IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i18p9430-d630399.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Physical Activity, Physical Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being: Associations with Life Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Early Childhood Educators

Author

Listed:
  • Ken Randall

    (Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health, University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center, 4502 East 41st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA)

  • Timothy G. Ford

    (Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Jeanine Rainbolt College of Education, University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center, 4502 East 41st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA)

  • Kyong-Ah Kwon

    (Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum, Jeanine Rainbolt College of Education, University of Oklahoma, 820 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA)

  • Susan S. Sisson

    (Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Allied Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1200 North Stonewall Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA)

  • Matthew R. Bice

    (Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2504 9th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA)

  • Danae Dinkel

    (School of Health and Kinesiology, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska at Omaha, H & K Building, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182, USA)

  • Jessica Tsotsoros

    (Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health, University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center, 4502 East 41st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA)

Abstract

Seeking personal well-being and life satisfaction during a global pandemic can be daunting, such is the case for early care and education teachers who were considered non-health care essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential changes in their physical activity, along with their overall physical and psychological well-being, may have ultimately influenced their life satisfaction. These changes included the potential for increased sedentary behaviors. Despite the high health risks associated with these factors during the pandemic, the role of physical activity in early care and education teachers’ well-being and life satisfaction remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with teacher well-being and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, we explored two competing models of the relationship between the teachers’ physical activity, well-being, and life satisfaction, one with physical activity as a mediator and the other with teachers’ well-being as a mediator. An online survey, that collected information on physical, psychological, and professional well-being, job demands, and life satisfaction, was completed by 1434 US ECE teachers in 46 states. To test our hypothesized models, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses, followed by structural equation modeling. Of the respondents, 77% were overweight or obese and only 39% met the recommended 150 min of moderate physical activity per week. They had a mean life satisfaction score that qualifies as slight satisfaction, they experience moderate stress, and, collectively, are approaching the threshold for depression yet still reflect moderate-to-high work commitment. The empirical test of our competing mediation models found the model where teacher well-being mediated the association between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and life satisfaction was the superior model. The relationships between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and overall well-being suggest that these modifiable risk factors can be addressed such that early care and education teachers can improve their overall physical and psychological well-being, along with their life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ken Randall & Timothy G. Ford & Kyong-Ah Kwon & Susan S. Sisson & Matthew R. Bice & Danae Dinkel & Jessica Tsotsoros, 2021. "Physical Activity, Physical Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being: Associations with Life Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Early Childhood Educators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9430-:d:630399
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9430/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9430/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clément Ginoux & Sandrine Isoard-Gautheur & Claudia Teran-Escobar & Cyril Forestier & Aïna Chalabaev & Anna Clavel & Philippe Sarrazin, 2021. "Being Active during the Lockdown: The Recovery Potential of Physical Activity for Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. María Antonia Parra-Rizo & Gema Sanchis-Soler, 2020. "Satisfaction with Life, Subjective Well-Being and Functional Skills in Active Older Adults Based on Their Level of Physical Activity Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Supa Pengpid & Karl Peltzer, 2019. "Sedentary Behaviour, Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction, Happiness and Perceived Health Status in University Students from 24 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-7, June.
    4. Feng Kong & Xinyu Gong & Sonia Sajjad & Kairong Yang & Jingjing Zhao, 2019. "How Is Emotional Intelligence Linked to Life Satisfaction? The Mediating Role of Social Support, Positive Affect and Negative Affect," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(8), pages 2733-2745, December.
    5. Jeon, Lieny & Kwon, Kyong-Ah & Choi, Ji Young, 2018. "Family child care providers' responsiveness toward children: The role of professional support and perceived stress," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 500-510.
    6. Dorota Kleszczewska & Agnieszka Małkowska Szkutnik & Jadwiga Siedlecka & Joanna Mazur, 2019. "Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviours and Duration of Sleep as Factors Affecting the Well-Being of Young People against the Background of Environmental Moderators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Laura Linnan & Gabriela Arandia & Lori A. Bateman & Amber Vaughn & Natalie Smith & Dianne Ward, 2017. "The Health and Working Conditions of Women Employed in Child Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, March.
    8. Mark Huisman, 2000. "Imputation of Missing Item Responses: Some Simple Techniques," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 331-351, November.
    9. Jacob Meyer & Cillian McDowell & Jeni Lansing & Cassandra Brower & Lee Smith & Mark Tully & Matthew Herring, 2020. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Susan B. Sisson & Adrien Malek-Lasater & Timothy G. Ford & Diane Horm & Kyong-Ah Kwon, 2023. "Predictors of Overweight and Obesity in Early Care and Education Teachers during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Adina-Iuliana Jigani & Camelia Delcea & Margareta-Stela Florescu & Liviu-Adrian Cotfas, 2024. "Tracking Happiness in Times of COVID-19: A Bibliometric Exploration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-35, June.
    3. Yeong Gug Kim & Yeasun Kate Chung & Eunju Woo, 2023. "Gig Workers’ Quality of Life (QoL) and Psychological Well-Being in Service Delivery Platform," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Iago Sávyo Duarte Santiago & Emanuelle Pereira dos Santos & José Arinelson da Silva & Yuri de Sousa Cavalcante & Jucier Gonçalves Júnior & Angélica Rodrigues de Souza Costa & Estelita Lima Cândido, 2023. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Teachers and Its Possible Risk Factors: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-30, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Raquel Lara & Martha Fernández-Daza & Sara Zabarain-Cogollo & María Angustias Olivencia-Carrión & Manuel Jiménez-Torres & María Demelza Olivencia-Carrión & Adelaida Ogallar-Blanco & Débora Godoy-Izqui, 2021. "Active Coping and Anxiety Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spanish Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Huimin Li & Yong Zhang, 2022. "Effects of Physical Activity and Circadian Rhythm Differences on the Mental Health of College Students in Schools Closed by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Daniel Reyes-Molina & Jesús Alonso-Cabrera & Gabriela Nazar & Maria Antonia Parra-Rizo & Rafael Zapata-Lamana & Cristian Sanhueza-Campos & Igor Cigarroa, 2022. "Association between the Physical Activity Behavioral Profile and Sedentary Time with Subjective Well-Being and Mental Health in Chilean University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Jeong-Hui Park & Eunhye Yoo & Youngdeok Kim & Jung-Min Lee, 2021. "What Happened Pre- and during COVID-19 in South Korea? Comparing Physical Activity, Sleep Time, and Body Weight Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Dorota Kleszczewska & Joanna Mazur & Jens Bucksch & Anna Dzielska & Catherina Brindley & Agnieszka Michalska, 2020. "Active Transport to School May Reduce Psychosomatic Symptoms in School-Aged Children: Data from Nine Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, November.
    6. Sumbol Fiaz & Muhammad Azeem Qureshi, 2021. "How perceived organizational politics cause work-to-family conflict? Scoping and systematic review of literature," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Marina Arkkukangas & Karin Strömqvist Bååthe & Anna Ekholm & Michail Tonkonogi, 2022. "High Challenge Exercise and Learning Safe Landing Strategies among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-10, June.
    8. Victoria Blom & Amanda Lönn & Björn Ekblom & Lena V. Kallings & Daniel Väisänen & Erik Hemmingsson & Gunnar Andersson & Peter Wallin & Andreas Stenling & Örjan Ekblom & Magnus Lindwall & Jane Salier E, 2021. "Lifestyle Habits and Mental Health in Light of the Two COVID-19 Pandemic Waves in Sweden, 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Raúl Baños & Antonio Baena-Extremera & Antonio Granero-Gallegos, 2019. "The Relationships between High School Subjects in terms of School Satisfaction and Academic Performance in Mexican Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-13, September.
    10. Ilse Adriana Gutiérrez-Pérez & Pedro Delgado-Floody & Daniel Jerez-Mayorga & Diego Soto-García & Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete & Isela Parra-Rojas & Nacim Molina-Gutiérrez & Iris Paola Guzmán-Guzmán, 2021. "Lifestyle and Sociodemographic Parameters Associated with Mental and Physical Health during COVID-19 Confinement in Three Ibero-American Countries. A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    11. Chuhua Zheng & Yanhong Wu, 2020. "The More Modest You are, the Happier You are: The Mediating Roles of Emotional Intelligence and Self-esteem," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1603-1615, June.
    12. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Mohamed A. Zayed, 2022. "Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Physical Fitness Association with Mental Health among Higher Education Students: A Multi-Group Analysis Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    13. Marta Malinowska-Cieślik & Joanna Mazur & Hanna Nałęcz & Agnieszka Małkowska-Szkutnik, 2019. "Social and Behavioral Predictors of Adolescents’ Positive Attitude towards Life and Self," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
    14. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    15. Gedikoglu, Haluk, 2013. "A Comprehensive Analysis of Adoption of Energy Crops, GM Crops and Conservation Practices," 2013 Annual Meeting, February 2-5, 2013, Orlando, Florida 142928, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    16. Zhenzhen Qin & Yao Song, 2020. "The Sacred Power of Beauty: Examining the Perceptual Effect of Buddhist Symbols on Happiness and Life Satisfaction in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-19, April.
    17. Malou Grubben & Sara Wiertsema & Remco Hoekman & Gerbert Kraaykamp, 2022. "Is Working from Home during COVID-19 Associated with Increased Sports Participation? Contexts of Sports, Sports Location and Socioeconomic Inequality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    18. Yang Yang & Keqiao Liu & Siqi Li & Man Shu, 2020. "Social Media Activities, Emotion Regulation Strategies, and Their Interactions on People’s Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    19. Laura Lacomba-Trejo & Joaquín Mateu-Mollá & Monica D. Bellegarde-Nunes & Iraida Delhom, 2022. "Are Coping Strategies, Emotional Abilities, and Resilience Predictors of Well-Being? Comparison of Linear and Non-Linear Methodologies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.
    20. Maurizio Carpita & Marica Manisera, 2011. "On the Imputation of Missing Data in Surveys with Likert-Type Scales," Journal of Classification, Springer;The Classification Society, vol. 28(1), pages 93-112, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9430-:d:630399. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.