Download the article in pdf format
Publication date: 15.06.2025
DOI: 10.24412/2782-6570-2025_04_02_2
UDC [612.8:612.172.2] – 057.875:796.51
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENTS ENGAGED IN HIKING TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE TYPOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY
T.A. Zhmurova1, O.Yu. Ryabtseva2, S.M. Ryabtsev1, Yu.V. Koryagina3
1Sevastopol State University, Sevastopol, Russia
2City Hospital No 5, Sevastopol, Russia
3North-Caucasian Federal Research-Clinical Center of Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Essentuki, Russia
Abstract. The aim of the study was to determine the psychophysiological characteristics of students engaged in hiking during a weekend hike, taking into account the typological features of heart rate variability. In the conditions of the natural topography of Crimea, weekend hikes were conducted among male students of the main group aged 18-20 years (n=14), once a week, lasting 6 hours with a load in the power zone I (50-60% of heart rate). The experiment, lasting 20 weeks, included the ascertaining and control stages. Systematic physical activity with aerobic activity in the power zone I determines an increase in the functional state of the central nervous system. At the same time, the features of the psychophysiological characteristics of students are revealed depending on the prevailing type of autonomic regulation.
Keywords: heart rate variability, psychophysiological state, tourism, recreational activities, students.
Introduction. It is commonly known that study at university is closely associated with increased uptake of scientific information, which characterizes increasing psychoemotional stress among modern students. Meanwhile passive leisure (social media, computer games) cause reduced activity of the functional systems of the body, as well as adaptive reserves of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems [1-3]. In recent decade, a trend for poorer health among youth in the course of obtaining professional education was identified [4-6]. According to the sources, moderate physical activity in conditions of info deprivation and positive atmosphere is recommended for a person in a state of psychoemotional stress associated with sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, Tretyakova T.N. (2015) points out that recreational hiking is the best option in this case [7-11]. The relevance of this research is due to insufficient coverage of the issue on how consistent recreational hiking influences psychoemotional state of student youth [12], taking into account the type of autonomic regulation (AR).
Therefore, the aim of the study – to identify psychophysiological characteristics of students engaged in hiking during weekend hikes, taking into account the AR type.
Methods and organization. The study took place in the Sevastopol State University, involved male students of the main health group aged 18-20 years (n=14), engaged in hiking, during weekend hikes (WH). WH were carried out once a week, lasted for 6 hours with load in the power zone I (50-60% of heart rate), in conditions of the natural topography of Crimea. The experiment that lasted 20 weeks included two stages – the ascertaining (stage I) and control (stage II) stages. To achieve the objective, studies of the psychophysiological state of students were conducted with the NS-PsychoTest (Neurosoft LLC, Russia) complex and the Poly-Spectre.NET complex with the PolySpectre-8/EX recorder (Neurosoft LLC, Ivanovo, Russia). Electrocardiographic recording was carried out at the time interval from 9 to 12 o’clock, in the second standard lead, after 5 minutes of rest. The orthostatic test was used for 10 minutes as a functional activity. We also assessed the heart rate variability (HRV) indices [13]. The psychoemotional state was evaluated using the A. Goncharov’s adaptation of the WAM method (wellbeing, activity, mood). The tapping test was applied to test strength of the nervous processes. According to the “Attention assessment” method, we also evaluated the body response stability (RS), functional state (FS) and functional capabilities (FC) of the body’s systems. Balance of the nervous processes was estimated taking into account the probability of error occurrence in the entropy scale (En) and mean response time (MRT) according to the “Response to a moving object” method [14].
With the Statistica 6.0 package, we processed the accumulated database with identification of arithmetic mean (M) and standard error (m). The reliability of differences between the samples was identified with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results and discussion. The HRV analysis has revealed an optimal state of the regulatory systems in 33% of all the cases (type III) [13]. Moreover, moderate stress of the regulatory systems (type I) has been found in 8% of all the cases, while type II was not identified. A pronounced predominance of the autonomous AR circuit (type IV) has been revealed in 59% of all the cases, which determines the development of students’ fatigue (fig. 1).
At the same time, the “significant” decrease in general performance according to the tapping test has been revealed for all the subjects at the ascertaining stage.
At the ascertaining stage, the WAM method analysis has found “unfavorable” psychoemotional state in the students with type I and IV, the students with type III had moderate psychoemotional stress [14]. The “Attention assessment” analysis has shown predominant strength of excitation processes in the text subjects with type IV, as well as more balanced nervous system in the test subjects with types I and III. The “Attention assessment” has revealed insufficient level in the test subjects with types I, III and IV. The response time was average.
It is widely recognized that hiking is a long-hour work of cyclic nature [15]. Consistent physical activity with aerobic load in the power zone I defines adaptive rearrangements connected with the tone activation of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, which, in turn, has shown an improvement in the functional state of the central nervous system [16].
At the control stage, the HRV analysis has identified type IV in 27% of all the students, which is by 54.2% (p≤0.05) less in relation to the identified number of the subjects with type IV at the ascertaining stage (fig. 2).
In addition, 67% of all the cases had moderate predominance of the autonomous curve of AR, which is two times (103%, p≤0.05) more than it was at the stage I. Moreover, a number of those with moderate predominance of the central curve has increased insignificantly (25%, p≤0.05) compared to those at the stage I. No students with the predominance of the central curve were found at the control stage.
The analysis of data on the psychophysiological state has revealed a moderate decrease of performance in the tapping test. Increased level of the functional state and functional capabilities has been determined in accordance with the Loskutova’s criteria scale. Balanced variant of inhibition and excitation in the students with types I and II, as well as predominance of excitation in the students with type IV was defined according to the “Response to a moving object” method. According to the data provided by Mantrova I.N. (2007), occurrence of mental states is due to subjective significance for a person and duration of exposure to external factors [14]. Systematic WH contributed to an improvement of total score in the WAM scales. The students with type I and II have demonstrated “favorable” results, while the students with type IV had “moderate” psychoemotional state.
Fig. 1. Comparison of the AR type of students engaged in hiking at the ascertaining stage
Note: MPAC – moderate predominance of the autonomous curve of regulation; MPCC – moderate predominance of the central curve of regulation; PPAC – pronounced predominance of the autonomous curve of regulation.
Table
The psychophysiological state of the tests subjects taking into account the AR type at ascertaining and control stages
|
Method |
Index |
Stage |
Type of autonomic regulation |
|||
|
I |
II |
III |
IV |
|||
|
Response to a moving object |
MRT, ms |
I |
-19.4±1.3 |
Not identified |
-12±1.1 |
-55±7.8 |
|
II |
-10±0.09▲ |
-8±0.06* |
-47±7.1● |
|||
|
En, c.u. |
I |
2.63±0.09 |
2.05±0.07 |
3.41±1.3 |
||
|
II |
1.18±0.04 |
1.07±0.04 |
2.85±0.07 |
|||
|
Attention assessment (criteria by Loskutova T.D.) |
MRTV, ms |
I |
234.3±95.1 |
236.1±93.9 |
261.8±97.1 |
|
|
II |
218.7±87.8▲ |
194.6±81.3* |
231.4±93.3● |
|||
|
FS, c.u. |
I |
4.1±1.2 |
4.6±0.09 |
3.5±0.08 |
||
|
II |
4.4±1.1 |
4.9±1.1 |
4.3±1.3 |
|||
|
RS, c.u. |
I |
1.4±0.02 |
1.6±0.02 |
1.1±0.04 |
||
|
II |
2.2±0.03 |
2.2±0.01 |
1.8±0.05 |
|||
|
FC, c.u. |
I |
3.0±0.03 |
3.2±0.01 |
2.06±0.03 |
||
|
II |
3.6±0.04 |
3.8±0.03 |
3.0±0.02 |
|||
|
WAM |
Total score, points |
I |
3,7±0.21 |
4.8±0.27 |
3.3±0.19 |
|
|
II |
5.5±0.32▲▲ |
6.1±0.41** |
4.6±0.24●● |
|||
Note: I – the ascertaining stage; II – the control stage; type I – moderate predominance of the central curve of regulation; type II – pronounced predominance of the central curve of regulation; type III – moderate predominance of the autonomous curve of regulation; type IV – pronounced predominance of the autonomous curve of regulation; MRT (ms) – mean response time; En (c.u.) – entropy; FS (c.u.) – functional level of the system; RS (c.u.) – body response stability; FC (c.u.) – level of functional capabilities; MRTV (ms) – mean reaction time value; WAM (point) – wellbeing, activity, mood; * – reliability of differences, p≤0.05 of type III intragroup values, stage I and II; ** – reliability of differences, p≤0.01 of type III intragroup values, stage I and II; ● – reliability of differences, p≤0.05 of type IV intragroup values, stage I and II; ●● – reliability of differences, p≤0.01 of type IV intragroup values, stage I and II; ▲ – reliability of differences, p≤0.05 of type I intragroup values, stage I and II; ▲▲ – reliability of differences, p≤0.01 of type I intragroup values, stage I and II.
Fig. 2. Comparison of the AR type of students engaged in hiking at the control stage
Note: MPAC – moderate predominance of the autonomous curve of regulation; MPCC – moderate predominance of the central curve of regulation; PPAC – pronounced predominance of the autonomous curve of regulation.
Conclusion. Therefore, we have identified features of the psychophysiological state of students engaged in hiking, taking into account the predominant type of autonomic regulation. Recreational physical activity in a form of a weekend hike through the training effect of adaptive rearrangement of the body contributed to the improvement of the functional state of the central nervous system and an increase in the number of the students with a moderate predominance of the autonomous circuit of regulation.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
REFERENCES
- Milushkina O.Yu, Skoblina N.A., Markelova S.V. Assessment of health risks for schoolchildren and students when exposed to educational and leisure information and communication technologies. Health risk analysis, 2019, no. 3, pp. 135-143. (in Russ.)
- Meermanova I.B., Koigeldinova S.S., Ibraev S.A. The state of health of students studying in higher education institutions. International Journal of Applied and Fundamental Research, 2017, no. 2, pp. 193-197. (in Russ.)
- Sadvakasov N.M., Dzhaketaeva Sh.D., Dzhanalina G.A., Aldanova J.A. Abdrakhmanov N.N., Sergiev T.S., Kulov D.N. Comparative characteristics of the lifestyle of young people. Medicine and ecology, 2015, no. 1(74), pp. 46-47. (in Russ).
- Bykov E.V., Makunina O.A., Kharina I.F. Monitoring of the health of students of the University of Physical Education for the period 2016-2021. Moscow: Rusains LLC, 2021, 148 p. (in Russ.)
- Markova N.V., Ryutin S.G. Student health: current trends. Modern high-tech technologies, 2020, no.3, pp. 168-172. (in Russ.)
- Güzel H., Glazer S. Demographic Correlates of Acculturation and Sociocultural Adaptation: Comparing International and Domestic Students. Journal of International Students, 2019, vol. 9, no. 4 pp. 1075-1095.
- Zykun Zh.A., Konon A.I. The importance of physical education for students in the modern world. A young scientist, 2018, no. 46(232), pp. 412-415. (in Russ.)
- Litvinenko S.N., Baykovsky Yu.V. Changes in the parameters of the cardiovascular system and body composition in the dynamics of a weekend hike in the Middle Mountains. Extreme human activity, 2017, no. 4(45), pp. 83-86. (in Russ.)
- Zhmurova T.A., Ryabtsev S.M. Assessment of the psychophysiological and functional state of the body of students engaged in recreational rock climbing. Scientific notes of the V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University. Biology. Chemistry, 2024, vol. 10(76), no.1, pp. 76-86. (in Russ.)
- Ryabtsev S.M., Zhmurova T.A. Characteristics of psychophysiological reactions and the functional state of the human body in conditions of short-term physical recreation. Scientific Notes of P.F. Lesgaft University, 2023, no. 5(219), pp. 330-337. (in Russ.)
- Tretyakova T.N. Ergonomics of tourism as a subject of scientific research. Pedagogical, psychological, and biomedical problems of physical culture and sports, 2015, no. 4(37), pp. 230-238. (in Russ.)
- Zhigarev O.L. The influence of sports and wellness tourism on the morphofunctional and psychophysiological parameters of the body of students. Novosibirsk, 2002. 190 p. (in Russ.)
- Shlyk N.I. Heart rate variability and methods of its determination in athletes during the training process. Izhevsk: Udmurt University, 2022. 80 p. (in Russ.)
- Mantrova I.N. Methodological guide for psychophysiological and psychological diagnostics. Ivanovo: “Neurosoft”, 2007. 216 p. (in Russ.)
- Filippov M.M., Balykin M.V., Il’in V.N., Portnichenko V.I., Yevtushenko A.L. Comparative characteristics of hypoxia, developing during muscular activity, and hypoxic hypoxia in the mountains. Ulyanovsk Medical and Biological Journal, 2014, no. 4, pp. 86-95. (in Russ.)
- Ryabtsev S.M., Zhmurova T.A. Features of adaptive and adaptive reactions of the cardiovascular system of the body of students in conditions of aerobic exercise of various capacities. Bulletin of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. Natural sciences, 2024, no. 2, pp. 69-79. (in Russ.)
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Tatyana A. Zhmurova – Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Sevastopol State University, Sevastopol, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Oksana Yu. Ryabtseva – Candidate of Economic Sciences, the general practitioner, Deputy Chief Physician, City Hospital No. 5, Sevastopol, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sergej M. Ryabtsev – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Sevastopol State University, Sevastopol, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Yulia V. Koryagina – Doctor of Biological Candidate Sciences, Professor, Head of the Center of Biomedical Technologies, North-Caucasian Federal Research-Clinical Center of Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Essentuki, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For citation: Zhmurova T.A., Ryabtseva O.Yu., Ryabtsev S.M., Koryagina Yu.V. Psychophysiological characteristics of students engaged in hiking taking into account the typological features of heart rate variability. Russian Journal of Sports Science: Medicine, Physiology, Training, 2025, vol. 4, no. 2(14). DOI: 10.24412/2782-6570-2025_04_02_2