The Level Influence of Recreational Sports Activity on the Life Quality and Anxiety in Students with and without Signs of Autonomic Dysfunction Syndrome

Autonomic dysfunction syndrome (ADS) is a common condition in adolescents and young people and can be considered as a result of emotionally significant stressful situations associated with problems of social adaptation. Exercise in any sport improves subjective well-being, mental health and reduces social anxiety. However, the impact of a variety of sports remains poorly studied. In our work, we introduce a measure of a subject's physical activity – the number of sports he/she is fond of. We assume that it is associated with the psychosocial adaptation of students with signs of ADS, because it creates conditions for a variety of physical activities, accompanying emotions, for interaction with other people and thus allows to overcome the limitations imposed on them by this ailment. Purpose to identify the influence of the level of physical activity of students with and without signs of ADS on the quality of life and anxiety. It was evaluated by the number of sports practiced by the student in addition to the mandatory attendance of physical education classes. Material and methods. Using a mass survey of undergraduate students, autonomic status, anxiety level and quality of life were assessed on the basis of the Wein, Spielberger and SF-36 tests, and the number of sports practiced by the student was determined. People with chronic diseases and organized sports were excluded. Results. In students without signs of ADS the indicators of anxiety and quality of life do not change with the increase in the number of sports, and in those with these signs – the quality of life increases and the anxiety decreases, which leads to their equalization with the first group. These changes are manifested to a greater extent in relation to mental health than physical health. Conclusion. Variety of physical education in students with signs of ADS reduces anxiety, improves subjective well-being and mental health. These results indicate the importance of the intrinsic need to engage in a variety of sports independently.