A pedagogical model for the formation of a healthy lifestyle culture among students by means of mass athletics events

Abstract

The study aims to theoretically substantiate, develop, and experimentally test a pedagogical model for forming a healthy lifestyle (HLS) culture among university students through mass athletics events. The relevance stems from a low level of cognitive readiness and motivation for HLS amid increasing hypodynamia; the goal is to demonstrate that event-based running practices integrated into the educational process can simultaneously influence cognitive, motivational-value, activity-based, and physical components. Materials and methods: a quasi-experiment conducted across three universities (2019-2022) with a sample of 850 first- to third-year students, divided into control (n=425) and experimental (n=425) groups; the model includes target, content-technological, organizational-pedagogical, and evaluation-result blocks, implemented through diagnostic-motivational, informational-cognitive, practice-oriented, and reflective-creative stages. In the experimental group, participation in a calendar of races, relays, and half-marathons was integrated into the curriculum and supported by motivational incentives; tools included HLS knowledge tests, training planning skills, critical thinking, control exercises (100 m, 3000 m runs, standing long jump), questionnaires, and observation; statistics – Student’s t-test, Pearson’s χ², Pearson correlation, SPSS 26.0, p0.05. The content-technological block relied on the principle of gradual load increase, diversity of forms, and individualization, creating a strong emotional experience and a sense of community belonging to the sports environment. Results: no differences were observed at baseline; by the end of the experiment, the experimental group showed significant improvements in physical fitness (3000 m: +8,21%; 100 m: +5,39%; long jump: +5,89%; p0.001), qualitative transformation of motivation (external motive credit requirement decreased from 65,4% to 15,1%; health-related and social motives increased), and a shift in the overall level of HLS culture (low – from 71,3% to 18,4%; high – from 4,2% to 21.9%; χ², p0.001); correlations were found between the number of race participations and health-related motivation (r=0.78), as well as between 3000 m performance dynamics and the overall indicator (r=0.69); cluster analysis identified three profiles of engagement. Discussion and conclusions: integrating mass running events ensures sustainable behavioral changes and surpasses the traditional model; the proposed model is universal, algorithmic, and scalable across universities with potential for adaptation and digital support. Limitations concern the domain specificity of the sample and the need for long-term monitoring; prospects include application to other age groups and integration into health promotion programs.