Author(s): LYU, K., Institution: WUHAN SPORTS UNIVERSITY, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 1337

Background:
Physical education teachers play an indispensable role in the process of school health education. Although previous studies have focused on the impact of physical education teachers health education literacy on students health literacy in China, few have explored the role of health education curriculum implementation quality in this process.

Method:
To investigate the impact relationship and mechanism between physical education teachers health education literacy and students health literacy in China, this study utilized the Health Education Literacy Assessment Scale for Physical Education Teachers, the Health Education Curriculum Implementation Quality Assessment Scale, and the Student Health Literacy Assessment Scale. Measurements were conducted on 614 middle school students from three schools designated as the first batch of national health school construction units by the Chinese Ministry of Education. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and the bias-corrected Bootstrap method.

Results:
The results indicated that physical education teachers health education literacy had a significant positive effect on both students health literacy (β = 0.18, p < 0.01) and the quality of health education curriculum implementation (β = 0.59, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the quality of health education curriculum implementation had a significant positive effect on students health literacy (β = 0.67, p < 0.01). The quality of health education curriculum implementation partially mediated the relationship between physical education teachers health education literacy and students health literacy (indirect effect = 0.39, p < 0.01).

Discussion:
As the primary implementers of school health education, physical education teachers need to enhance their health education literacy by improving both pre-service and in-service training systems. Health education courses, as key carriers of school health education, should include teaching methodology courses to strengthen physical education teachers health education teaching knowledge while integrating the relationship between physical education and health education to ensure the quality of health education curriculum implementation. As the beneficiaries of school health education, students urgently require the establishment of scientific, objective, and actionable evaluation standards and supervision mechanisms for health education curricula, in order to promote the development of students health literacy.