Creating a District Profile for Physical Education Teacher Psychological Well-Being: A Mixed Methods Study

• In Event: Research on Physical Education and Physical Education Teacher Education

Abstract

Increased attention is needed on the psychosocial knowledge and skills that physical education teachers need to navigate their profession. Utilizing the Teacher Perceived Matting framework and the Ecological Dynamic Systems Theory, this mixed-methods study sought to explore the psychological resource profile of PE teachers in one school district. Inservice teachers (N=72) completed surveys and 10 teachers completed follow-up semi-structured interviews. Survey results showed general enjoyment and job satisfaction among teachers with little difference by grade and context. Participants indicated that enjoyment and mattering was connected to schools feeling like a family, allowing them to overlook marginalization. Students were the top influence towards teachers’ feeling, both positive and negative. District level decisions associated with budget, teaching roles, and status influence well-being.

Authors

• Kelly L. Simonton, University of Wyoming

• Victoria Shiver, University of New Mexico

• Karen Lux Gaudreault, University of New Mexico