Linking physical aspects to interpersonal competence in Filipino young adults

Background and Study Aim. Interpersonal competence is a critical component of young adult development, influencing academic success, social relationships, and psychological well-being. Recent interest has turned toward physical and behavioral factors that may be associated with the development of these social skills. This study aims to examine how subjective physical activity and perceived physical fitness predict interpersonal competence among Filipino young adults. Material and Methods. One hundred fourteen college students (54 females, 60 males) from a state university in Region 3, Philippines, were selected through simple random sampling. Participants completed an online survey using three validated instruments: the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire-15 (ICQ-15), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Self-Perception of Physical Fitness Scale. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression in SPSS version 30. The analysis assessed the predictive capacity of the two independent variables. Results. Results showed no significant predictive relationships among female participants. However, in the male and combined samples, subjective physical activity significantly predicted initiation and disclosure. Subjective fitness was a predictor of conflict management and overall interpersonal competence. Regression analyses revealed no significant predictive relationships between subjective physical activity or fitness and any domain of interpersonal competence among female participants. In contrast, among male respondents, subjective physical activity significantly predicted initiation (p = .021, R² = .088), while subjective fitness predicted conflict management (p = .039, R² = .071) and total interpersonal competence (p = .035, R² = .074). In the full sample, physical activity was a significant predictor of initiation (p = .013, R² = .054) and disclosure (p = .050, R² = .034). These findings suggest domain- and gender-specific associations between physical self-perception and interpersonal competence. Conclusions. The findings suggest the potential value of integrating physical activity into comprehensive youth development programs. Such programs may benefit from addressing both physical health and interpersonal skill development, particularly among male populations.