The aim of the study is to assess the enjoyment and intensity of physical exercise while practicing physical activity (PA) in immersive virtual reality (IVR) using innovative training devices (omni-directional Omni treadmill and Icaros Pro flight simulator). The study also contains the results of subjective research on the usefulness of such a form of PA in the opinion of users. In total, 61 adults (10 women and 51 men) took part in the study. To assess the enjoyment level (EL) Interest/Enjoyment subscale of Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was used. Exercise intensity was assessed during 10-min sessions of active video games (AVGs) in IVR based on heart rate (HR). The average enjoyment level during physical exercise in IVR on the tested training devices was high (Omni 5.74 points, Icaros 5.60 points on a 1–7 Likert scale) and differed significantly in favor of PA on Omni. In the opinion of the majority of participants, AVGs in IVR on the tested devices constitute a sufficiently useful form of PA to meet the needs of leisure time activities, and they can even replace some forms of physical effort performed in a classic way. The intensity of PA during games on training devices was at the level recommended for health benefits for 80.55% (Omni) and 50.77% (Icaros Pro) of its duration. Based on the conducted research, it can be assumed that AVGs in IVR using a multi-directional treadmill and a flight simulator can be an effective tool for increasing participation in health-oriented PA.

The purpose of the study was to assess the intensity of aerobic physical activity during exergame training sessions with a moderate (MLD) and high (HLD) level of difficulty of the interactive program “Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012” for Xbox 360 Kinect in the context of health benefits. The study involved 30 healthy and physically fit students. During the game, the HR of the participants was monitored using the Polar M400 heart rate monitor. The average percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax) and heart rate reserve (%HRR) during the game was calculated and referred to the criterion of intensity of aerobic physical activity of American College of Sports Medicine and World Health Organization health recommendations. During the MLD training, the participants achieved on average 69.6 ± 8.7% HRmaxand 57.0 ± 11.9% HRR (moderate intensity), while performing HLD exercises, they achieved 78.9 ± 8.1% HRmaxand 70.2 ± 11.3% HRR (vigorous intensity). The time spent in recommended moderate-to-vigorous intensity during 15-min exergame session was 14.6 min (97,1%) for MLD and 14.8 min (99%) for HLD. The intensity of aerobic PA during exergame “Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012” both medium and high level of difficulty almost all the training sessions was at the level recommended for health benefits. Active video games, especially exergames, containing an element of physical activity, can be used to increase the weekly dose of PA in the direction recommended for health benefits.

The main aim of this manuscript was to present a preliminary verification of the relations between the Dark Triad of personality traits and health-oriented behaviors in university students. The study involved 143 healthy students (94 female and 49 male) from the Silesian Voivodeship (Poland). The diagnosis of the elements of the Dark Triad of personality was carried out using a psychological examination based on the following tests: TriPM-41, Mach IV, NPI. The intensity of the health behaviors was examined using the Health Behavior Inventory developed by Z. Juczyński. The Health Behavior Inventory is positively correlated with narcissism and its self-sufficiency component and negatively with psychopathic disinhibition. For the Health Behavior Inventory’s subscales, a positive relationship was observed between Positive Mental Attitude and narcissism, most of its components, and psychopathic boldness. The analysis of correlations with the division of the subjects into the Dark Triad traits ≤Me and >Me revealed that a significant positive correlation between the general intensity of the health behaviors and the intensity of narcissism mainly concerns university students with a lower level of this trait and its components. Therefore, it can be presumed that narcissism, although considered as a socially aversive trait, is associated with pro-health behaviors.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-promoting behaviors as a factor supporting life satisfaction and a protective factor against stress in a group of Polish medical students during the third wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Material: The study was conducted in October–December 2021. There were 306 people, including 203 students in the 1st year of medicine, aged 20.42 ± 1.92 years, and 103 students in the 5th year of medicine, aged 24.88 ± 1.7 years. Methods: The following were used: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Health Behavior Inventory (IZZ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The survey was conducted online. Results: In the study group, the average result of 23.66 ± 5.97 was obtained in the life satisfaction questionnaire. In the overall assessment of health behaviors (IZZ), an average score of 80.06 ± 13.81 points was obtained. In the PSS-10 questionnaire, the respondents obtained an average of 21.10 ± 5.89 points. There were significant, negative correlations between the results obtained in the health behavior inventory with the results obtained in the stress scale and positive correlations with the results obtained in the life satisfaction scale. Moreover, in the assessment of the influence of prohealth behavior parameters on perceived stress and life satisfaction, a positive effect of PMA on life satisfaction was demonstrated, as well as a protective effect of Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) and Prohealth Activities (PhA) in relation to stress. Conclusions: Life in the period of the third wave of the pandemic was assessed by medical students as moderately satisfactory. Significant intensity of stress negatively correlated with life satisfaction. Health-promoting behaviors, and especially positive mental attitudes, seem to play a protective role in stressful situations and improve life satisfaction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the intensity of health behaviors and health-related quality of life in female mid-level medical staff. The study group consisted of 153 female mid-level medical staff members. The intensity of health behaviors was examined with the Polish version of Health Behavior Inventory. Health-related quality of life was verified with the Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF 36v2). Among the participants, 33% had low, 39% average, and 28% high intensity of health behaviors. The mental component of health-related quality of life was rated higher (83.3 ± 15.3 points) compared to the physical one. The lowest health-related quality of life was observed in the domain of “bodily pain”, while the highest was found for the domain of “social functioning”. Both the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life were significantly positively correlated with health behavior prevalence in all its categories. The post-hoc tests revealed the variation in physical and mental components of HRQoL according to the level of health behavior intensity.

This study examines the roles of optimism and self-efficacy in influencing health behaviors among Polish health sciences students, with a focus on gender differences. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 318 students. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) were used to assess self-efficacy, optimism, and health behaviors’ (HB) intensity, respectively. The variation in the HB was significant concerning the level of dispositional optimism (F(2, 312) = 4.22, p = 0.016, η²p = 0.03). LOT-R results turned out to be a statistically significant condition for higher frequency of positive mental attitude (PMA) behaviors and preventive actions (PAs). Gender differences were observed: higher scores of PMA and PhA were more frequent among men, whilst women were characterized with higher PA. The effect of gender and both GSES and LOT-R for the HBI results was statistically significant in two subscales (with LOT-R for PhA and with GSES for PA). These findings enhance the understanding of psychological determinants of health behaviors and suggest practical implications for educational and public health strategies. Gender turned out to be a significant determinant of some relationships between health behaviors and the examined dispositions in Polish health sciences students.