The Impact of Exercise on Teacher Satisfaction and Retention

Physical activity can act as a specific coping mechanism to increase positive mental health in teachers and mitigate burnout in the teaching profession. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore physical activity in relation to teachers' burnout and well-being and was guided by the question: how does physical activity impact teachers' well-being and burnout in their profession? Nineteen articles were selected for inclusion in this study and were analyzed according to the guiding question and to identify emerging themes across the studies. Findings suggest that physical activity has a positive impact on teacher mental well-being but were mixed regarding burnout, with some studies indicating that physical activity can help mitigate burnout, primarily through emotional exhaustion, and a few studies not finding a significant correlation. Implications suggest recommendations for schools to incorporate school-based physical activities for teachers and a focus on leisure-time physical activities.