The Attitudes of Health Education Teachers to Eating Disorders

In recent decades, the issue of eating disorders has been paid great attention not only in scientific literature but also research studies. The paper describes selected results of a research study involving teachers in lower secondary schools. The research instrument was the semantic differential. The research sample consisted of 168 teachers in lower secondary schools. The research investigated the differences in the respondents' attitudes to eating disorders and their prevention by teaching qualification, gender, age and length of teaching experience. The results suggested more positive attitudes among unqualified teachers, although the results were not always significant. Those teachers who are not qualified in health education or family education perceive the issue of eating disorders more positively than teachers qualified in this field of study. As far as gender is concerned, significant differences were identified; female respondents perceived the issue of eating disorders more positively. Increasing age and longer teaching experience of the respondents was not correlated with greater interest in the issue.