E. L. Nikolaev, I. E. Poverinov. Features of Physical Activity of Russian and Foreign Students: Motivators, Barriers, Self-Esteem

UDК 796.012.21-057.87

DOI: 10.15507/2413-1407.113.028.202004.843-865

Introduction. Intense physical activity is associated with good health and wellbeing of an individual, and its manifestations in students can have gender and socio-cultural features. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of physical activity of Russian and foreign students of a regional university through the assessment of its motivators, barriers and interrelation with self-esteem indicators, the knowledge of which can be used as the basis for creating personalized preventive health promotion programs.

Materials and Methods. An online survey among 423 Russian and foreign students of a regional university was conducted using the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire using the Ashton Motivators and Barriers Scale and the modified method of Dembo – Rubinstein. The data obtained were statistically processed with the calculation of Student’s t-test, chi-square, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results. It has been revealed that two-thirds of the respondents have an optimal level of physical activity, and its motivators (the desire to improve health, physical shape, and body) and barriers (lack of time) are universal. Russian female university students surpass foreign ones in terms of the duration of physical activities, and foreign girls are inferior to foreign young men in terms of the frequency of classes. Barriers specific to Russian girls have been identified: Inappropriate weather and the belief that physical activity is not a right occupation for women. Russian young men have mentioned the lack of conditions for training as a barrier. The difference between Russian young men and foreign ones is that foreigners find positive correlation between physical activity, confidence, and physical attractiveness.

Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained may be useful for teaching personnel of university departments of physical education, medical and psychological services, and student self-government organizations. It is recommended that university prevention programs be gender-specific, culturally oriented, aimed at neutralizing the system of internal and social barriers to attending classes, and based on the student's self-esteem potential.

Keywords: Russian student, foreign student, physical activity, motivator, barrier, self-esteem

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Nikolaev E.L., Poverinov I.E. Features of Physical Activity of Russian and Foreign Students: Motivators, Barriers, Self-Esteem. Regionology = Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2020; 28(4):843-865. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.113.028.202004.843-865

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Submitted 14.07.2020; accepted for publication 19.09.2020; published online 30.12.2020.

About the authors:

Evgeni L. Nikolaev, Head of the Department of Social and Clinical Psychology, I. N. Ulianov Chuvash State University (15 Moskovsky Ave., Cheboksary 428015, Russian Federation), Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Full Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8976-715X, Researcher ID: P-8907-2016, pzdorovie@bk.ru

Igor E. Poverinov, Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Pedagogy, I. N. Ulianov Chuvash State University (15 Moskovsky Ave., Cheboksary 428015, Russian Federation), Ph. D. (Sociology), Associate Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9077-0046, igor.poverinov@mail.ru

Contribution of the authors:

Evgeni L. Nikolaev – statement of the research problem; development of research tools; interpretation and analysis of the results.

Igor E. Poverinov – formulation of the concept of the research; development of thematic sections of the article; revision of the text of the article.

The authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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