Perceptions and attitudes of female soldiers toward physical performance and fitness standards in soldiers

Abstract

No previous studies have investigated attitudes of the female soldiers toward physical fitness tests and physical performance requirements. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how military personnel group, age, physical fitness, and body composition are associated with female soldiers’ attitudes toward fitness tests and requirements. A survey was conducted for 362 voluntary female soldiers. 76 % of them answered that the current fitness requirements are not too demanding, and 56 to 76% thought that the minimum requirements are at appropriate level for females. Nearly half (48%) of the female soldiers reported that it creates inequality when there are the same fitness standards for both genders. 12 % of the studied females had experienced bullying and 24% had experienced discrimination because of their physical fitness. Noncommissioned officers, older soldiers, overweight soldiers, and those with lower fitness thought more often that the physical fitness requirements are too high for female soldiers (p < 0.05). Lower fitness and overweight were associated with higher prevalence of being bullied and experiences of discrimination because of physical fitness (p < 0.05). The results suggest that there might be a need for a better communication about fitness requirements and targeted interventions for better integration of women in military environment.