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.
Highlights
Avoiding unidimensional and exclusively biological conceptions, the concept of health has a complex and multidimensional nature in the individual
In cardio-respiratory endurance (CR) and standing broad jump (SBJ), the percentiles are lower than P50 and there is no difference between males and females (p > 0.05), while in handgrip strength test (HS), the results overcome P50 and the female scores are higher than the male scores (p = 0.04)
It is important to note that this study focused strictly on physical fitness (PF) and peer relations, setting aside important variables, such as physical activity (PA) practice, motivation, and other psychological variables that may have been very useful to explain some of the obtained results, and that may be guidelines to work with in future investigations
Summary
Avoiding unidimensional and exclusively biological conceptions, the concept of health has a complex and multidimensional nature in the individual. Integrated this multidimensional reality by defining health as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and the absence of disease. Studies in recent years have reported how PA is related to cognitive [9] and academic [10] performance. In addition to these beneficial effects of PA at the physiological and mental level, there are studies that relate PA to the social field. One of the indicators used to determine social health has been the peer relationship. Gifford-Smith and Brownell [11] suggested that peer relationships generally contain social status, friendship, and peer nets or groups.
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