Analysis of the associations between directly measured physical activity and physical fitness in preadolescentsSekulić, Damir (Avtor) Rodek, Jelena (Avtor) Rajković Vuletić, Petra (Avtor) sportprepubertysociodemographic factorsmotor capacitiescardiovascular enduranceanthropometricsThere is an evident lack of investigations in which associations between physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) were simultaneously evaluated in urban- and rural-living children. This study aimed to investigate the gender-specific associations between directly measured PA and various measures of PF in urban and rural children. The participants were 126 children aged 9-11 years (49 girls) from elementary schools in southern Croatia. In addition to age, gender (male, female), living environment (urban, rural), and anthropometrics (body mass, height, and BMI), the variables included accelerometer-derived PA indices (obtained by GeneActic triaxial accelerometers) and PF tests (evaluating jumping power capacity, upper-body- and abdominal-strength, mobility, flexibility, and aerobic endurance). Vigorous PA was related to jumping power, upper body strength and aerobic endurance in urban boys (Pearson’s R = 0.34–0.36, p < 0.05) and with upper body strength in rural boys (R = 0.41, p < 0.05). The number of steps performed daily was associated with jumping power in urban girls (R = 0.42, p < 0.05) and with abdominal strength in rural girls (R = 0.42, p < 0.05). Vigorous PA was associated with jumping power (R = 0.44, p < 0.05), upper body strength (R = 0.39, p < 0.05), and aerobic endurance (R = 0.39, p < 0.05) in urban girls and with jumping power (R = 0.61, p < 0.05), abdominal strength (R = 0.45, p < 0.05), and aerobic endurance (R = 0.40, p < 0.05) in rural girls. Socioeconomic differences, cultural norms, and parental views on PA in urban and rural communities may explain the varying relationships between PA and PF observed in urban and rural boys. Further longitudinal studies are needed to establish clear cause‒effect relationships between PA and PF.20252026-03-11 08:59:25Članek v reviji180522UDK: 796.01ISSN pri članku: 1318-2269DOI: 10.52165/kinsi.31.1.35-51COBISS_ID: 239523075sl