FEMALE STUDENTS AT HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN UKRAINE AND THEIR LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Background. Physical activity is a vital component of one’s lifestyle. Therefore, it should be properly diagnosed in students, the future social elites.

Material and methods. The study was conducted in 2013 and involved 308 students of Lesya Ukrainka East European National University in Lutsk. The research method was an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-S) supplemented with own questions.

Results. The study has shown that only 4.5% of Ukrainian students demonstrate a high level of physical activity, 22.1% − average and as many as 73.4% − low. The course of study is not relevant to one’s level of physical activity. Further, it turns out that in subsequent years of study, there is a visible increase in the number of females demonstrating low physical activity. Finally, students from large cities as well as those living in private houses show a higher level of activity.

Conclusions. The knowledge on physical activity in students should be taken into account in the didactic process at university.