Naslov
Leisure-time physical activity and physical fitness among croatian children: a cross- sectional study

Autori
Badrić, Marko ; Krističević, Tomislav ; Krakan, Ivan

Izvornik
Acta kinesiologica (1840-2976) 10 (2016), Suppl. 1; 7-14

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
sport activity ; fitness ; leisure time ; children

Sažetak
The evidence linking both activity and fitness to health has been discussed, but the interesting question of whether physical activity is strongly related to physical fitness has controversies. The paper determined the association between leisure-time physical activities of elementary school children and their physical fitness. The sample consisted of 847 children, 413 girls and 434 boys. In this research, 15 measures of physical fitness, two measures of morphological characteristics were tested. The time spent in leisure-time physical activities was assessed by a questionnaire. It was found that 76% of boys and 60% of girls participated in leisure activities for at least 60 minutes a day. Based on the obtained and analyzed results, it can be concluded that there was a significant partial correlation between physical activity in leisure time and the level of physical fitness of upper- elementary school children and that it varied by the age of children. Significant correlation referred to the sixth to eighth grade boys and sixth-grade girls. A statistically significant correlation was not found in either gender in the fifth grade or in the girls in the seventh and eighth grades. It can be concluded that there exists a partial statistically significant correlation between the use of physical activities in leisure time and the level of physical fitness of children. Moreover, a decline in physical activity over the school-age years, was found in females which could suggest that they are at increased risk of obesity because of a sedentary lifestyle.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Pedagogija, Kineziologija

POVEZANOST RADA