engleski

Urban – rural differences in motor abilities among the 7th grade primary school boys in the Republic of Croatia

In the contemporary lifestyle there is observable contrast between rural and urban areas. This contrast is reflected in the lifestyle as well as in the differences regarding climatic and atmospheric conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the differences in kinanthropological characteristics of 7th grade elementary school pupils in relation to urban-rural characteristics of the Republic of Croatia. The research was conducted on the sample of 1084 male students (body height 163.87±6.46 ; body weight 55.84±9.97) in the 7th grade in elementary school. A battery of fifteen tests was applied for the evaluation of motor abilities. Coordination, agility, flexibility, explosive and dynamic strength were estimated each with three tests. The differences between the physical fitness profiles of children from urban and rural areas were determined by using Anova and series of t-tests for independent samples with statistical significance set to p<0.05. After examining the value of the arithmetic mean of the accomplished results of male students, it is interesting to note that, taking into account the size of the settlements as a criterion, male students from rural areas did not achieve generally better results than their peers from urban areas even thought similar researches in Croatia and around the world have regularly pointed out a better quality motor potential of students from rural areas. This is probably so because the consequence of modernization and urbanization is increasingly affecting rural areas, and nowadays it is not surprising that male students from these areas spend more and more time at home, watching TV and playing computer games. All this leads to reduced levels of physical exercise and thus a decrease in the results of their kinantropological characteristics.

urban-rural differences ; pupils ; 7th grade ; Republic of Croatia

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