There is a strong link between childhood cardiovascular fitness, healthy body composition, and cardiovascular disease later in life. Morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease disproportionally impact non-white minorities and people of low socioeconomic status (SES). The purpose of this research was to determine whether urban minority 4th graders of low SES differed in measures of health related fitness or self-efficacy related to physical activity when compared to non-minority children who were not identified as low SES.
Method:
This was a quasi-experimental design involving 1,432 fourth graders who self-identified as African American, Hispanic or White and were coded as either high socioeconomic status (H-SES) or low socioeconomic (L-SES) based on eligibility for free or reduced lunches. A valid and reliable seven item perceived self-efficacy to perform physical activity scale was used to measure self-efficacy. Health related components of physical fitness were tested using the FitnessgramR.
Statistics on boys and girls were run separately. A 2 (H-SES vs L-SES) by 3 (Hispanic, African American, White) MANOVA was run on the dependent variables. ANOVAs were conducted on dependent variables by ethnicity. When significance was found, a Tukey post hoc was performed. Independent samples t-tests were run to determine dependent variables that differed based on SES.
Analysis/Results:
Among girls, significant main effects were found for ethnicity F (2, 698) = 2.779, p < 0.001; and SES t = 5.891, p < 0.001. Post hoc analysis revealed significant ethnic differences on the following dependent variables: mile run, curl-ups, push-ups, body mass index and self-efficacy. Students identified as low SES scored lower than those identified as high in the variables mile run, curl-ups, push-ups, BMI, and self-efficacy.
Among boys, significant main effects were found for ethnicity F (2, 714) = 3.174, p < 0.001; and SES t = 5.024, p < 0.001. Post hoc analysis revealed significant ethnic differences on the following dependent variables: mile run, curl-ups, push-ups, BMI, trunk extension and self-efficacy. Students identified as low SES scored lower than those identified as high in the variables mile run, curl-ups, push-ups, BMI, and self-efficacy.
Conclusions:
This study identified disparities in physical fitness and physical activity self-efficacy between low income, minority children and their higher income, white peers. Health interventions focused on increasing minority children’s fitness levels could help reduce incidences of obesity and associated deleterious health effects and might narrow the existing health gap between segments of society based on income and ethnicity.