Healthy lifestyle in the system of value orientations of modern youth: a sociological analysis

This article examines the place of a healthy lifestyle within the value structure of modern student youth. The relevance of the study lies in the contradiction between the high value and significance of maintaining health through a healthy lifestyle and the actual implementation of health-preserving attitudes among the younger generation. The paper presents the results of research by Russian sociologists, data from VTsIOM, and also includes the authors’ own study conducted using the focus group method. During the study, the authors were able to examine students’ perceptions of a healthy lifestyle, the value of health within the structure of life values, and the actual daily actions taken to maintain health, and also identified the main barriers to their implementation. It was determined that the study participants perceive health in the same way — both as a value and as a resource for fulfilling educational functions and career development. It was established that there is indeed a discrepancy between the desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle and the efforts required to implement it. Among the hindering factors, students most often cited the lack of a sleep and rest schedule, poor nutrition, and a sedentary lifestyle due to the use of smartphones and other gadgets. The conclusion drawn is that it is necessary to move from a predominantly informational model for promoting a healthy lifestyle to creating conditions in the university environment that support sustainable health-preserving practices.