Multiple intelligence profiles of physical education teacher candidates

This study investigates the multiple intelligence profiles of prospective physical education teachers and examines how these profiles vary by gender, high school type, and sport participation. A total of 102 fourth-year students (Mage = 21.45, SD = 1.88) enrolled in Physical Education and Sports Teaching Departments at universities in Kyrenia and Nicosia (Northern Cyprus) participated in the study. Data were collected via a validated self-report inventory based on Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. The findings revealed that verbal-linguistic intelligence had the highest average score, while bodily-kinesthetic intelligence ranked lowest. Although overall intelligence profiles were relatively balanced, significant differences were found in certain intelligence domains based on gender and school type. For example, males scored significantly higher in visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, and naturalistic intelligences, while students from religious vocational high schools scored markedly higher in existential intelligence. These results highlight the relevance of tailoring teacher training programs to the dominant intelligence strengths of teacher candidates.