Investigating the Relationship between Physical Activity Status and Exercise with the Dimensions of Soldiers’ Social Health

Social health is one of the most basic indicators of health in any country and can be affected by various factors. Military service puts a lot of pressure on soldiers, which can have a negative effect on their social health. There is some evidence that exercise can affect social health.

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between physical activity status and exercise with the dimensions of soldiers’ social health.

The present study is a descriptive correlational study. Two hundred soldiers were selected by the available sampling method as a statistical sample from a military base in Shiraz city in fall 2016. They were divided into two groups of active and inactivebased on the amount of physical activity per week. Social Health Questionnaire was completed for them. SPSS/16 and t- Test were used for analyzing the data.

The results showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in social prosperity scales (P=0.03) and overall social health score (P=0.05). Also, the social solidarity (P= 0.32), social cohesion (P=0.66), social acceptance (P= 0.41), and social participation (P=0.74) measures were higher in the active group than in the inactive group. There was no significant difference between the two groups.
Discussion and

Based on the results, it can be said that physical activity and exercise are related to the social health of the soldiers. So soldiers can incorporate regular physical activity and exercise into the weekly program to improve their social health.