BACKGROUND: Research on physical and health development characteristics of minority students in South China can provide the basis for a better understanding of civil constitution in remote and mountain areas.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the factors that can affect the physical and health characteristics of minority students in parts of South China by establishing clustering, factor analysis model; to examine the comprehensive relationship between the factors.
METHODS: Students of 10 minority nationalities aged from 18 to 23 years in South China were selected as test objects. The health condition of 26 399 minority students was tested by four steps: the in-situ investigation, small sample feasibility test, large sample formal test and index system establishment. The health classification and factor structure of minority students in South China were examined by clustering, factor analysis model.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There are three types of physical characteristics in minority students from South China. The structure of constitutional factor is compromised of dietary structure level, cardiopulmonary motor function level and movement coordination level. And dietary structure level is the main influence on the constitution of minority students in South China.