Assessment of the physical education learning environment among Ukrainian university students during wartime: validation of the SAPPE questionnaire and gender-regional analysis

Background and Study Aim. The ongoing military conflict in Ukraine has profoundly disrupted university life, limiting students’ access to physical activity, altering the educational environment, and increasing psychological stress. These conditions make it essential to understand how students perceive physical education and what factors influence their engagement in physical activity. This study aimed to assess the structure and development of key components of the physical education learning environment among Ukrainian university students during wartime, using an adapted version of the SAPPE questionnaire. Materials and Methods. The study included 89 university students from Eastern and Western Ukraine and 8 physical education instructors. Data were collected online using the adapted Ukrainian version of the Scale to Assess Perception of Physical Education (SAPPE), which consists of six subscales covering key dimensions of the physical education environment. Reliability and construct validity of the instrument were confirmed through internal consistency analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Results. The SAPPE questionnaire demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.894) and adequate construct validity, confirmed by interscale correlations and exploratory factor analysis. The identified two-factor structure reflected infrastructural aspects and motivational-personal components of the physical education environment. Regional differences were observed: 78 students scored high on the Classroom Climate subscale, while 40 scored low on Self-Efficacy in PE, indicating uneven perceptions across regions. Gender-based cluster analysis showed no statistically significant differences (χ² = 2.905, p = 0.234), suggesting similar patterns in male and female responses. Conclusions. The adapted SAPPE questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for assessing university students’ perceptions of the physical education environment under wartime conditions. Regional and gender-related patterns, although limited, highlight the need to tailor pedagogical strategies to contextual differences. The instrument may be effectively used for ongoing monitoring and to support targeted interventions aimed at improving student well-being.