The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and martial law on the health and physical fitness of Ukrainian students.

Abstract

Objective: Aim: The aim is to study the impact of prolonged quarantine related to COVID-19 and martial law on the health and physical fitness of students in Ukrainian higher educational institutions..

Patients and methods: Materials and Methods: Research methods: literature analysis, surveys, testing of students' health and physical fitness, methods of mathematical statistics. The research was conducted in 2019-2023. The survey involved 462 (143 males and 319 females) students. Health assessments and physical fitness tests were conducted with second-year students (before quarantine (2019): males - n = 63; females - n = 78; after quarantine (2023): males - n = 51; females - n = 67).

Results: Results: The negative attitude of the majority of students (66.4 % of men and 76.5 % of women) to distance learning in physical education was revealed. A significant deterioration of all studied indicators of students' health and physical fitness during the quarantine period related to COVID-19 and martial law in Ukraine was revealed.

Conclusion: Conclusions: Since the state of health and level of physical fitness of students is the main criterion for the effectiveness of physical education in higher educational institutions of Ukraine, physical education departments should focus their work on modernizing traditional and developing new forms and methods of physical education, shaping students' civic consciousness and behavior, their readiness to serve society and protect the state with dignity.