Dynamics of physical activity and lifestyle of students during the war period in Ukraine

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and engaging in suffi  cient physical activity contribute to the preservation of health and personal growth in young students. These issues are very relevant today for Ukrainian society, due to the long quarantine and Russian military aggression, which have signifi cantly changed the way of life of young people and limited the opportunity to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  The purpose of our study was to determine the lifestyle profi le and physical activity of students in adverse ecological and psychological conditions during the war. Materials and Methods: The research, conducted over a three-year period (2021-2024), involved 84 students from three universities in Ukraine. We employed a method that involved analyzing scientifi c literature, synthesizing and systematizing the fi ndings, generalizing the results, surveying applicants (online using the Google Forms application), testing the profi le for a healthy lifestyle, and applying mathematical statistics.  The results of the test showed that during the year, under the infl uence of the change in the socio-ecological state of the environment caused by military actions in Ukraine, fi ve indicators changed among students: Health Responsibilty, Physical Activity, Nutrition, Spiritual Growth, and Stress Management. The use of modifi ed and adjusted physical education methods for distance learning contributed to a gradual increase in students’ physical activity.  Conclusion: It was determined that the behavioral constructs (responsibility for health, physical activity, and nutrition) and the cognitive-emotional component of young students (spiritual growth, interpersonal relationships, and stress management) were above average and changed as a result of the environmental factors and long-term military environmental factors (p≤.01). The choice of physical activity is determined by the availability of fi nancial resources, the availability of sports infrastructure, conditions for independent training at home, employment, and motivation for a healthy lifestyle. The existence of signifi cant relationships between physical activity and all indicators of a healthy lifestyle has been mathematically proven (r=.514-.796).