Effect of socioeconomic status on leg muscle power in Tunisian adolescent athletes

Abstract

Summary Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of socioeconomic status on the anthropometric parameters and vertical jumping performances during growth in Tunisian adolescent athletes. Methods Eight hundred and fifty athletic adolescents aged between 13 to 19 years (570 males and 280 females) were randomly selected to take part in the study. Measurements of anthropometric parameters and the socioeconomic status were realized. Jump heights and leg power were provided by an optojump device using countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) techniques. Correlations and general linear model were used to show the interrelation between anthropometric variables and socioeconomic status with the jump height performances. Results Trained adolescents from HSES have higher values of height, body mass, fat mass and leg muscle volume than those from LSES. These values were associated with higher jump performances (SJ height, SJ power, CMJ height and CMJ power) than those from LSES. The general linear model showed that the main factors affecting the development of vertical jumping performances are gender, age, standing height, sitting height, waist size, body mass index, leg muscle volume and socioeconomic status in athletic Tunisian adolescent. Conclusion The socioeconomic parameter plays a major role in determining anthropometric variables and jumping performances in adolescent athletes.