Evaluation of Third Degree Football Referees’ Health Behaviors at the Referees’ Football Training Centre in Baghdad City

Abstract

Objective(s): The present study aims at evaluating third degree football referees’ Health behaviors at the
Football Referee Training Centre in Baghdad City.
Methodology: Quasi-experimental design, using one group test-retest approach, is carried throughout the
present study for the period of October 25th 2019 through March 10th 2021.
Non-probability, convenient sample of (40) third degree football referee while they are attending the Referees’
Football Training Centre for the purpose of training. All subjects who have agreed to participate in the study
have signed consent form for maintenance of their confidentiality and ethical considerations. Self-report
questionnaire is constructed out of the program for the purpose of the study. Such instrument is comprised
of two parts; part I: Socio-demographic Information which include age, education, body mass index (BMI)
and socioeconomic status (SES) and part II: Third Degree Football Referees’ Health Behaviors Scale that
measures the third degree referees’ health behaviors. It is comprised of (4) sections that include body care
and general health, smoking, drinking and drug use, psychosocial well-being and abusive behaviors. Content
validity of the questionnaire is determined through panel of experts and test-retest reliability for equivalence
is obtained throughout a pilot study.
Results: Results of the study depict that third degree football referees have experienced positive health
behaviors with respect to studied aspects. Further, there is no significant relationship between their health
behaviors and the socio-demographic characteristics of age, education, body mass index and socioeconomic
status.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the third degree football referees’ health behaviors are improving as
far as they are involved in the referees training center.