Preschool Teachers’ Perceptions, Teacher Efficacy, and Practices in Nutrition Education for Young Children According to Teachers’ Dietary Quality: A Focus on Chungnam and Sejong, Korea
10.14373/JKDA.2026.32.1.24
- Author:
Mi-Hyun KIM
1
;
Jee-Young YEON
Author Information
1. Dept. of Food and Nutrition, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
2026;32(1):24-34
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study examined preschool teachers’ attitudes, teacher efficacy, and practices related to nutrition education for young children according to their diet quality.Two hundred and thirty preschool teachers working in public and private early childhood education institutions in Chungnam and Sejong, Korea, participated in the study. The diet quality was assessed using the Nutrition Quotient for Adults (NQ-A) and classified into three groups based on NQ-A scores: high (n=60), medium (n=105), and low (n=65). The educational level showed a statistically significant difference among the NQ-A groups (P<0.05). All four subdomains of the NQ-A (balance, moderation, dietary behavior, and diversity) differed significantly among the three groups (all P<0.001). The teachers’ attitudes toward nutrition education, measured using an eight-item five-point Likert scale, were significantly more positive in the high NQ-A group than in the low NQ-A group (P<0.001). Nutrition education teacher efficacy, measured using a seven-item scale, was significantly lower in the low NQ-A group than in the other two groups (P<0.001). In addition, nutrition education practices, assessed using a six-item scale, were significantly more prevalent among teachers in the high NQ-A group (P<0.001). Teachers in the high NQ-A group were also more likely to have participated in nutrition training and to have conducted nutrition education. These findings highlight the importance of improving the dietary quality of preschool teachers to enhance their effectiveness in delivering nutrition education.
