The Relationship between Socioeconomic Factors, Physical Literacy, Physical Health, and Well-being among Female Athletes: A Construct Theoretical Model

Abstract

Background. The low participation of women in sports will remain a problem if a more comprehensive formula is not sought. Whereas the level of participation is correlated with the health and psychological well-being of women. Objectives. This study aimed to develop a theory that explains the simultaneous relations, both directly and indirectly, between socioeconomic variables, physical literacy, physical health, and psychological well-being in women. Methods. As participants were adolescent to elderly women, aged 16–64 years ±32.7 a total of 408 people were in the Surabaya area and its surroundings. Data was collected using questionnaires and scales covering socioeconomic dimensions, physical literacy, health, and psychological well-being. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Results. The results showed that the theoretical model which included 4 latent variables and 17 manifest variables was coherent and corresponded with empirical data with RMSEA= 0.08, Chi-square= 3.79, GFI= 0.988, AGFI= 0.984, PGFI= 0.730, and NFI= 0.976. Physical literacy as an exogenous latent variable is contributed by three manifest variables with lambda (λ) of 0.60-0.81. Socioeconomic as an exogenous latent variable is contributed by two manifest variables with λ of 0.42 and 0.79. Meanwhile, physical health as an endogenous latent variable is contributed by six manifest variables with λ of 0.63-0.83. Meanwhile, psychological well-being as an endogenous latent variable is contributed by six manifest variables with λ of 0.25-0.84. The physical health variable influences the psychological well-being variable with a beta (β) of 0.30. Conclusion. The findings of this study suggest that our theoretical model, which explores the structural relationship between socioeconomic variables, physical literacy, physical health, and psychological well-being, is both coherent and supported by empirical evidence.