Physical Activity and Quality of Life of Internally Displaced Persons

Abstract

Introduction. Active hostilities in Ukraine have caused mass displacement of the population, which has a profound impact on both the physical and mental health of displaced persons. The impact of the traumatic events of the war can lead to a decrease in the quality of life of the population for many years, even after the end of hostilities. Research Objective. To investigate the indicators of the physical and mental components of the «quality of life» category in internally displaced persons and to determine the correlation between them and physical activity. Research Methods. Theoretical, sociological, mathematical-statistical. Research Results. A significant decrease in the physical (49,0 points) and mental (37,0 points) components of health (with a max of 100) in the quality of life of IDPs was found. The most significant factors reducing the quality of life of IDPs are the indicators: «bodily pain», «general health status», «mental health», and «vitality». A comparative analysis of the distribution of correlation relationships between physical activity (PA) and the physical (PHC) and mental (MHC) components of health revealed a strong positive relationship with the physical component of QoL and a very weak relationship with the mental component. Correlates between physical activity and individual indicators of physical and mental health components were distributed as follows: a moderate dependence was found with the indicators GH (general health) and BP (bodily pain). In the stressful situation of displacement and adaptation to a new socio-domestic environment, physical activity had a moderate positive relationship with the indicators of the mental component of quality of life: VT (vitality), SF (social functioning), and MH (mental health). Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the need for constant attention not only to health preservation needs but also to well-being, housing, employment, and overall quality of life as factors that profoundly impact both the physical and mental health of displaced persons.