Influence of physical fitness components on personality factors and risk perception of children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max) and muscular strength with indicators related to the risk scale, such as perceived competence, sensation seeking, competitiveness, risk taking and risk perception in sports. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: High schools from the Region of Murcia (Spain). Participants: Three-hundred-and-seventeen adolescents participated (mean age: 13.69±1.2 years old). Primary and secondary outcome measures: Body mass, body height, Course-Navette test, upper limb strength and psychoeducational factors that determine the propensity towards sports accidents in school children, the Sports Accident Propensity Scale were evaluated. It was performance t-test for independent samples, stepwise multiple linear regression models and a multiple mediation analysis. Results: The analysis showed significant differences with respect to sex in height, VO2 max, handgrip strength and in all factors of the questionnaire (p=0.02-<0.01). Adolescents who presented greater VO2 max, strength in the handgrip test and age showed a higher score in factors 1 and 3. Higher scores in factor 2 were associated with better VO2 max and strength in handgrip test. Youngers and better values of strength in the handgrip showed higher score in factors 4 and 5. The mediation analysis with two mediating variables (handgrip strength and VO2 max) showed a significant indirect effect. When handgrip strength and VO2 max were included in the equations, the association between sex and each factor ceased to be significant. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential benefits of muscular strength (handgrip) and VO2 max in the perceived risk scale, and the variable of age on this.