Health literacy and mental health of school principals. Results from a German cross-sectional survey. Issue 3 (16th March 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Health literacy and mental health of school principals. Results from a German cross-sectional survey. Issue 3 (16th March 2021)
- Main Title:
- Health literacy and mental health of school principals. Results from a German cross-sectional survey
- Authors:
- Dadaczynski, Kevin
Kotarski, Claudia
Rathmann, Katharina
Okan, Orkan - Abstract:
- Abstract : Purpose: School principals are generally seen as key facilitators for the delivery and long-term implementation of activities on school health promotion, including health literacy. However, there is little evidence on the health literacy and health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the health literacy of school principals and its association with mental health indicators. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional online survey with German school principals and members of the management board (vice principals) was conducted ( n = 680, 68.3% female). Demographic (gender, age) and work characteristics (type of school, professional role) as well as health literacy served as independent variables. Mental health as a dependent variable included well-being, emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Next to uni- and bivariate analysis, a series of binary logistic regression models was performed. Findings: Of the respondents, 29.2% showed a limited health literacy with significant differences to the disadvantage of male principals. With regard to mental health, respondents aged over 60 years and those from schools for children with special educational needs were less often affected by low well-being as well as frequent emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Taking into account demographic and work characteristics, regression models revealed significant associations between a low level of healthAbstract : Purpose: School principals are generally seen as key facilitators for the delivery and long-term implementation of activities on school health promotion, including health literacy. However, there is little evidence on the health literacy and health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the health literacy of school principals and its association with mental health indicators. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional online survey with German school principals and members of the management board (vice principals) was conducted ( n = 680, 68.3% female). Demographic (gender, age) and work characteristics (type of school, professional role) as well as health literacy served as independent variables. Mental health as a dependent variable included well-being, emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Next to uni- and bivariate analysis, a series of binary logistic regression models was performed. Findings: Of the respondents, 29.2% showed a limited health literacy with significant differences to the disadvantage of male principals. With regard to mental health, respondents aged over 60 years and those from schools for children with special educational needs were less often affected by low well-being as well as frequent emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Taking into account demographic and work characteristics, regression models revealed significant associations between a low level of health literacy and poor mental health across all indicators. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow to draw conclusions about the causal pathways between health literacy and mental health. Although the sample has been weighted, the results cannot be generalized to the whole population of school principals. There is a need for evidence-based interventions aiming at promoting health literacy and mental health tailored to the needs of school principals. Originality/value: This is the first study to investigate health literacy and its association with health indicators among school principals. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Health education. Volume 122:Issue 3(2022)
- Journal:
- Health education
- Issue:
- Volume 122:Issue 3(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 122, Issue 3 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 122
- Issue:
- 3
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0122-0003-0000
- Page Start:
- 350
- Page End:
- 363
- Publication Date:
- 2021-03-16
- Subjects:
- School principals -- Health literacy -- Well-being -- Emotional exhaustion -- Psychosomatic complaints -- Health promoting school
Health education -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
613.071 - Journal URLs:
- https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/he ↗
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1108/HE-10-2020-0094 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0965-4283
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 4274.968700
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 25845.xml