Physical activity and self-esteem in domestic and foreign medical students

Abstract

Introduction It is a well-known fact that regular physical activity (PA) has a positive effect on a person’s somatic health. Does PA have similar correlations with self-esteem in medical students of different cultural backgrounds? Objectives To determine the intensity and correlations of PА and self-esteem in domestic and foreign undergraduate medical students Methods We carried out a survey of 305 domestic and 241 international medical students of both genders at Ulianov Chuvash State University. For this aim we used the Sociocultural Health Questionnaire (E. Nikolaev) Results We have established that with the same duration of the sessions the average frequency of physical activity (PA) of foreign medical students is higher than that of domestic students (p=.001). The latter more often exercise in gyms (p=.001) and consume bodybuilding supplements (p=.01). Foreign medical students’ self-assessment of their health (p=.001) and sportiness (p=.001) is higher than that of domestic students (7.90 vs 6.98 и 6.72 vs 5.82 correspondingly). Higher frequency of PA correlates in domestic medical students with higher self-assessment of their successfulness (r=.47), attractiveness (r=.46), and confidence (r=.43); while in foreign students – of their sportiness (r=.49), confidence (r=.25), sociability (r=.23). Longer sessions of PA by domestic medical students are interrelated with higher self-assessment of their intellect (r=.35), confidence (r=.34), happiness (r=.34); while in foreign students – of sportiness (r=.47), health (r=.36), and successfulness (r=.36). Conclusions The revealed data testify to the fact that PA of both domestic and foreign medical students closely correlates with positive assessment of their own personality. Disclosure of Interest None Declared