CURRENT HEALTH PROBLEMS OF STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issue of health of students of higher education institutions. Attention is drawn to the fact that the persistent deterioration of the health status of students of higher education institutions associated with a low level of physical fitness, hypodynamia and a large number of diseases of the respiratory, digestive, eye, cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems and various defects of musculoskeletal system were revealed.

Approaches to understanding the concept of «health» are analyzed. Different definitions of the concept of «health», indicators and main signs of health are proposed. Based on the generalization and systematization of literary sources, a large number of definitions of the state of health have been identified which indicates its multifaceted and different interpretation, which requires certain definition.

The purpose of the work is to analyze scientific approaches to the definition of the concept of «health» and to determine its state among students of higher education institutions at the current stage.

Methodology. The methodology of scientific research on the state of health of students was carried out on the basis of the following structural components: philosophical, general scientific, specifically scientific and technological. The research used such general scientific methods as the analysis of literary sources, observation, conversation, questionnaires, methods of mathematical statistics; systematization of scientific knowledge on the issue of health preservation of students of higher education institutions. The research was conducted at Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University in 2022–2023 in which 266 second-year students (82 men, 184 women) of various faculties took part.

Scientific novelty. A general tendency towards a decrease in the level of health among graduates of higher education institutions has been established. Of particular concern is the deterioration of the health of male students in the «poor» and «very poor» groups by 14.0 and 3.7%, respectively.

Conclusions. A critical analysis of a large number of definitions of the state of health shows that this concept is multifaceted and has different interpretations that require specification and certain definition. It was established that 41.5% of students – men and 34.2% of women – do not know the causes of their disease and preventive measures and restrictions, do not have means of its prevention. Students well understand the value of their own health, but do not take care of it, are too lazy to do physical exercises, rely on medicines or a doctor during illness.