Rules of a Healthy Lifestyle and Peculiarities of Their Compliance Among Student Youth

Abstract

Aim: To characterize the basic rules of a healthy lifestyle and to study the peculiarities of their compliance among student youth. Materials and Methods: The research involved 219 students (121 males and 98 females), of whom 123 students were in the 1st instructional year and 96 students were in the 4th instructional year. Methods: analysis and generalization of literary sources, questionnaires, and mathematical statistics. Results: The basic rules of a healthy lifestyle were characterized and the peculiarities of their compliance among students were investigated. It was found that more than 70% of students, regardless of gender, smoke, and more than 60% drink alcohol. Less than half of the surveyed students adhere to a rational daily routine; less than 20% of students do physical exercises; less than 30% of students attend sports clubs; less than 20% of students follow sensible nutrition. All these indicators tend to deteriorate during the 4th instructional year. Conclusions: It was found that the vast majority of students do not follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle during their studies, which indicates that higher educational institutions do not pay enough attention to the formation of the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities in students’ lifestyles and that students are not motivated to follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle in the learning process. All of this can negatively affect the effectiveness of their educational and future professional activities, as well as their health.