| Description |
Cardiorespiratory endurance is a major component of health-related fitness testing in physical education. FITNESSGRAM recommends the 1-mile Run/Walk (1-MRW) or the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) to assess cardiorespiratory endurance by estimating aerobic capacity, or VO2 Peak. No research to date has cross-validated prediction models from both 1-MRW and PACER using current FITNESSGRAM criterion-referenced (CR) standards. Additionally, new prediction models for 1-MRW without a body mass index (BMI) term are needed to attenuate the problems incorporating this index into an aerobic capacity model. The purpose of this dissertation was to cross-validate various prediction models using 1-MRW and PACER and to develop alternative 1-MRW aerobic capacity prediction models for adolescent youth. Participants included 90 students aged 13 to 16 years. Each student completed the 1-MRW and PACER, in addition to a maximal treadmill test to measure VO2 Peak. Multiple correlations among various models with measured VO2 Peak were considered strong (R = 0.74 to 0.78). CR validity, examined using modified kappa (Κq), percentage of agreement (Pa), and phi was considered moderate among all models (Κq = 0.25 to 0.49; Pa = 72% to 79%; phi = 0.38 to 0.65). Two new models were developed from 1-MRW times, one linear and one quadratic model. The linear and quadratic models displayed multiple correlations of R = 0.77 and R = 0.82 with measured VO2 Peak, respectively. CR validity evidence was considered moderate with (Kq = 0.38; Pa = 73%; phi = 0.57) using the linear model and (Kq = 0.34; Pa = 70%; phi = 0.54) using the quadratic model. The accuracy of these models was confirmed using k-fold cross-validation. In conclusion, the prediction models demonstrated strong linear relationships with measured VO2 Peak, acceptable prediction error, and moderate CR agreement with measured VO2 Peak using FITNESSGRAM's CR standards to categorize health groups. The new 1-MRW models displayed good predictive accuracy and moderate CR agreement with measured VO2 Peak without using a BMI predictor. Despite evidence for predictive utility of the new models, they must be externally validated to ensure they can be generalizable to larger populations of students. |
