Vestnik Vysshey Shkoly
Sign inSign upJoin
Submit an articleSubmit
2026, no. 1
THEORY & PRACTICE OF EDUCATION

Healthy living perceptions and health values of medical university students

Victor A. Gurov

DOI 10.20339/am.01-26.096pp. 96–102UDC 613+378::6180 RUB

PDF

Bookmark

Abstract

The article analyzed the ideas about a healthy lifestyle and the life values of medical university students. The value of health and the dependence on it of the quality of life was emphasized by the majority of the students surveyed. Understanding the importance of a healthy lifestyle for effective life activity and self-realization at the cognitive level, while having limited everyday ideas about it and established attitudes towards basic values (health, family, love, and friendship), leads to the fact that in most cases, only extreme situations (serious illness, life crisis, or the death of a loved one) can motivate people to change their usual lifestyle. An analysis of the transformation of ideas about healthy lifestyles and corresponding values for a 9-year period was carried out. A low level of positive perception of future professional medical activity was noted, as well as trends towards a decrease in the role of harmonious relations in the family and unfriendly attitude towards other people against the background of a relative increase in the role of the material factor. The importance of “Leading a meaningful life” and “Self-development and self-improvement” has significantly decreased among modern students. Reading special literature and participating in lectures or seminars on healthy lifestyles is still not an important reason for changing students’ lifestyle.

Keywords

  • medical university students
  • healthy lifestyle presentation of students
  • students’ life values

Acknowledgements and disclosures

Conflict of interest

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

The study had no sponsor support.

References

  1. Abramova, A.B. Health and Healthy Lifestyle: Modern Trends and Challenges. Vestnik of Humanitarian Institute of Tomsk Polytechnic University. 2020, No. 3. Pp. 56–63.

  2. Antonova, A.A, Yamnova, G.A. Healthy lifestyle and health among contemporary students. International research journal. 2022. No. 7 (121). Part 2. Pp. 7–9. https://doi.org/10.23670/IRJ.2022.121.7.037

    DOI 10.23670/irj.2022.121.7.037

  3. Bobrovsky, I.N, Varfolomeeva, T.V. Value-based attitude towards health among medical students. International research journal. 2020. No. 12 (102). Part 2. Pp. 113–117. https://doi.org/10.23670/IRJ.2020.102.12.055

    DOI 10.23670/irj.2020.102.12.055

  4. Vasilyeva, O.S, Zhuravleva, E.V. Healthy lifestyle: stereotypical views vs reality. School of Health. 1999, No. 2. Pp. 23–31.

  5. Vlasova, P.O, Berukhova, A.A, Ermolaeva, E.V. Attitudes of medical students towards healthy lifestyle. Bulletin of medical internet conferences. 2016. No. 6 (1). Pp. 82. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/otnoshenie-studentov-medikov-k-zdorovomu-obrazu-zhizni?ysclid=lotjfo7rrf836031665 (accessed on: 10.11.2025).

    cyberleninka.ru

  6. Vorotilkina, I.M, Bazhenova, N.G, Bazhenov, R.I. Current trends in healthy lifestyle among students. World science. sociology, philology, cultural studies. 2022. No. 13 (4). URL: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/59SCSK422.pdf. https://doi.org/10.15862/59SCSK422

    DOI 10.15862/59scsk422sfk-mn.ru

  7. Golovatenko, A.A. Value orientations of modern youth. Molodoi uchenyi. 2022. No. 30 (425). Pp. 128–130. URL: https://moluch.ru/archive/425/94251 (accessed on: 10.11.2025).

    moluch.ru

  8. Gurov, V.A. Healthy lifestyle: scientific perspectives versus real-life practices. Valeology. 2006. No. 1. Pp. 53–59.

  9. Zinoviev, N.A et al. Knowledge about parameters of healthy lifestyle among technical university students. Lesgaft university academic notes. 2015. No. 11 (129). Pp. 101–107.

  10. Ivanov, A.I, Petrov, B.V. Health status of law specialty students. Vestnik obrazovaniia. 2022. No. 12. Pp. 8–14.

  11. Kopylov, A.S. Health condition of student population and risk factors determining it. Russian bulletin of hygiene. 2022. No. 1. Pp. 38–45. https://doi.org/10.24075/rbh.2022.040

    DOI 10.24075/rbh.2022.040

  12. Marchakova, E.D. Features of forming a value-oriented approach to healthy lifestyle among students. Vestnik of VGU. 2021. No. 4. Pp. 58–61.

  13. Petrovsky, A.M., et al. Popularization of healthy lifestyle among students. Problems of modern pedagogical education. 2018. No. 58 (3). Pp. 210–213.

  14. Platova, I.D. Psychological factors in shaping attitudes towards health and a healthy lifestyle. Actual studies. 2024. No. 8 (190). Part 2. Pp. 65–68.

  15. Fazleeva, E.V, et al. Health conditions of student population: trends, issues, solutions. World of Science. Pedagogy and psychology. 2022. No. 5. Vol. 10. URL: https://mir-nauki.com/PDF/01PDMN522.pdf (accessed on: 10.11.2025).

    mir-nauki.com

  16. Chukreev, M.P, Kalinkin, D.E. Analysis of life style and quality of life among medical students. Preventive medicine. 2022. No. 9. Vol. 25. Pp. 77–84. https://doi.org/10.17116/profmed20222509177

    DOI 10.17116/profmed20222509177

  17. Shurkhavetskaya, L.P et al. Problem of health and healthy lifestyle among humanities university students. Human health, theory and methods of physical culture and sports. 2016. No. 1. Pp. 60–64.

  18. Al-Momani, M.M. Health-promoting lifestyle and its association with the academic achievements of medical students in Saudi Arabia. Pak J Med Sci. 2021, 37(2). Pp. 561–566. PubMed PMID: 33679950. (In Eng.)

  19. Social determinants of health: the solid facts/edited by R. Wilkinson. and M. Marmot. 2nd edition. WHO, Regional European Office, 2003. (In Eng.)

Rubrics
THEORY & PRACTICE OF EDUCATION