MOTIVATIONAL SPHERE AND VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF PHYSICAL CULTURE

Abstract

The study aims to develop and substantiate a conceptual model for forming motivation for physical activity among vocational education students by integrating differentiated approaches, digital tools, and psychological support mechanisms under martial law. Methodology. The research involved 70 students from Higher Vocational School No. 17 in Kolomyia. A triad of methods was applied: correlation analysis (Spearman) to establish links between lifestyle variables and quality of life; factor analysis (principal component method) to identify latent motivational structures; and cluster analysis (k-means) to segment the student body. Results. Demographic data showed a mean BMI of 22.2±2.4. While 43% of students exercise 1–2 times a week, 11% are completely inactive. Major motivators include health improvement (60%) and stress relief (29%), while barriers include lack of time (56%) and laziness (34%). Martial law significantly impacted activity: 24% cited psychological stress as a restrictive factor, while 36% faced time constraints due to volunteering or family aid. The factor analysis identified four latent structures, dominated by the "Existential Security and Coping Strategies" factor (28% of variance). This confirms the transformation of physical education into a tool for psychological relief and survivalism under martial law. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups: «highly active» (40%) with high resilience; «low-active» (40%) facing significant barriers; and «intensive but irregular» (20%) exhibiting compensatory behavior under stress. Conclusions. The hierarchy of motives has shifted toward «survivalism» and psychological relief. Students maintaining physical activity show 40% higher resilience to war-related stress. The study confirms that physical education must transition from external control to internal self-regulation and mental well-being support. Personalized health trajectories are essential, particularly for the «at-risk» group (35% of the sample) characterized by low activity and high stress.