Sex differences in muscular endurance and stress reactivity and their cross-sectional association among filipino state university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/0z12w171Keywords:
muscular endurance, perceived stress reactivity, sex differences, push-up test, cross-sectional studyAbstract
Muscular endurance and stress reactivity are relevant to student functioning, but their cross-sectional association remains unclear in Filipino university settings. This study compared muscular endurance and perceived stress reactivity by sex and examined whether the measured variables were statistically associated. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, 129 non-athlete students from one Philippine state university were recruited through convenience sampling (92 males and 37 females; age: M = 18.43, SD = 0.99 years). Upper-extremity, lower-extremity, and core muscular endurance were assessed using participants’ online reports of their previous PATHFIT push-up, wall-sit, and plank scores. Perceived stress reactivity was measured using a sample-refitted 20-item Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (subscale ω = .737–.844; CFI = .898; TLI = .879; RMSEA = .076; SRMR = .056). Welch’s t tests and simultaneous multiple linear regression analyses were conducted at α = .05. Males obtained higher scores on all three muscular endurance tests (all p < .001; d = 0.733–0.905). Females reported higher prolonged reactivity, reactivity to social conflict, failure, social evaluation, and total stress reactivity (p = .027 to < .001; d = 0.473–0.617), whereas reactivity to work overload did not differ significantly by sex (p = .169). The fitted regression models did not reach statistical significance in the total sample, F(3, 125) = 1.152, p = .331, adjusted R² = .004, or within the male and female subgroups. Accordingly, no statistically significant association between the measured muscular endurance scores and perceived stress reactivity was detected under the present sample and analytical conditions. This finding should not be interpreted as evidence that the constructs are independent or unrelated. PATHFIT programs may consider muscular endurance and stress-management skills as complementary educational targets. Longitudinal research using directly supervised fitness assessments, objective stress indicators, balanced samples, and theoretically relevant covariates is recommended.
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