Relationship of Resting Heart Rate Variability to Physical Fitness Levels in Adolescents
Main Article Content
Introduction. Physical fitness is an important indicator of adolescent health, closely related to cardiovascular function and the body's ability to perform physical activity. One physiological parameter reflecting cardiovascular system regulation is resting heart rate variability, which has the potential to serve as an objective indicator of physical fitness. This study aimed to examine the relationship between resting heart rate variability and physical fitness levels in adolescents. Methods. This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional correlational design. Fifty-eight students from SMP Negeri 3 Gowa were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Resting heart rate variability was measured using a digital heart rate monitor, while physical fitness levels were assessed using the Cooper test. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Pearson correlation test with SPSS version 25 at a significance level of 0.05. Results. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between resting heart rate variability and physical fitness levels (r = 0.462; p = 0.001). Adolescents with better resting heart rate variability tended to demonstrate higher levels of physical fitness. Conclusion. Resting heart rate variability is significantly associated with physical fitness levels in adolescents and shows potential as an objective physiological indicator for monitoring physical fitness.
Keywords:
Heart rate variability
Physical fitness
Adolescents
Cardiovascular health
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32. Bauer N, Sperlich B, Holmberg H, Engel F. Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training in School on the Physical Performance and Health of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine - Open. 2022.
33. Villa‐González E, Barranco‐Ruiz Y, García‐Hermoso A, Faigenbaum AD. Efficacy of School‐based Interventions for Improving Muscular Fitness Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis. European Journal of Sport Science. 2022.
34. Kiss O, Baker FC, Pálovics R, Dooley EE, Gabriel KP, Nagata JM. Using Explainable Machine Learning and Fitbit Data to Investigate Predictors of Adolescent Obesity. Scientific Reports. 2024.
2. Carriedo A, Estrada JAC, Fernández-Álvarez LE, Mesa CGG de. Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Adolescents After the COVID-19 Lockdown and One Year Afterward. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022.
3. Marques KC, Silva CC, Trindade S da S, Santos MC de S, Rocha RSB, Vasconcelos PF da C, et al. Reduction of Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Increased Sympathetic Activity by Heart Rate Variability in Patients With Long COVID. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2022.
4. Fatoni F, Juhanis J, Hamzah F, Raswadi MD, Alimsyah AS. Dinamika Respon Denyut Nadi Saat Pembebanan Dan Recovery Di Sepeda Statis Analisis Sebelum-Sesudah Latihan Fartlek 3 Bulan. Jurnal Penjaskesrek. 2025.
5. Verma P, Jani H, Bhanderi P, Patel B, Parlewar RK, Saini PK, et al. Normative Data of Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Populations Residing at High Altitudes: Influence of Age and Gender. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2025.
6. Wong A, Figueroa A. Effects of Whole‐body Vibration on Heart Rate Variability: Acute Responses and Training Adaptations. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging. 2018.
7. Gottlieb LA, Mahfoud F, Stavrakis S, Jespersen T, Linz D. Autonomic Nervous System: A Therapeutic Target for Cardiac End-Organ Damage in Hypertension. Hypertension. 2024.
8. Shadrack GML, Latha R, Tamilselvan K, U KP, AK J, Niveatha S. Heart Rate Variability in Obese and Non-Obese School Children: Relationship With Hypertension. The Bioscan. 2025.
9. Benichou T, Pereira B, Mermillod M, Tauveron I, Pfabigan DM, Maqdasy S, et al. Heart Rate Variability in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta–analysis. Plos One. 2018.
10. Alen N V, Parenteau AM, Sloan RP, Hostinar CE. Heart Rate Variability and Circulating Inflammatory Markers in Midlife. Brain Behavior Immunity Health. 2021.
11. Wiley CR, Pourmand V, Stevens S, Jarczok MN, Fischer JE, Boschiero D, et al. The Interplay Between Heart Rate Variability, Inflammation, and Lipid Accumulation: Implications for Cardiometabolic Risk. Physiological Reports. 2025.
12. Ferdousi S, Gyeltshen P. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy and Heart Rate Variability. 2021.
13. Swart A. The Effects of a Three-Day Mountain Bike Cycling Race on the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and Heart Rate Variability in Amateur Cyclists. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2022.
14. Senthilnathan S, Patel R, Mariyappa N, Gireesan K, Janawadkar MP, Radhakrishnan TS, et al. An Investigation on the Influence of Yogic Methods on Heart Rate Variability. Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology. 2018. doi:10.1111/anec.12584
15. Chen LY, Zmora R, Duval S, Chow LS, Lloyd‐Jones DM, Schreiner PJ. Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Adiposity, and Heart Rate Variability: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2019.
16. Agostinis‐Sobrinho C, Kievišienė J, Rauckienė-Michaelsson A, Dubey VP, Norkienė S, Moreira C, et al. Cardiovascular Health Behavior and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2022.
17. Böttcher E, Schreiber LS, Wozniak DF, Scheller E, Schmidt F, Pelz J. Impaired Modulation of the Autonomic Nervous System in Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. Biomedicines. 2024.
18. Maniaci G, Daino M, Iapichino M, Giammanco A, Taormina C, Bonura GF, et al. Neurobiological and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects of a Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing Technique Based on Neofunctional Psychotherapy: A Pilot RCT. Stress and Health. 2024.
19. Martinello L, Romão FG, Godoy MF de, Machado LHA, Tsunemi MH, Lourenço MLG. Study of Autonomic Modulation by Non-Linear Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Different Age Groups and Analysis of Health Status, Disease and Risk of Death in Dogs. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 2023.
20. Zaki S, Alam F, Faizan M, Sharma S, Naqvi IH. Association Between Heart Rate Variability and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 2024.
21. Rosati F, Williams DP, Juster R, Thayer JF, Ottaviani C, Baiocco R. The Cardiovascular Conundrum in Ethnic and Sexual Minorities: A Potential Biomarker of Constant Coping With Discrimination. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2021.
22. Huskey A, Taylor DJ, Friedman BH. 064 Higher Resting HRV Enhances Protective Effects of Self-Reported Resilience Against the Impact of Poor Sleep Quality on PTSS. Sleep. 2021.
23. Ellyas IS, Sugiyanto S, Hidayatullah MF, Doewes M, Doewes RI, Umar F. The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and IL-6 in Adolescents. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences. 2021.
24. Abassi W, Ouerghi N, Hammami M, Jebabli N, Feki M, Bouassida A, et al. High-Intensity Interval Training Reduces Liver Enzyme Levels and Improves MASLD-Related Biomarkers in Overweight/Obese Girls. Nutrients. 2025.
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28. Geraghty AA, O’Brien EC, Callanan S, Mehegan J, McAuliffe FM. Cardiovascular Fitness Is Associated With Child Adiposity at 5 Years of Age: Findings From the ROLO Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study. BMC Pediatrics. 2023.
29. House D, Walker R, Salway R, Emm-Collison L, Breheny K, Sansum K, et al. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Physical Activity Environment in English Primary Schools: A Multi-Perspective Qualitative Analysis. Public Health Research. 2024.
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31. Moraes FB de, Tadiotto MC, Lenardt BC de C, Mota J, Matos O de, Leite N. Importance of Return to Usual and School Activities After Social Isolation in Recovering Vitamin D Concentrations, Physical Fitness, and Motor Performance in Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024.
32. Bauer N, Sperlich B, Holmberg H, Engel F. Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training in School on the Physical Performance and Health of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine - Open. 2022.
33. Villa‐González E, Barranco‐Ruiz Y, García‐Hermoso A, Faigenbaum AD. Efficacy of School‐based Interventions for Improving Muscular Fitness Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis. European Journal of Sport Science. 2022.
34. Kiss O, Baker FC, Pálovics R, Dooley EE, Gabriel KP, Nagata JM. Using Explainable Machine Learning and Fitbit Data to Investigate Predictors of Adolescent Obesity. Scientific Reports. 2024.
