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

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

doi:10.3390/ijerph192214829

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

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 11;19(22):14829. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214829.

Authors

Simona Betschart¹, Anita Sandmeier¹, Guri Skedsmo^{1

2}, Tina Hascher³, Orkan Okan⁴, Kevin Dadaczynski^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Research on Professions and Professional Learning, Schwyz University of Teacher Education, 6410 Goldau, Switzerland.
² Department of Teacher Education and School Research, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Research in School and Instruction, Institute of Educational Science, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany.
⁵ Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany.
⁶ Zentrum für Angewandte Gesundheitswissenschaften, Leuphana Universität Lueneburg, 21335 Lueneburg, Germany.

Abstract

Schools are considered as important settings for health education and the promotion of functioning, healthy people. Health-promoting schools (HPS) take a holistic approach to health promotion that addresses all school levels and members of the school community. Although it is assumed that school leaders are crucial in the implementation of HPS, little is known so far about which specific factors are relevant. The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of school leaders' attitudes, health literacy, and health status in HPS implementation. An online survey was conducted in June 2021, and the final sample consisted of N = 358 school leaders. Regression and moderation analyses were conducted to answer the research questions. The results showed the relevance of health literacy and attitudes toward HPS for the implementation of HPS. By contrast, only some aspects of health status are relevant. Attitudes toward HPS moderate the effect of health literacy on HPS implementation, with positive attitudes toward HPS amplifying the effect. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Keywords: attitudes; health literacy; health-promoting school; school leaders.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attitude
Health Literacy*
Health Promotion / methods
Humans
School Health Services*
Schools

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) as part of the bilateral Science and Technology cooperation programme with Asia, project number COV_14_062020.