Motivation for physical activity among university students residing in areas of military conflict in Ukraine

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Military conflicts significantly stress students in affected areas, impacting their physical well-being and motivational factors. This study aims to assess motivation levels for physical activity among university students in conflict-impacted regions of Ukraine. Materials and Methods. The study involved 196 students from three Ukrainian universities, two in the eastern region (Kharkiv - included in the list of territories of active military operations) and one in the western part (Ivano-Frankivsk - a territory that is under constant threat of shelling). A short-form 'Physical Activity Questionnaire' (PAQ) with seven Likert scale questions was used. Statistical analysis was performed using PyCharm CE and Python libraries. Metrics like mean, standard deviation, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for reliability were calculated. Bartlett's test of sphericity and Principal Axis Factoring were employed, with a statistical significance threshold set at p<0.05. Results. The questionnaire's reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.872. Bartlett's test of sphericity indicated suitable data for factor analysis, with a Chi-Square value of 641.808 and a p-value < 0.05, affirming good construct validity. University students from the Eastern part of Ukraine show average motivation levels for physical activity of 25.0 and 27.193, respectively. University students from the Western part of Ukraine have the highest average motivation level at 29.234. This indicates stronger motivation for physical activity in the Western region. Additionally, male students showed higher average motivation scores than females. Conclusions. Students living in different regions of Ukraine have varying motivations for physical activity in the context of the military conflict. Students from the western part of Ukraine (an area subjected to periodic military shelling) show a higher interest in engaging in physical activities compared to students from the eastern part (a zone of active military operations).