Strengthening of student youth’s mental health using play sports

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to theoretically substantiate and empirically establish that health-preserving technologies, such as play sports, may improve the mental health of student youth. Respondents were first-year students who, on their initiative, participated in a university program to implement health technologies, regularly attending sectional trainings in play sports (males – football; females – volleyball). The ascertaining stage of the experimental study was attended by n = 122 respondents aged 18 to 20 years (M = 18.6), and the formative stage was attended by n = 72 respondents. Football EGF (n = 24) and volleyball EGV (n = 12) were formed as experimental groups, and football CGF (n = 24) and volleyball CGV (n = 12) as control groups. Research methods: analysis, generalization; targeted observation using data recording protocols; valid methods with standard questionnaires. Results. It was revealed that respondents’ psychological well-being (PW), which was measured in the coordinates of positive self-esteem (.227; p≤.01), the general mood background (.321; p≤.01) and the life satisfaction index (.301; p≤.01), was a predictor of mental health. Psychological well-being (PW) was shown to have the greatest statistically significant correlation (p≤.05; p≤.01) with the self-regulation and life satisfaction characteristics of student youth. The parameters “Self-acceptance” (р˂.01), “Psychological wellbeing” (р˂.01), “Life Satisfaction Index” (р˂.01), “Evaluation of Performance” (р˂.01), “Integral Level of SelfRegulation” (р˂.01) showed positive significant changes in both experimental groups (EGF – football, EGV – volleyball). It is emphasized that positive changes in students’ self-perception of themselves are, in our opinion, the most important positive changes that affect the general mood (.223; p≤.01) and is one of the most important parameters of mental health of respondents. Conclusions. It is generalized that regular training and competitions of student youth in football (males) and volleyball (females) during the academic year, contribute to statistically significant changes in mental health parameters. The implemented practice is an effective health-preserving technology that should be applied in college and higher education institutions’ instructional processes.