Digital addiction and physical activity among university students

The purpose of the study is to examine the nature of the impact of electronic devices on the health and physical activity of students. Research methods and organization. A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted involving students (male and female) of the 1st–3rd years at PSMU of MOH of Russia. The average age of the students was 19.15±1.1 years. To subjectively assess health status, analyze the usage patterns of electronic devices, and evaluate the risks associated with their use, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The objective level of physical activity was assessed using pedometry with the 'Pedometer-946' according to the Tudor-Locke methodology. The average number of steps taken by students per day and per week was recorded. Research results and conclusions. A high level of screen exposure was identified among students, which was combined with a low level of physical activity. It was found that, on average, male students took 1.5 times more steps per week than female students. The results confirm the existence of a persistent contradiction between students’ awareness of health risks and their actual destructive behavior, which may be due to established stable digital habits. The need for a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue is substantiated, including the development and implementation of a preventive program within the educational process aimed at reducing digital stress and physical inactivity within the course «Physical Education and Sports», taking into account gender, health status, and baseline indicators of students’ physical activity.