Impact of a Health-Enhancing and Recreational Dragon Boating Program on Group Cohesion Indicators Among University Students

Abstract

Objective. The study was aimed at determining the dynamics of group cohesion indicators among university students under the influence of specific team activities and evaluating the potential of rowing sports in overcoming social barriers that hinder the regular involvement of students in health-enhancing activities. Methods. A pedagogical experiment involved n=28 full-time students. Seashore's Group Cohesion Index was selected as the primary diagnostic tool, allowing for the differentiation of an individual's emotional identification with the group and the quality of interpersonal interaction. The study design included baseline (pre-test) and transformative (post-test) stages, with a specialized six-month recreational program implemented between them. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistics 10.0 software. Results. Data analysis revealed a statistically significant positive transformation across all structural components of group cohesion. It was established that the subjective sense of belonging to the collective doubled (the median shifted from 2.0 to 4.0 points). The most pronounced progress was recorded in the students' attitudes toward joint activity, where the indicator demonstrated a three-fold increase (from 1.0 to 3.0 points). The group's integral cohesion index increased from 8.78±1.95 to 14.86±1.38 (p<0.001), indicating a transition of the collective from an "average" level of cohesion to an "above-average" level, reaching the threshold of a high level. A significant result was a two-fold reduction in the variability indicator, which indicates the achievement of a high degree of homogeneity and unanimity of assessments within the student group. Conclusions. The synthesis of the data suggests that increasing group cohesion transforms the perception of physical education from an individual obligation into a socially significant shared goal. The findings justify the feasibility of the widespread integration of Dragon Boat rowing into the extracurricular and club activities of higher education institutions as an effective tool for social adaptation and psycho-emotional support for student youth in modern conditions.