Do baseline physical fitness measures predict law enforcement academy graduation?
Occupational health
endurance
fitness assessment
police
recruit
strength
tactical fitness
Journal
Work (Reading, Mass.)
ISSN: 1875-9270
Titre abrégé: Work
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 9204382
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2022
2022
Historique:
pubmed:
19
4
2022
medline:
3
6
2022
entrez:
18
4
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Law enforcement officers experience high stress levels and perform various physical tasks. Thus, law enforcement academies emphasize physical fitness training and assessment. To examine fitness test-performances and determine which entry-level fitness components best predict likelihood of successful law enforcement academy graduation. Recruits (151 males, 42 females) completed initial academy fitness testing: one-repetition maximum bench press, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, sit-and-reach, 1.5-mile run, and work performance test. Chi-square and t-tests were used to examine gender differences. Correlation coefficients assessed relationships, while logistical regression determined the best fitness components for predicting graduation (p < 0.05). Males had greater fitness performances except pull-ups, sit-ups and sit and reach (p < 0.05). Distributions of below average fitness performances were similar between genders with majority of recruits performing below average on all tests. Gender, age, push-ups, and pull-ups explained 18% of the variance in graduation rates (p < 0.05). Males were 4.68 (p < 0.05) times more likely to graduate, but other predictors were not significant. No single fitness test predicted the likelihood of graduation and majority of performances were below average, suggesting the importance for proficiency across multiple fitness components. Considering lower fitness performances and graduation rates, females may further benefit from training programs prior to academy entrance.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Law enforcement officers experience high stress levels and perform various physical tasks. Thus, law enforcement academies emphasize physical fitness training and assessment.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
To examine fitness test-performances and determine which entry-level fitness components best predict likelihood of successful law enforcement academy graduation.
METHODS
METHODS
Recruits (151 males, 42 females) completed initial academy fitness testing: one-repetition maximum bench press, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, sit-and-reach, 1.5-mile run, and work performance test. Chi-square and t-tests were used to examine gender differences. Correlation coefficients assessed relationships, while logistical regression determined the best fitness components for predicting graduation (p < 0.05).
RESULTS
RESULTS
Males had greater fitness performances except pull-ups, sit-ups and sit and reach (p < 0.05). Distributions of below average fitness performances were similar between genders with majority of recruits performing below average on all tests. Gender, age, push-ups, and pull-ups explained 18% of the variance in graduation rates (p < 0.05). Males were 4.68 (p < 0.05) times more likely to graduate, but other predictors were not significant.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
No single fitness test predicted the likelihood of graduation and majority of performances were below average, suggesting the importance for proficiency across multiple fitness components. Considering lower fitness performances and graduation rates, females may further benefit from training programs prior to academy entrance.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35431206
pii: WOR205310
doi: 10.3233/WOR-205310
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM