EFFECTS OF SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS ON PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Socioeconomic status has been operationalized in a variety of ways, most commonly as education, social class, or income. Four main attributes were incorporated in this study being father’s education, father’s occupation, socioeconomic class and father’s income per month in Pakistani rupees. The present study was conducted with an aim to determine the effect of socioeconomic determinants on components (speed, endurance, flexibility, balance) of physical fitness of government and private schools’ children. Cross sectional study design was used. The study was conducted on male children from private and government schools, located within of the main city of Sargodha, Pakistan. Five each from private and government sector, total ten schools were selected in this study. Convenience sampling technique was used. Children between the ages of 9-11 years, Children in primary level of education and children which are the residents of Sargodha were included in the study. The overall effect of socioeconomic determinants on speed (20 m sprint test) in children is 79%. The overall effect of socioeconomic determinants on Flamingo Balance Test in children is 3%. The overall effect of socioeconomic determinants on Flexibility (Sit and reach test) in children is 8%. The overall effect of socioeconomic determinants on Aerobic Endurance (6 min. run) in children is 32%. Finally, it was concluded that the socioeconomic determinants effect the speed and Aerobic Endurance in components of physical fitness of government school children but no effect on Balance and Flexibility.