Analysis Of Physical Fitness And Psychological Well- Being Among National Cadet Corps (Ncc) And Non-National Cadet Corps (Non-Ncc) Students

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical well-being refers to the ability of an individual to perform daily activities efficiently with strength, endurance, flexibility, and minimal risk of injury or fatigue. It is a pivotal component in maintaining overall health, especially in students who are in a critical phase of growth and development. On the other hand, psychological well-being involves emotional stability, mental clarity, and the ability to cope with academic and social pressures.

Together, these aspects contribute to a person’s overall quality of life. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) provides structured training in physical fitness, discipline, co-ordination organizational skills and team management, potentially impacting both physical and psychological well-being.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the physical fitness of NCC and non-NCC students.

To determine the psychological well-being of NCC and non-NCC students.

To compare the physical fitness and psychological well-being between NCC and non- NCC students.

METHOD: The study involved NCC and Non-NCC students both boys and girls. Physical fitness was examined using the 6-minute walk/run test (endurance), 1-minute push-up test (strength), sit-and-reach test (flexibility), and anthropometric measurements. Psychological well- being was obtained using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data analysis was performed using mean, standard deviation, significance of t value and p value.

RESULT: Among 120students there were 60NCC students and 60 NON-NCC students. Endurance: NCC (mean = 1.88 km) > Non-NCC (1.64 km), t = 4.55, p < 0.0001 Strength: NCC (mean = 37.91 reps) > Non-NCC (34.07 reps), t = 7.80, p < 0.0001 Flexibility: NCC (mean = 29.55 cm) > Non-NCC (29.1 cm), t = 9.05, p < 0.0001

In terms of psychological well-being, both groups showed similar GHQ scores with no statistically significant difference (t = 0.177, p > 0.8), although Non-NCC students had a slightly better mean score (mean = 24.66 vs 25.09), indicating mildly better psychological well-being

CONCLUSION: NCC training appears to have a significant positive impact on physical fitness, enhancing endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility among students. However, no notable impact was detected in psychological well-being, as both NCC and Non-NCC students reported similar levels of mental health. Further studies with a larger sample size and deeper psychological profiling are recommended to explore this relationship in more depth