Original scientific paper
Some observations concerning the influence of work on the development of male youths between 14-18 years old
Branko Kesić
; Institut za higijenu rada Zagreb
Abstract
Two questions seem particularly important with regard to the development of working youth:
1. What is the Influence of work in industry and trade on the young organism?
2. What is the best age, in view of his physical development, for a young man to start work in industry or trade?
The observations were limited to a group of 81'83 young men (5225 from Croatian villages - »peasant youth«, and 2958 from towns - »town youth«) measured in Zagreb for height and weight before accepting jobs in the years 1945-48. Statistically significant differences were established between »peasant« and »town« youth showing that town youth is better developed physically before entering jobs.
Ad 1. Data on the height and weight of 2821 apprentices (1442 belonging to the »peasant« and 1379 to the »town« youth) from Zagreb industry and trade in 1945-48 were examined and the following conclusions reached:
a) Entering industrial or trade jobs has at favourable effect on the physical development of both peasant and town youth.
b) When differences are compared between peasant and town youths before they start working and after they have started it is noticed that the difference in height becomes somewhat less significant though town youths remain taller than peasant youths up to 19. The significance of the difference in weight changes. Peasant youths become heavier than town youths after the first year of work. The significance of these differences is not great and varies between 54 and 80 per cent. A similar phenomenon appears after 2-3 years of work. It is significant however that town youths are heavier with 19 irrespective of the length of employment (significance of difference 67, 79, 97 per cent). We dispose of no data pointing to a conclusion how the significance of difference in height and weight between peasant and town youth develops after 19 years of age. Work in trade and industry irrespective of the age at which it begins represents an ecological factor quickly accelerating growth in height and weight. This becomes statistically significant in the course of the second year o:t employment. This acceleration is not particularly relevant for the final values of growth in height reached by youth at 18 or 19, built it is important for growth in weight (especially for peasant youth). Therefore we may conclude that work in trade and industry equally in both peasant and town youth
aa) disturbs the rhythm of the annual increase in height and weight;
bb) accelerates the physical development of youth;
cc) brings forth significant differences in the increase of the body mass in comparison with youth outside trade and industry. This is statistically a continuous phenomen up to 19.
Ad 2. on the basis of data on height and weight of apprentices in the trade and industry of Zagreb and in view of their present amount of effort (working hours, intensity of work &c) we may conclude that it is irrelevant for their physical development whether the boys had started to work with 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18. Whenever they enter industry, work has as a rule a beneficial effect which can be noticed with both peasant and town youth Significant differences proving that work exercises a positive influence on youth depend on various ecological factors such as food, physical work, organized (rhytmical) way of life and sport. In addition to such ecological factors there are also various other phenomena having a positive influence on the physical development of working youth. There are no doubt others having a negative, unfavourable influence. In view of all these factors on the one hand and of the rapid development of our industry, of special food conditions, of the development of physical culture &c on the other, it will be necessary to watch constantly all these influences on the physical development of working youth.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
189424
URI
Publication date:
19.6.1950.
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