Changes in Personal Wellness Habits Among Newer New Jersey Teachers During COVID-19 Impacted School Years
Midhat Rehman1, Juhi Aggarwal1, Kimberly T Nguyen1
1Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.
Abstract:
New Jersey Safe Schools Program (NJSS) provides work-based learning (WBL) trainings to certified teachers who supervise students in school-sponsored work placements. Some newer teachers shared existing and adopted new physical health habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were provided to teachers who completed NJSS WBL supervisory trainings between October 2021-June 2022, with a follow-up survey Fall 2022. This cross-sectional study focused on a subset of questions on their self-reported behavioral habits regarding processed food/snack consumption, aerobic exercise, and sleep health. Of 114 teachers, approximately 3-in-5 (62.1%) woke up during the night and 1-in-3 (36.8%) found difficulty waking up in the morning on a school/workday; 1-in-10 (10.5%) sleep less than five hours per night. Regarding personal nutrition, 1-in-3 participants (37%) consumed processed snacks/foods daily. Concerning physical health, 2-in-5 participants (43.8%) decreased aerobic exercise habits during the initial survey but increased at follow-up. Data suggest NJ teachers adapted personal nutrition, sleep, and aerobic exercise habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data offer guidance to help schools better address teacher needs, including healthy eating, wellness, and physical activity.
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
Current Trends in Nursing II
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...


