THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS VARIABLES AMONG KOREAN ADULTS

Background: The relationship between socioeconomic status and physical fitness level is unclear. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between socioeconomic factors and physical fitness among Korean adults. Participants: A retrospective analysis of the physical fitness and demographic data extracted from the 2013 National Fitness Award project conducted in Korea. The data from 1,690 men and 1,982 women, 19-64 years-old, were included. Sampling strategy, using 14 clusters and stratification levels, ensured a national representation of the Republic of Korea. The following physical fitness variables were included in the analysis: time on the 50 metre dash run, repetitions of shuttle run, distance of standing long jump, distance of sit-and-reach, number of sit-ups in 1 minute, and grip strength. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine whether physical fitness levels were related to occupation (physically active, non-active and other), household income (divided into quartiles) and location of residence (rural or urban), adjusting for age and sex. Results: Participants with physically active occupations had higher fitness levels than those with non-active and other occupations. As the household income increased, the fitness levels also tended to increase. Participants living in a small city had higher fitness levels than those living in a large city, except on the 50 metre dash run. Conclusions: Physical fitness variables could be affected by socioeconomic status.