Exercise, fitness, and subjective measures related to fitness of physical education and other teachers

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences between physical and nonphysical education teachers in exercise, perceived and actual fitness, self-rated health, and attitudes toward aging. Participants were 307 women, 144 physical education and 163 other teachers, mean age of 40.6 yr. (SD = 7.6). Factor analysis was performed to assess components of attitudes toward aging. Separate t tests on all variables were used to examine group differences, followed by discriminant analysis as a general model. Analysis indicated that physical education teachers were more active and fit, perceived their fitness as higher and rated their health and the physical component of attitudes toward their aging as more positive than those of nonphysical education teachers. Further exploration was recommended for the influence of early experiences with physical activity on later participation and the relations of physical activity, fitness, and subjective measures of well-being.