EQOL Journal (2020) 12(1):
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Physical activity and quality of life in adolescents and orphans
Lucija Maglica 1 • Hrvoje Karninčić 1 • Ana Penjak 1 • Gordan Drašinac 1✉
Received: 27th June, 2019 |
DOI: 10.31382/eqol.200604 |
Accepted: 22nd December, 2019 |
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© The Author(s) 2020. This article is published with open access. |
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and the quality of life in secondary school pupils and in orphans. The second aim was to determine differences in physical activity habits among groups.
91 participants (age 15.4±1.2) divided in two subsamples: secondary school pupils (n=75) and orphans from Split region (n=16). The variable sample consisted of nine variables out of which four variables that questioned the quality of life by means of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire and five of them questioned subjective assessment of weekly physical activities by means
of The International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Differences between groups were tested by
Differences between groups were found in the variable of light physical activity intensity level (U=376.5;
✉drasinac@oss.unist.hr
1University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology, Split, Croatia
and surroundings aspect of the quality of life (ρ=0.62).
Orphans share similar amount of physical activities with other pupils but sport has particular meaning for them. The more sports they do, the more satisfied regarding the social domain of quality of life they feel.
Keywords orphans • sport • socialization.
Introduction
The term orphans refers to children without adequate parental care because of a death case of one or both parents or because of the abandonment (He & Ji, 2007). There are not many of studies in Croatia which address the issue. Orphans represent particularly vulnerable group of young people on whose lifestyle any bigger problem can leave major trace and cause bigger damage than on the group of children with parental care. The studies of quality of life in children without adequate parental care are mainly related to additional life problems. For instance, HIV positive orphans tend to suffer more from depression than children with parental care; they tend to have low
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EQOL Journal (2020) 12(1):
According to World Health Organization, the quality of life stands as an individual perception of own position within a society he/she lives in and its correlation with his/her own goals, expectations, standards and worries (WHO, 1998). Among numerous studies that have defined quality of life, the one given by Felce and Perry (1993) defines it as an overall state of
Low quality of life can be traced among general population of less physically active children, obese children and among those who consume alcohol (Gordija, 2008).
However, the situation with sport and weak groups such as orphans is a little bit more complex. Elling, De Knop, and Knoppers (2001) emphasize that sport can contribute to an increase of socialization among weak groups but it can, at the same time, expose them to various forms of violence. Namely, the more the person is physically active, the more her/his quality of life is and
Nevertheless, sport should have positive influence on orphans quality of life. Apart from the fact that sport has positive influence on an individual’s physical state, it also builds
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obtained. This study should further emphasize the importance of sport whose impact is mainly observed through physical health of the trainer. The impact of sport on psychosocial status is equally important. For sport professional and coaches who work with such groups, this information can be of great importance to on them properly and to be as efficient as possible in working with them.
Method
The study included 91 participants (age 15,4±1,2) among which 27 men (29,7%) and 64 women
(70,0%). The sample was divided in two subsamples: secondary school students (n=75, male 17 and female 58), and orphans from Split region (n=16, male 10 and female 6). All participants took part in the study voluntarily while the study was approved by both educational institutions.
The variable sample, consisting of 9 variables, was divided in two logical sets. The first set consisted of four domains that were measured by shorter version of the international World Health Organization Quality of Life
Descriptive statistical parameters (mean, standard deviation and mode) have been calculated for all variables. Differences between groups were tested by
All participants and their teachers have been informed about the aim of the study and were given the headmistress's approval. The questionnaire was anonymous and subjected to free will. All participants were given 10 minutes to fill in both questionnaires. All necessary clarifications were given when needed. Age and gender data were also collected. The study was based on two international questionnaires in their shorter versions.
EQOL Journal (2020) 12(1):
Both shorter and longer versions of the
international questionnaire World Health Organization Quality of Life
&O'Connell, 2004; Varni et al., 2019; Yang, Kuo, Su, Wang, & Lin, 2006). The reliability parameters of the questionnaire were checked and for the sample of high school students are: Cronbach alpha 0,79 and Average
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is a valid and reliable tool in measuring physical activities (Craig et al., 2003; Hagstromer, Oja, & Sjostrom, 2006). The reliability parameters of the questionnaire were checked and for the sample of high school students are: Cronbach alpha 0,69 and
Average
are: Cronbach alpha 0,70 and Average
Correlation: 0,47. The reliability parameters of this questionnaire are low but still acceptable (Taber, 2018; Gliem & Gliem, 2003). For the purpose of this study, the shorter version of the IPAQ questionnaire was used that, nevertheless, fulfilled all needed metric characteristics for both age groups (Papathanasiou et al., 2009; Hagstromer et al., 2008). Three types of activities were measured by the questionnaire (intensive, moderate and light physical activities) together with the overall physical activities and sedentary habits. The results have been shown in minutes/week for every domain and for overall domains.
Results
In Table 1 can be noticed that there is a statistical difference between groups in terms of weekly physical activities only in the variable 'light physical activities' (U=376.5;
Table 1. Descriptive statistical parameters (mean, mode and frequency of mode) for all variables referring to physical activities and the quality of life together with differences between groups
Quality |
|
All groups |
|
Secondary school |
|
Maestral |
|
||
|
Median |
Mode |
f mode |
Median |
Mode |
f mode |
Median |
Mode |
f mode |
Physical |
112.0 |
116.0 |
13.0 |
112.0 |
116.0 |
12.0 |
112.0 |
116.0 |
3.0 |
Psychological |
92.0 |
88.0 |
12.0 |
92.0 |
88.0 |
12.0 |
92.0 |
88.0 |
3.0 |
Social |
36.0 |
36.0 |
28.0 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
25.0 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
6.0 |
Surrounding |
124.0 |
116.0 |
10.0 |
128.0 |
116.0 |
10.0 |
124.0 |
116.0 |
3.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Physical activity |
|
|
|
|
|
Intesive |
0.0 |
0.0 |
50.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
41.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
9.0 |
Moderate |
34.3 |
0.0 |
31.0 |
42.9 |
0.0 |
23.0 |
0.0 |
13.3 |
8.0 |
Light |
13.2 |
69.3 |
18.0 |
13.2* |
0.0* |
15.0 |
69.3* |
46.2* |
6.0* |
Total |
92.4 |
69.3 |
6.0 |
89.9 |
69.3 |
4.0 |
Multiple |
121.2 |
2.0 |
Sitting |
300.0 |
0.0 |
33.0 |
240.0 |
0.0 |
30.0 |
Multiple |
360.0 |
3.0 |
*statistically significant difference among groups(p<0.05)
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EQOL Journal (2020) 12(1):
Table 2. Correlation among weekly physical activities and the quality of life (Spearman coefficient rank) in secondary school children and orphans
Quality of life |
Group |
|
Physical activities |
|
Sitting |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intensive |
Moderate |
Light |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Physical aspect |
All groups |
||||||
Psychological aspect |
0.27* |
0.21* |
0.25* |
||||
(n=90) |
|||||||
Social aspect |
0.24* |
0.15 |
0.17 |
||||
|
|||||||
Surrounding factors |
|
0.23* |
0.34* |
0.32* |
|||
Physical aspect |
Secondary |
||||||
Psychological aspect |
school |
0.29* |
0.17 |
0.24* |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Social aspect |
(n=75) |
0.13 |
0.09 |
0.10 |
|||
Surrounding factors |
0.16 |
0.29* |
0.28* |
||||
|
|||||||
Physical aspect |
Maestral |
0.10 |
|||||
Psychological aspect |
0.23 |
0.32 |
0.23 |
0.25 |
0.09 |
||
(n=16) |
|||||||
Social aspect |
0.64* |
0.46 |
0.05 |
0.58* |
0.12 |
||
|
|||||||
Surrounding factors |
|
0.52* |
0.55* |
0.24 |
0.62* |
0.34 |
*statistically significant correlation (p<0.05)
From Table 2 it is evident that there is a significant correlation between intensive physical activity and psychological, social and surrounding factors that influence the quality of life. The correlation in secondary school children has been spotted only in correlation to psychological aspect, while in orphans it highly correlates with social and surrounding factors.
Moderate physical activity correlates psychological and surrounding factors of the quality of life. Surrounding factors that influence the quality of life of the secondary school children correlate only with moderate physical activity. The same situation can be noticed in orphans with only one slight
Discussion
It is very interesting to notice how orphans perceive their quality of life in the same way as secondary school children who have been raised in normal
family surroundings emphasizing no significant difference in any of the variables. The same situation can also be found when referring to the amount of physical activities. The only significant difference can be traced in light physical activities between groups (U=376.5;
&Bracke, 2010). Female dominate only in certain sports (figure skating synchronized swimming …) and as far as the age is concerned only in the older adult category (<55), the percentage of women in sports is equal to men (Van Tuyckom, Scheerder & Bracke, 2010). It would be interesting to see what gender differences are involved in sport activities in orphans sample. Limited sample is one of the major limitations of this study.
Orphans have many reasons to get involved in sports. The results referring to intensive physical activities inform us that none of the children in both groups is involved in sports (median and mode=0). Less than half of the children in both groups do sports which eventually results in their doing sports less than
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EQOL Journal (2020) 12(1):
half an hour per week on average. This tends to be quite misguiding since it includes a small number of those who exercise regularly and larger number of those who do not exercise at all. There are too many children reporting lack of activity in both groups that fits in with global trends and actions taken in this direction do not produce the expected results (Vandermeerschen, Vos & Scheerder, 2016).
The correlation between physical activity and the quality of life
The study proves that satisfaction with surrounding factors that determine one’s quality of life, is connected with intensive physical activities. It comes as no surprise since, in order for a child to be involved in sports, all surrounding factors like adequate equipment, gym, transport and other things are needed. Data also suggest that the sedentary habits negatively determine the quality of life (Berčić & Đonlić, 2009; Bungić & Barić, 2009). Physical activity reduces anxiety and increases confidence in orphans (Kolayiş, Sarı, Soyer, & Gürhan, 2011). Orphans quality of life is mostly connected with intensive physical activities, i.e. the more they get involved in sports, the higher level of social (r=0.64) and surrounding aspect (r=0.52) they report.
Conclusion
Orphans have similar amount of physical activities as other children with parental care. This study showed low physical activity in both groups but physical activity has particular significance for orphans. The more sports they do, the more pleased they are with their quality of social life. Therefore, we may agree with the idea that, for children, sport has a role of the second family. Obtained results suggest that the surrounding conditions are important and, as such, connected to physical activities. This means that we should enable orphans all necessary conditions so that they can be involved in sports.
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How to cite this article:
Maglica, L., Karninčić, H., Penjak, A., & Drašinac, G. (2020). Physical
APA:activity and quality of life in adolescents and orphans. Exercise and Quality of Life, 12(1),
MLA:
Chicago:
Maglica, Lucija, et al. "Physical activity and quality of life in adolescents and orphans." Exercise and Quality of Life 12.1 (2020):
Maglica, Lucija, Hrvoje Karninčić, Ana Penjak, and Gordan Drašinac. "Physical activity and quality of life in adolescents and orphans."
Exercise and Quality of Life 12, no. 1 (2020):
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