SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO THE FORMATION OF HEALTH CULTURE AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A REVIEW OF GLOBAL AND NATIONAL RESEARCH

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of global and national scholarly approaches to the formation of health culture among schoolchildren in general secondary education institutions. The relevance of the issue is caused by the growing psycho-emotional burden on children and adolescents, the decline in their level of physical activity, the spread of harmful habits, as well as general social risks affecting the physical, mental, and social well-being of young people. In contemporary educational policy, the preservation and strengthening of children’s health are defined as key priorities of state strategies and international initiatives, which entail updating educational content, implementing health-preserving technologies, and creating a safe educational environment. The article elucidates the essence of the concepts of «health» and «health culture», the latter being interpreted as an integral personal characteristic that encompasses knowledge about health, a system of value orientations, motivational attitudes, and practical skills aimed at maintaining and enhancing physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. It is emphasized that the formation of health culture constitutes a purposeful pedagogical process directed at developing a responsible attitude of students toward their own health, fostering health-preserving competence, and acquiring personal experience of healthy behavior. The main objectives of this process are identified as follows: the development of a system of knowledge regarding healthy lifestyles and safe behavior; the cultivation of motivation for physical activity and self-improvement; the acquisition of health-preserving experience with consideration of students’ individual characteristics; and the application of acquired knowledge and skills in everyday life. Particular attention is paid to the role of physical education as a significant factor in strengthening health, increasing physical capacity, and shaping positive motivation toward an active lifestyle. Within the scope of the study, leading methodological approaches to the formation of health culture among schoolchildren are characterized, including systemic, personality-oriented, activity-based, competence-based, cultural, axiological, anthropologicalhumanistic, historiographical, and historical-pedagogical approaches. The importance of the holistic approach, which involves integrating health-preserving activities into all spheres of school functioning and fostering partnership interaction with families and communities, is highlighted. The study also emphasizes the significance of developing health literacy as a factor in informed healthrelated decision-making. The synthesis of the analytical findings demonstrates that the effectiveness of forming schoolchildren’s health culture is ensured by the systematic integration of pedagogical approaches, the creation of a supportive educational environment, the preparation of teachers for implementing health-preserving technologies, and the introduction of innovative forms and methods of instruction