Investigation of physical fitness in adolescent children according to the relative age effect

Investigation of Physical Fitness in Adolescent Children According to the Relative Age Effect The aim of this thesis research is to investigate the relative age effect (RAE) among adolescent children attending middle school in Bingöl province and to compare their anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics. The population of this study consisted of 309 students attending Bingöl Şehit Astsubay Muhammed Koşan Middle School in 2024. The students were divided into four groups based on their birth months: 1st quarter (January-March), 2nd quarter (April-June), 3rd quarter (July-September), and 4th quarter (October-December). In our study, demographic variables included birth year, age, birth month, gender, and grade level. Anthropometric measurements included height, body weight, and body mass index, while performance measurements included vertical jump, standing long jump, medicine ball throw, speed tests (10-20-30 meters), 30-second push-up test, 30-second sit-up test, and 20-meter endurance test. The statistical analysis of the data obtained in our study was conducted using the SPSS program, and percentage distributions, arithmetic means, within-group rank averages, and standard deviation values were determined. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. To identify the source of differences within groups, within-group rank averages were utilized. It was observed that there was no significant difference between the anthropometric and motor test results of male and female students born in 2012 (12 years old) and 2013 (11 years old) and their birth quarters. However, based on the research findings, while no significant difference was found between the anthropometric test results and birth quarters of male and female students born in 2010 (14 years old) and 2011 (13 years old), a significant difference was observed between some motor test results and birth quarters. This significant difference can be expressed as the performance of children born in the 1st and 2nd quarters being better than that of children born in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Keywords: Adolescent, Relative age, Birth quarter, Student.