Is self-perception enough to predict cardiorespiratory fitness?
Original article - e245616 - Published 2025, Jun 6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33233/rbfex.v24i1.5616Keywords:
surveys and questionnaires, physical fitness, cross-sectional studies, exercise test, military personnelAbstract
Introduction: This study investigated the validity of self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness as a tool for assessing physical fitness in military personnel of the Brazilian Air Force. Objectives: The objective was to determine the correlation between self-reported fitness and objectively measured VO2max, exploring its potential as an alternative or complement to traditional methods. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design, using a convenience sample of 72 aspirants to the officer cadre of the Brazilian Air Force (47 females, 25 males). Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire to assess perceived cardiorespiratory fitness and a 12-minute Cooper run test to measure V̇O2max. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and k-means clustering. Results: The results showed a significant positive correlation between self-reported fitness and VO2max, suggesting that self-report and objective measures are in reasonably good agreement. However, the analyses revealed some discrepancies, with potential biases in self-report observed at different fitness levels and between genders. Although self-report showed promise as a complementary tool, it was not a perfect substitute for objective assessment. Conclusion: The study concluded that self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness has potential as a large-scale, cost-effective screening tool for the Brazilian Air Force.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Vinicius Oliveira Damasceno, Laura Cabral Cruz Lopes da Silveira, Gustavo Bernardes Fanaro, Helder Guerra de Resende, Paula Morisco de Sá
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