Effectiveness of Health-Enhancing and Recreational Technology in Forming Motivational and Behavioral Strategies for Physical Activity Among Students

Abstract

Introduction. The problem of physical inactivity among students remains critical, necessitating the search for comprehensive technologies capable of influencing the physical state, motivation, and life satisfaction of young people in extracurricular settings.Purpose. The study aims to substantiate and experimentally verify the effectiveness of the developed technology for engaging students in health-enhancing and recreational physical activity within the sports club of a higher education institution. Materials and Methods. The study involved higher education students (n = 172, including 84 males (48.8%) and 88 females (51.2%)). The IPAQ questionnaire and subjective well-being scales were utilized. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's t-test for dependent samples (for physical activity), the Wilcoxon T-test (for satisfaction and motivation), and the χ2 (Chi-square) test. Effect sizes (Cohen's d and r) were evaluated. Results. Following the technology implementation, a statistically significant increase in physical activity (PA) levels was established (p<0.001; d=0.503), corresponding to the 69th percentile of the sample's baseline. The increase was 2.6% for males and 3.8% for females. A significant improvement in life satisfaction (p<0.001; r=0.515) and satisfaction with the organization of HRPA sessions was proven with a large effect size (r=0.723). Enhanced motivation for health-related activities was recorded for both males (p<0.001) and females (p<0.001), with a shift in the interquartile range toward higher values. Conclusions. The effectiveness of the proposed technology in forming sustainable motivation and positive behavioral health-saving strategies was experimentally confirmed. The high effect size regarding satisfaction with health-enhancing and recreational activities confirms that the club-based organizational form meets the actual needs of student youth.