THE EFFECT OF SOMATOTYPE CHARACTER DIFFERENCES ON COGNITIVE AND BIOMOTOR ABILITIES

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of somatotype differences on cognitive and biomotor abilities. This study was performed on 134 male (age average 21.85±2.34 years), 38 female (age average 21.28±2.22 years), and total 172 participants who do not have habit of regular exercise. The somatotype body types of participants were determined by Heath-Carter formula. As biomotor performance tests 30 m sprint, counter movement jump (CMJ), maximal anaerobic power (Ppeak), maximal anaerobic capacity (Pmean), Yo Yo Intermittent Recovery Test-1 (YIRT-1), hand-grip strength and flexibility (sit and reach) were measured. As measure of cognitive ability “The Transition to Higher Education Examination” (THEE) was used and evaluated the highest scores received by the participants. In this study participants with endomorph body type took the highest the THEE score (242.60±21.83), participants with mesomorph body type took lower scores than participants with endomorph (237.51±34.67) and finally participants who had ectomorphy body type showed lower scores than the ones with other two body types in terms of THEE scores (227.46±27.96). A statistically significant difference was found in jump test scores (p=0.04). According to these scores, participants with ectomorphic body type (p=0.34) and participants with mesomophic body type (p=0.14) the higher performance was seen in jump test scores. A statistically significant difference was found in YIRT1 test scores which is used to measure maximal oxygen consumption (p=0.00). According to results, participants with ectomorphic body type (p=0.01) and participants with mesomophic body type (p=0.00) the higher performance was seen in aerobic capacity scores. As result, participants with endomorphy body type who had the highest the THEE scores showed lower scores than the ones with other two body types in terms of hand-grip strength, flexibility, CMJ, 30 m sprint and YIRT-1 tests scores.