p = .003) levels, when compared to the population normative data. Results from the existing study suggest that a structured mental health and PA education awareness intervention for Irish pre-service teachers may be warranted, specifically to increase the lower than expected levels of resilience. The existing sample of pre-service teachers are at a critical time of transition, as they move forward into a profession where self-awareness of wellbeing is required at the beginning of their careers to sustain health both inside and outside of the classroom.