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

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 (lambda) of 0.60-0.81. Socioeconomic as an exogenous latent variable is contributed by two manifest variables with lambda of 0.42 and 0.79. Meanwhile, physical health as an endogenous latent variable is contributed by six manifest variables with lambda of 0.63-0.83. Meanwhile, psychological well-being as an endogenous latent variable is contributed by six manifest variables with lambda of 0.25-0.84. The physical health variable influences the psychological well-being variable with a beta (beta) 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.