Introduction: Low physical fitness is associated with increased health risks. Physical fitness during adolescence is a significant predictor of health status in adulthood. Key components of physical fitness include body composition and cardiovascular fitness, both of which are influenced by various factors, including parental education. The type of motivation also plays an important role in physical activity, as intrinsic motivation is associated with long-term participation in physical activity, which consequently improves physical fitness. Adolescents' motivation is also influenced by parental education. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work is to examine the relationship between parental education and adolescents' cardiovascular fitness and fat mass percentage, as well as different types of motivation for physical activity in adolescents. Methods: The study included a representative sample of Slovenian adolescents (n = 1029) who participated in the 2023 study Analysis of development trends of children and youth in Slovenia. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a 20-meter shuttle run test and the Matsuzaka equation. Body composition was assessed using skinfold measurements and the Slaughter equation to estimate fat mass percentage. Motivation for physical activity was assessed using the Pictorial Motivation Scale for Physical Activity. The data was analyzed using one-way analyses of variance to determine differences between adolescents according to parental education. Results: The results showed that adolescents with more highly educated parents had better cardiorespiratory fitness and a lower fat mass percentage than their peers with less educated parents. Differences were also observed in types of motivation for physical activity, with self-determined extrinsic and intrinsic motivation being higher in adolescents with more highly educated parents than those with less educated parents, who in turn reported higher levels on non-self-determined extrinsic motivation and amotivation. For all variables studied, maternal education was found to have a slightly greater effect than paternal education. Discussion and conclusion: The results confirm that parental education is a significant factor in adolescents' physical fitness and motivation for physical activity. The findings suggest that parental education plays an important role in shaping physical fitness and motivation for physical activity in adolescence and should therefore be considered when planning preventive programs in the field of public health.
|
