Physical Activity, Morphometric Characteristics, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Psychological State as Indicators of Functional Reserves in Military Personnel

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between physical activity indicators, morphometric characteristics, quality of life, and psycho-emotional well-being of military personnel, with their interpretation as indicators of the realization of functional reserves of the body, as well as to assess the impact of the structure of physical loads. The study involved 176 military personnel aged 18–31 years. The level of physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ, Long Form), while morphometric status was assessed based on body height, body mass, and body mass index (BMI). Quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire with the identification of physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components. Psycho-emotional state was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Self-rated health was determined through a questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis (p<0.05) were applied. A high overall level of physical activity was found (Me=8663.85 MET-min/week), with pronounced variability in its structure across domains. Morphometric indicators were within normal limits (BMI=24.0±3.0 kg/m²). Quality of life indicators demonstrated relatively high values for both physical and mental components (PCS=54.59; MCS=53.38), while the level of psychological distress was moderate (Me=16.00). Self-rated health showed heterogeneity, with a predominance of average and low assessments. Statistically significant relationships were identified between physical activity and BMI (r=–0.42), physical activity and self-rated health (r=0.48), as well as between BMI and health indicators (r=–0.39). It was shown that, despite a sufficient overall volume of physical activity, its structure plays a crucial role in the effective realization of the adaptive potential. The obtained results allow physical activity, morphometric status, quality of life, and psycho-emotional state to be considered as an integrated system of indicators of the functional reserves of military personnel. It was established that their realization depends not only on the total volume of motor activity but primarily on its structural organization, the imbalance of which may limit adaptive capacities and can be interpreted as a manifestation of structural hypokinesia.