Investigation of Plank Test Performance of University Students According to Various Variables

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the plank test performance of university students according to various demographic variables such as gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and physical activity level. The research group comprised a total of 189 university students, including 139 males (mean age: 20±1.35) and 50 females (mean age: 20±1.48). The research data were obtained through participants' demographic information, height and weight measurements for BMI calculations, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and plank test applications. Data analysis was performed using independent samples t-test and chi-square test to determine the differences between genders for normally distributed data, multiple regression analysis to predict plank duration, and Pearson correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships between BMI, physical activity, and plank duration. The findings revealed that 26.5% of the participants were female and 73.5% were male. The average physical activity level (MET-min/week) for males was recorded as 2147.85±1156.11, while for females, it was 1657.27±659.51. The plank duration for males was found to be 123.74±37.04 seconds, whereas females had a duration of 96.32±26.96 seconds, indicating that males performed better in the plank test (p<0.05). Furthermore, a negative relationship was identified between BMI and the duration of maintaining the plank position (p<0.05). A positive relationship was observed between physical activity levels and plank duration in males (p<0.05), while no such relationship was found in females (p>0.05). Regression analyses indicated that BMI negatively affected plank duration (beta coefficient for females: -0.355, beta coefficient for males: -0.393), and differences in the impact of physical activity on plank duration were observed based on gender. These results underscore the importance of considering gender, BMI, and physical activity in understanding the factors influencing plank test performance. The study sheds light on the roles of gender differences, BMI, and physical activity when assessing how long individuals can maintain the plank position and contributes to the development of personalized physical fitness programs. The findings provide a foundation for future research aimed at understanding the effects of gender on health and sports performance.