Investigation of social happiness status and its relationship with physical fitness among youth in South Khorasan province

Abstract

Background and Aim: The aim of current study was to investigate the status of social happiness and its relationship with anthropometrics and physical fitness factors among youth. Materials and Methods: The statistical population of this study was all young people aged 20-29 years old in South Khorasan province. Based on randomized multistage cluster sampling, 384 subjects were selected using the Cochran formula. Oxford happiness questionnaire was used to measure social happiness. Muscular and cardiovascular endurance were determined using a sit-up and Rockport tests, respectively. In addition, muscle strength was calculated by using the hand grip dynamometer tests. Body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) of each subject were also determined. Results: The results showed that the average of social happiness and all its components are at a desirable level among the youth of South Khorasan province. There is no meaningful relationship between social happiness and the age and gender of the subjects. However, there is a significant difference between the mean of social happiness in relation to marital status, employment status and educational level. In addition, there is a meaningful relationship between social happiness and parameters of BMI, muscular endurance, and cardio-respiratory endurance. Conclusion: In general, the results indicate that individuals with higher physical fitness, especially in body composition and muscular and cardio-respiratory endurance, experience higher social happiness.

Keywords

• social happiness
• cardio-respiratory endurance
• flexibility
• muscular strength
• body mass index
• waist to hip ratio
• youth