Povezanost antropometrijskih osobina, motoričkih sposobnosti, zdravih životnih navika i samopoštovanja studenata medicine [Relationship between anthropometric characteristics, motor abilities, healthy habits and self-esteem among medical students]

Aim is to examine the anthropometric characteristics and body composition, motor abilities, healthy lifestyle habits and their connection with self-esteem among the medical students at first two years of study. ----- Subjects and methods: The final number of analysed data includes 941 medical students. Health-promoting lifestyle, level of physical activity and self-esteem were analysed using survey method, while adequate measure procedures were used to determine anthropometric characteristics and body composition as well as motor abilities. ----- Results were used to analyse data of 673 students, of which 254 are young men and 429 are young women. Female students of first and second year care more about interpersonal relationships and health responsibility, while students maintain a higher level of physical activity and are more successful in dealing with stress. Significant gender differences are noted in the physical activity, where male students score higher results than female students. Male medical students score higher results in self-esteem level compared to female students. The greatest predictive value of self-esteem amongst both gender of medical students is represented by the domain of the health-promoting lifestyle, self-actualization. ----- Conclusion: Hypothesis that better anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities, healthy lifestyle habits (regular physical activity, dietary habits, health responsibility, interpersonal relationships, self-actualization and stress management) create a condition for greater self-esteem with medical students has been confirmed.