17th Annual Student Research Conference
Social Science
The Relationships among Tobacco Use, BMI, Perceived Fitness, and Actual Physical Performance among Mlitary Science Students
Sarah E. Linke* and Laura A. Sapenoff
Dr. Karen Vittengl, Faculty Mentor
Tobacco use and perceived physical fitness were assessed through a health behaviors survey, and body mass index (BMI) values were calculated from previously recorded height/weight data, to determine if these factors were associated with actual performance on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) among Military Science students. The interaction between tobacco use and BMI was related to physical performance on the APFT, such that participants who had used tobacco and had high BMIs obtained higher overall scores on the APFT than other participants. Additionally, tobacco use alone was related to push-up performance, and BMI alone was associated with two-mile run times. Furthermore, participants accurately predicted their actual performance on each component of the APFT. Results regarding BMI were congruent with past research in that overweight participants performed poorer on the cardiorespiratory element of the APFT.
Keywords: health psychology, tobacco, body mass index, perceived fitness, physical fitness
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 26-50
Location: OP Lobby & Atrium
Time: 1:15