영유아교사의 신체 건강에 관한 연구동향 분석: 국내 학회지를 중심으로

An Analysis of Research Trends on Early Childhood Teachers’ Physical Health: Focusing on Korean Peer-Reviewed Journals

This study aims to analyze research trends concerning the physical health of Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers in South Korea and propose directions for future research. In all, 64 studies on ECE teachers’ physical health, published in Korean peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to the present, were analyzed focusing on research period, topic, subject, method, and field. This study identified five key findings. First, although studies on the physical health of ECE teachers began to increase from 2006, consistent publication trends were observed only after 2009, with more than five studies published each year in 2008, 2011, 2016, and 2018. However, the scope of research was limited. Second, most studies have been conducted on childcare teachers, with a greater emphasis on pre-service teachers than on kindergarten teachers. Third, most research fields pertained to early childhood, with additional studies conducted in health science, physical education, and nutrition. Fourth, primarily questionnaires were employed as survey methods. Fifth, although the research topics broadly addressed health content related to physical health, they predominantly focused on a limited number of variables. Based on these findings, a comprehensive understanding of the research trends and actual conditions related to ECE teachers’ physical health of the research trends and actual conditions related to ECE teachers’ physical health was achieved. Furthermore, there is a need for program development and policy research focusing on the physical health of ECE teachers by considering and improving their work environments from various perspectives.