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Physical Fitness and Peer Relationships in Spanish Preadolescents

Juan Gregorio Fernández-Bustos, Juan Carlos Pastor-Vicedo, Irene González-Martí and Ricardo Cuevas-Campos
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Juan Gregorio Fernández-Bustos: Faculty of Education, University of Castilla La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Juan Carlos Pastor-Vicedo: Faculty of Education, University of Castilla La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Irene González-Martí: Faculty of Education, University of Castilla La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Ricardo Cuevas-Campos: Faculty of Education, University of Castilla La Mancha, 13001 Ciudad Real, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Several studies have linked physical fitness (PF) with improvements in health, at a physiological and psychological level; however, there is little evidence of its relationship with health in the social field. Hence, the main aim of this study was to determine the existing relationship between PF and peer relations, as an indicator of social health in Spanish pre-teens. For that purpose, 642 participants aged 9 to 12 were chosen and given the high-priority Alpha Fitness battery in order to assess the PF, as well as the Classroom Social Experiences Query (CESC) to assess their social status. The results showed that those students with a better cardio-respiratory fitness obtained more nominations from their classmates in pro-sociality and positive status, and fewer in victimisation and negative status. Additionally, although to a lesser extent, muscular fitness was also related to a higher positive status and lower victimisation. The weight condition was also related to social behaviours, although the resulting data were differentiated by sex. While females with a standard weight stood out for their positive status, underweight males obtained worse results in positive status and fewer in negative status. These results all correspond with the aesthetic models imposed by society for females and males, respectively. These results show that PF is related to social health, which makes necessary the promotion of physical activity and the development of PF within the school environment, with attention to its relationship with the social health of the students.

Keywords: physical fitness; peer relationship; social health; preadolescence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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