The Association between Spanish Physical Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy Expectations and Their Attitudes toward Overweight and Obese Students

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Spanish physical education teachers' perceived self-efficacy toward including overweight and obese students and their attitudes toward overweight and obese students. Method: Four hundred and seventy-one physical education teachers filled out questionnaires to assess their self-efficacy expectations to meet overweight and obese students' educational needs, and to identify physical education teachers' beliefs and attitudes toward these students. Results: The physical education teachers with a higher perceived self-efficacy in fostering participation and in assessing and promoting overweight and obese students' learning were more sensitive toward these students' fitness and healthcare and showed less pejorative attitudes toward overweight and obesity. Conclusions: These results highlight the need for teaching education programs capable of increasing the physical education teachers' perceived self-efficacy in this area. The results also show that there is a need for training for teachers and students in strategies aimed at reducing the cases of victimization of overweight and obese students.