Investigation of the Relationship between Liking of Children Levels and Attitudes Toward Teaching Profession of Physical Education Teachers

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between liking of children levels and attitudes toward teaching profession of permanent and contracted physical education teachers working in public schools within the Malatya Directorate of National Education, Turkey, in the 2021-2022 education period. In our study, age, gender, marital status, years of professional seniority, educational status, having children, and workplace locality were also examined in terms of subscales. 103 physical education teachers voluntarily participated in the study. The “Attitudes Toward Teaching Profession” scale developed by Demirel and Ünişen in 2015, the “Barnett Liking of Children” scale developed by Barnett and Sinsini in 1990 and adapted into Turkish by Duyan and Gelbal in 2008, and a personal information form were applied to the teachers who participated in the study based on volunteerism. Quantitative research methods and techniques were used in this study. The correlational survey model, one of the general surveying models, was used. Prior to analysis, data underwent a normality test confirming a normal distribution. Pairwise comparisons were assessed using Independent Samples t-test, and three-or-more-sample comparisons utilized One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The Tukey test identified specific group differences in significant outcomes. The study revealed no significant difference in liking of children concerning the variables examined. Nonetheless, significant disparities were noted in attitudes toward teaching based on gender, marital status, parental status, age, and professional experience. Ultimately, a weak, positive linear correlation was identified between physical education teachers’ liking of children and their attitudes toward teaching.

Keywords: Child, Love, Physical Education Teacher, Professional Attitude, Teacher Attitude