Examining the Relationship Between Physical Activity, Nutrition Knowledge, and Burnout Levels of Professionals Serving Individuals With Special Needs and Their Quality of Life
Examining the Relationship Between Physical Activity, Nutrition Knowledge, and Burnout Levels of Professionals Serving Individuals With Special Needs and Their Quality of Life
In recent years, the number of individuals with special needs (SNIs) requiring care has been increasing both globally and in our country. In line with the principles of a social welfare state, professionals have taken on a growing role in the care, treatment, and education of SNIs. These professionals include physiotherapists, teachers, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers. Unlike the education and treatment of typically developing individuals, providing services to SNIs can place additional burdens on staff, potentially leading over time to various physical, psychological, and emotional challenges. The demanding nature of working with SNIs, high expectations, environmental conditions, low wages despite intensive labor, lack of job security in the private sector, and the potential risks associated with working with individuals with disabilities can all create significant stress for service providers. This, in turn, may negatively affect both their personal and family lives as well as the quality of the services delivered.
The demanding nature of working with SNIs, high expectations, environmental conditions, low wages despite intensive labor, lack of job security in the private sector, and the potential risks associated with working with individuals with disabilities can all create significant stress for service providers. This, in turn, may negatively affect both their personal and family lives as well as the quality of the services delivered.
Therefore, this study aims to examine the levels of physical activity, nutritional knowledge, burnout, and quality of life among professionals-such as physiotherapists, special education teachers, and other specialists (e.g., occupational therapists, speech and language therapists)-who provide services to individuals with special needs. Within the scope of the research, physical activity levels will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), nutritional knowledge using the Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire, burnout levels using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and quality of life using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Additionally, informative sessions will be conducted to promote social participation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among professionals serving individuals with special needs.
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