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The Role of School Leaders’ Health Literacy for the Implementation of Health Promoting Schools

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  • Kevin Dadaczynski

    (Department of Nursing and Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany
    Department of Nursing and Health Science, Leuphana University Lueneburg, 21337 Lueneburg, Germany)

  • Katharina Rathmann

    (Department of Nursing and Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany)

  • Thomas Hering

    (Department of Applied Human Sciences, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, 39676 Stendal, Germany)

  • Orkan Okan

    (Faculty of Educational Science, Centre for Prevention and Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany)

Abstract

Background: The promotion of health literacy is seen as an urgent goal in public health and education and, hence, should be integrated in the school context as a component of the holistic health promoting school (HPS) approach. However, only limited empirical studies have addressed health literacy of school staff so far. Hence, this study aimed to examine the level of health literacy among school leaders and its association with the extent of HPS implementation. Methods: A cross-sectional study with n = 680 school principals and members of the school management board from Germany was carried out at the end of 2018. Individual health literacy, attitudes, and competencies towards HPS and occupational self-efficacy served as independent variables and the level of HPS implementation was the dependent variable. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analysis as well as multiple binary logistic regression. Results: 29.3% of school leaders show a limited health literacy with significantly higher values found for male respondents. Regression analyses revealed that male gender (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.22–2.99), HPS attitudes (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 2.13–4.72), and HPS competencies (OR: 3.66, 95% CI: 2.43–5.50) were associated with a lower level of HPS implementation. Furthermore, regression analyses differentiated by gender showed that limited health literacy is associated with a low level of HPS implementation for male school leaders only (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.22–6.45). Conclusions: The promotion of health literacy especially for male leaders would not only result in positive effects on an individual level but also could contribute to a stronger implementation of activities on school health promotion. We suggest integrating health literacy, HPS attitudes, and competencies more strongly into the qualification and in further training of school leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Dadaczynski & Katharina Rathmann & Thomas Hering & Orkan Okan, 2020. "The Role of School Leaders’ Health Literacy for the Implementation of Health Promoting Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:6:p:1855-:d:331867
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Franke, Franziska & Felfe, Joerg & Pundt, Alexander, 2014. "The impact of health-oriented leadership on follower health: Development and test of a new instrument measuring health-promoting leadership," Zeitschrift fuer Personalforschung. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 28(1-2), pages 139-161.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Beniermann & Martin Glos & Heike Schumacher & Ingo Fietze & Stephan Völker & Annette Upmeier zu Belzen, 2023. "‘Sleep Blindness’ in Science Education: How Sleep Health Literacy Can Serve as a Link between Health Education and Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Sam S. S. Lau & Eric N. Y. Shum & Jackie O. T. Man & Ethan T. H. Cheung & Padmore Adusei Amoah & Angela Y. M. Leung & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan, 2022. "COVID-19-Related Health Literacy of School Leaders in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Simona Betschart & Anita Sandmeier & Guri Skedsmo & Tina Hascher & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski, 2022. "The Importance of School Leaders’ Attitudes and Health Literacy to the Implementation of a Health-Promoting Schools Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Kevin Dadaczynski & Thomas Hering, 2021. "Health Promoting Schools in Germany. Mapping the Implementation of Holistic Strategies to Tackle NCDs and Promote Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Sandra Kirchhoff & Kevin Dadaczynski & Jürgen M. Pelikan & Inge Zelinka-Roitner & Christina Dietscher & Uwe H. Bittlingmayer & Orkan Okan, 2022. "Organizational Health Literacy in Schools: Concept Development for Health-Literate Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.

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