Justification of the diagnostic tools for studying the attitude towards health of students in extracurricular education institutions

The relevance of studying this issue is driven by the need to overcome existing negative trends in the health of children and adolescents. At the same time, most students do not fully realize the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which is due to both an insufficient level of valeological literacy and a low motivation for corresponding behavior. Extracurricular education offers unique opportunities for fostering a conscious attitude toward personal health among children. However, the lack of awareness among students regarding the significance of a healthy lifestyle remains a pressing concern, stemming from inadequate valeological literacy and insufficient motivation for adopting health-conscious behaviors. The aim of this article is to substantiate the structural relationships between the criteria for the formation of a value-based attitude toward health among students in educational institutions and the diagnostic tools used to measure these criteria, based on a systematic and comparative analysis of scientific sources. To assess the cognitive criterion of value-based attitudes toward health, the article justifies the use of standardized psychological diagnostic methods, namely M. Rokeach’s “Value Orientations” and S. Walker’s “Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile” (HPLP-II). To diagnose emotional attitudes toward personal health, the study substantiates the use of a projective methodology – the author’s drawing test “Health Drawing”. The study also elaborates on expert observations conducted using relevant protocols completed by parents and educators, which enabled the assessment of students’ behavioral attitudes toward health. The findings confirm that the application of these diagnostic methods makes it possible for specialists in extracurricular education institutions to evaluate the level of students’ value-based attitudes toward health. Furthermore, these tools can be effectively employed in practical activities aimed at improving the efforts of extracurricular educators and parents in shaping children’s perception of health as a fundamental life value.