Liking Children and Sensitivity to Violence Against Children in Physical Education Majors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the liking and sensitivity to violence against children among PE teacher candidates based on gender and grade level and to examine the correlation between liking and sensitivity to violence against children. The study utilized a cross-sectional and descriptive-correlational research design. A total of 179 physical education teacher candidates (91 females and 88 males) enrolled in the study. As data collection instruments, the Demographic Information Form, the Barnett Liking of Children Scale, and the Violence Sensitivity Toward Children Scale were used. The gathered data were analyzed using the independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis. The findings revealed that PE teacher candidates' levels of liking for children and sensitivity to violence against children are both high, with no gender or grade level difference, and that there is no correlation between their levels of liking for children and sensitivity to violence against children. Although it is encouraging to see that physical education teacher candidates have a high level of liking for children and are sensitive to violence against them, the findings regarding grade level variables do not seem to reflect the impact of children-focused field and teaching profession courses taken during the teacher training program.