THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIVE NATION PROGRAM AS A SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICE FOR INCREASING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG 13-YEAR-OLD DISPLACED SCHOOLCHILDREN IN UKRAINE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2025.19.4.16Keywords:
ALPHA-Fitness, EUROFIT, displaced schoolchildren, physical activity, program, social cultureAbstract
The article presents an analysis of the impact of the ACTIVE NATION program on increasing the level of physical activity and physical fitness of 13-year-old displaced schoolchildren in Ukraine under martial law.The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the ACTIVE NATION program as a sociocultural practice aimed at increasing physical activity and developing motor skills in 13-year-old displaced schoolchildren in Ukraine.Research methods. The article presents the results of a study on the impact of the ACTIVE NATION program on the physical fitness and level of physical activity of 13-year-old adolescents in conditions of martial law. There were 34 displaced school kids studying at general education schools in Chernivtsi who took part in the teaching experiment. Only male teens were involved in the study because this subgroup had the most students who signed up to take part in the teaching experiment during recruitment. The following methods were used: analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, documentary materials, logical and theoretical analysis, comparative analysis, synthesis and systematization, pedagogical diagnostics using methods of systematic observation and testing, sociological approaches, and mathematical statistics.Results. The results of the study confirm the high effectiveness of the ACTIVE NATION program in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among 13-year-old adolescents. Positive changes were recorded in the ALPHA-Fitness test indicators, which characterize endurance, coordination, and flexibility. The median result of the “20 m shuttle run” test increased from 5.9 segments to 6.7 segments, which is a 13.5% increase in efficiency (p < 0.05). In the EUROFIT test, the number of errors in the Flamingo balance test decreased by 11.8% (p < 0.05), and the result in the Sit and Reach exercise increased by 14.3% (p < 0.05). The assessment of motor tests and PAQ-A showed an increase in daily activity and improvement in motor skills. The results can be explained by the complex components of the program, implemented through events, competitions, and the participation of famous athletes. Even in the school environment, activity during breaks increased by 50.0% (p < 0.01).Conclusions. The results confirm the effectiveness of the ACTIVE NATION program in improving the physical fitness and daily physical activity of 13-year-old adolescents, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing such comprehensive approaches in the context of the current crisis.
References
1. Andermo, S., Hallgren, M., Nguyen, T., Jønsson, S., Petersen, S., Friberg, M., Romqvist, A., Stubbs, B., & Elinder, L. (2020). Schoolrelated physical activity interventions and mental health among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 6, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00254-x.
2. Anggraeni, D., Nurhidayah, N., & Kurniawati, N. (2023). Pengaruh edukasi melalui media e-poster terhadap pengetahuan remaja mengenai pentingnya aktivitas fisik di Kota Bandung. Jurnal Kesehatan Siliwangi, 3(3), 602–608. https://doi.org/10.34011/jks.v3i3.1035.
3. Badanta, B., Márquez De la Plata-Blasco, M., Lucchetti, G., & González-Cano-Caballero, M. (2024). The social and health consequences of the war for Ukrainian children and adolescents: a rapid systematic review. Public health, 226, 74–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.044.
4. Bakiko, I.V., Borovska, N.I., & Nikolaiev, S.Y. (2025). Assessment of the correspondence of subjective self-assessment of physical development with the results of control tests of schoolchildren in grades 10–11. Rehabilitation and Recreation, 19(1), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2025.19.1.10.
5. Banakh, V.I. (2024). Development of motor qualities in young men using different parameters of physical activity in higher education institutions. Rehabilitation and Recreation, 18(4), 93–106. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2024.18.4.10.
6. Carcamo-Oyarzun, J., Salvo-Garrido, S., & Estevan, I. (2023). Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in Chilean Schoolchildren before and after COVID-19 Lockdowns: A Cohort Comparison. Behavioral Sciences, 13(4), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040306.
7. Chen, S., Carver, A., Sugiyama, T. et al. (2021). Built-environment attributes associated with refugee children’s physical activity: a narrative review and research agenda. Confl Health 15, 55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00393-2.
8. Costa, M., Ribeiro, J.C., Silva, M.P., & Mota, J. (2024). Clases de Educación Física con diferentes duraciones y su contribución a las Recomendaciones de Actividad Física Diaria de Adolescentes en Porto, Portugal. Retos, 58, 182– 189. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v58.106478.
9. Culque Núñez, C.A., Muñoz Espinoza, D.M., Quinga Gavilanes, D.S., & Mendoza Avila, C.E. (2025). Physical Education in the inclusion of immigrant students in Ecuador. Retos, 67, 1301–1307. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.114727.
10. Czarnecki, D., Skalski, D.W., Kowalski, D., Rybak, L., & Gamma, T. (2022). The importance of movement activity for human health. Rehabilitation and Recreation, (12), 98–104. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2022.12.14.
11. Despotou, G., Evans, J., Nash, W., Eavis, A., Robbins, T., & Arvanitis, T.N. (2020). Evaluation of patient perception towards dynamic health data sharing using blockchain based digital consent with the Dovetail digital consent application: A cross sectional exploratory study. Digital Health, 6, 2055207620924949. https://doi. org/10.1177/2055207620924949.
12. Eurostat (2025, August 11). EU children’s living conditions in 2024: One in four at risk of poverty or social exclusion. European Commission. Retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn- 20250811-1.
13. Faidevych, V.V., Melnyk, S.A., Tabak, N.V., Kovalchuk, V.V., & Severina, L.Y. (2022). The level of physical fitness of adolescents during their stay in the summer health camp. Rehabilitation and Recreation, (10), 148–155. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2022.10.19.
14. Galan, Y., Moseychuk, Y., Dotsyuk, L., Kushnir, I., Moroz, O., Kurnyshev, Y., Duditska, S., Lohush, L., Kyselytsia, O., Yachniuk, M., Nakonechnyi, I., Predyk, A., Moldovan, A., Brazhaniuk, A., & Beshlei, O. (2024). Repercusiones de la guerra en Ucrania y del período posterior a la pandemia COVID-19 en el estado psicofisiológico de los escolares ucranianos de 12–13 años de edad. [Impact of war in Ukraine and post-pandemic COVID-19 period on the psychophysiological state of Ukrainian schoolchildren aged 12–13]. Retos, 58, 727–736. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v58.106256.
15. Galan, Y., Moseychuk, Y., Dotsyuk, L., Kushnir, I., Moroz, O., Vaskan, I., Yarmak, O., Kurnyshev, Y., Lohush, L., Bohdanyuk, A., Nataliia, K., Brazhaniuk, A., Baіdіuk M., & Beshlei, O. (2024). Un enfoque integrado para corregir el estado físico y psicoemocional de estudiantes que trabajan con niños migrantes [An integrated approach to Correcting the Physical and Psychoemotional State of female students working with migrant children]. Retos, 51, 988–997. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v51.101005.
16. Galan, Y., Moseychuk, Y., Dutchak, Y., Korolianchuk, A., Yeremiia, Y., Yarmak, O., Kurnyshev, Y., Duditska, S., Hauriak, O., & Beshlei, O. (2023). Improving the psychophysiological condition of secondary school learners through the Olympic education program during the Covid-19 pandemic. Retos, 49, 845–852. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v49.99154.
17. Galan, Y., Yarmak, O., Andrieieva, O., Moseychuk, Y., Sukhomlynov, R., Zoriy, Y., Koshura, A., Ivanchuk, M., Vaskan, I., & Bohdanyuk, A. (2021). Impact of football clubs on the recreational activities of preschoolers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 21(2), 803–812. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2021.02100.
18. Gonzalez, F., Hun, N., Aiste, S., Aguilera, C., Cardenas, M., & Salazar, M. (2024). Level of physical activity in Chilean preschool and school children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retos, 54, 320– 327. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v54.102268.
19. Hordiienko, O.I., & Movchan, V.P. (2022). Ways to improve motional activity of students in the conditions of distance learning. Rehabilitation and Recreation, (10), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2022.10.21.
20. Information and Computing Center of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine (2025, August 11). Dashboard of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Retrieved from: https://www.ioc.gov.ua/analytics/dashboard-vpo.
21. Karpenko, Z.S., & Klympush, A.R. (2023). Future psychologists’ dispositional predictors of psychological well-being under martial law. Insight: the psychological dimensions of society, 9, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.32999/2663- 970X/2023-9-2.
22. Knappe, F., Filippou, K., Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Seelig, H., Meier, M., Pieters, L. A., Zollino, C., Pühse, U., & Gerber, M. (2025). ‘A spark to start’: Experiences of forcibly displaced individuals participating in a co-designed exercise and sport intervention. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 28, 100681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. mhpa.2025.100681.
23. Kolimechkov, S. (2017). Physical fitness assessment in children and adolescents: a systematic review. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 3(4), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.495725.
24. Lacoste, Y., Dancause, K., Bernard, P., Gadais T. (2021). A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Effects of an Outdoor Learning Program on Physical Activity Patterns of Children with a Migrant Background: the PASE Study. Physical Activity and Health, 5(1), 236–249. https://doi.org/10.5334/paah.133.
25. Lacoste, Y., Dancause, K.N., Gosselin-Gagne, J., Gadais, T. (2020). Physical Activity among Immigrant Children: A Systematic Review. J Phys Act Health, 17(10), 1047–1058. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2019-0272.
26. Lahoz, C., Pérez-Rey, J., González, D., Gallart, J., Bayod, J., & Luesma, M.J. (2025). The relationship between lower limb alignment and physical fitness in children aged 10-12: A sex- specific analysis using the ALPHA-Fitnessness test battery. Brazilian journal of physical therapy, 29(5), 101242. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2025.101242.
27. Li, Z., Xie, S., & Chen, W. (2025). The influence of environment on adolescents’ physical exercise behavior based on family community and school micro-systems. Scientific reports, 15(1), 12024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91387-0.
28. Limone, P., Toto, G., & Messina, G. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war on stress and anxiety in students: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13:1081013. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1081013.
29. Loshenko, O., Palíšek, P., Straka, O., Jabůrek, M., Portešová, Š., & Ševčíková, A. (2024). Impact of the War in Ukraine on the Ability of Children to Recognize Basic Emotions. International journal of public health, 69, 1607094. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2024.1607094.
30. Mahlovanyy, A., Grygus, I., & Kunynets, O. (2025). The impact of physical exercises and strength sports on the level of physical health of students. Rehabilitation and Recreation, 19(2), 167–174. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2025.19.2.15
31. Montosa, I., Vernetta, M., & López-Be- doya, J. (2018). Assessment of health-related fitness by the ALPHA- fitness test battery in girls and adolescents who practise rhythmic gymnastics. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 13(1), 188– 204. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2018.131.18.
32. Palacios-Cartagena, R., Parraca, J., Mendoza-Muñoz, M., Pastor-Cisneros, R., Muñoz-Bermejo, L., & Adsuar, J. (2022). Level of Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Self-Perceived Physical Fitness in Peruvian Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3):1182. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031182.
33. Park, S.-W., Lim, D.-H., Kim, J.-H., Kim, S.-H., & Han, Y.-O. (2025). Effectiveness of a Digital Game-Based Physical Activity Program (AI-FIT) on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Elementary School Children. Healthcare, 13(11), 1327. https://doi.org/10.3390/health-care13111327.
34. Pereira, S., Reyes, A.C., Chaves, R., San-tos, C., Vasconcelos, O., Tani, G.O., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Baxter-Jones, A., & Maia, J. (2022). Correlates of the Physical Activity Decline during Childhood. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 54(12), 2129–2137. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003013.
35. Robbins, L.B., Ling, J., Pfeiffer, K.A., Kerver, J.M., Resnicow, K., McCaffery, H., Hilliard, A., Hobbs, L., Donald, S., & Kaciroti, N. (2024). Intervention to increase physical activity and healthy eating among under-represented adolescents: GOAL trial protocol. BMJ open, 14(1), e080437. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080437.
36. Royo, E., Gregorio Jordán, S., Aznar Cebamanos, M., & Peñarrubia Lozano, C. (2025). Quantification of physical activity levels in days with and without Physical Education through physical activity bracelets. Retos, 67, 27–36. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.112481.
37. Ruiz, J.R., Castro-Piñero, J., España-Romero, V., Artero, E. G., Ortega, F.B., Cuenca, M.M., Jimenez-Pavón, D., Chillón, P., Girela-Rejón, M.J., Mora, J., Gutiérrez, A., Suni, J., Sjöström, M., & Castillo, M.J. (2011). Fieldbased fitness assessment in young people: The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents: Test manual. Karolinska Institutet. Retrieved from: https://www.ugr.es/~cts262/ES/documents/ALPHA-FitnessTestManualforChildren-Adolescents.pdf.
38. Skrypchenko, I., Dorofieieva, O., Yarymbash, K., Strykalenko, Y., Tyshchenko, V. (2025). Dynamics of physical activity and lifestyle of students during the war period in Ukraine. Journal of Applied Sports Sciences, 9(1), 137–152. https://doi.org/10.37393/JASS.2025.09.01.11.
39. Stage, A., Amholt, T.T., & Schipperijn, J. (2024). Individual and day-to-day differences in domain-specific physical activity of 10- to 11-year-old children in Denmark-Measured using GPS and accelerometry. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 34(4), Article e14631. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.1463.
40. Tomkinson, G.R., Carver, K.D., Atkinson. F., et al. (2018). European normative values for physical fitness in children and adolescents aged 9–17 years: results from 2 779 165 Eurofit performances representing 30 countries. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52, 1445–1456. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098253.
41. Tulchin-Francis, K., Stevens, W., Gu, X., et al. (2021). The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on physical activity in U.S. chil- dren. J Sport Health Sci, 10(3), 323–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.02.005.
42. Vako, I.I., Grygus, I.M., & Nikitenko, O.V. (2023). The use of modern multimedia resources in the practice of sports and physical education. Rehabilitation and Recreation, (14), 258–268. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2023.14.31.
43. Wójtowicz-Szefler, M., Grzankowska, I., & Deja, M. (2023). The mental condition of Polish adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1257384. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1257384.
44. Wyszyńska, J., Matłosz, P., Podgórska-Bed- narz, J., Herbert, J., Przednowek, K., Baran, J., Dereń, K., & Mazur, A. (2019). Adaptation and validation of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) among Polish adolescents: cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 9(11), e030567. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030567.
45. Yelizarova, O., Stankevych, T., Parats, A., Antomonov, M., Polka, N., & Hozak, S. (2020). Specific features of the Ukrainian urban adolescents’ physical activity: A cross- sectional study. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, Article 3404285. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3404285.
