The correlation between the level of anxiety and motor, social activity on the example of students aged 14-16

Background and purpose In today’s society, adolescents are increasingly exposed to psycho-emotional stress due to transformations in the sociocultural environment, intensive use of digital technologies, increased academic demands, and an unstable social climate. According to the World Health Organization, more than 10% of children and adolescents worldwide experience mental health disorders, with anxiety disorders among the most prevalent. In Ukraine, this issue has been exacerbated by the consequences of the full-scale war that began in 2022. Military actions have had a profound impact on the mental health of children and adolescents, with national studies reporting elevated anxiety levels associated with threats to life, loss of home, separation from family members, and disruption of habitual living conditions.The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the relationship between anxiety levels and motor as well as social activity in adolescents aged 14–16 years. Material and methods The study was conducted during the 2024–2025 academic year in Dnipro (Ukraine) using an anonymous questionnaire survey. The author-designed questionnaire included the GAD-7 anxiety screening tool and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and was administered via Microsoft Forms. The sample consisted of 33 students (grades 8–11) from the Dnipro Scientific Chemical and Environmental Lyceum. Participants reported their subjective well-being, as well as the types and duration of daily activities. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 23. Results The empirical analysis revealed several statistically significant and trend-level associations between anxiety levels and indicators of motor and social activity in adolescents aged 14–16 years. Regular participation in sports or dance activities was associated with lower anxiety levels (p = 0.018). These adolescents also demonstrated higher levels of physical activity (p = 0.170) and psycho-emotional well-being (p = 0.162), indicating a potential compensatory effect of physical activity.The number of active hobbies showed a trend-level association with anxiety, with less active students more likely to report elevated anxiety levels (p = 0.316). Conversely, higher anxiety levels correlated with a greater number of passive hobbies (activities involving observation only) (p ≈ 0.28), suggesting reduced engagement and avoidance of active participation. Excessive digital activity, defined as screen time exceeding six hours per day, demonstrated a tendency toward increased anxiety (p = 0.422), consistent with international findings on the adverse effects of excessive screen use on adolescent mental health. No statistically significant association was found between anxiety levels and overall well-being (p = 0.645), reflecting the complexity of individual psychological dynamics and adaptive mechanisms. Conclusions Anxiety levels in adolescence are closely associated with the volume and nature of motor and social activity. Regular engagement in sports and creative activities, the presence of active hobbies, and limitations on screen time may serve as effective preventive strategies for reducing anxiety in adolescents. The findings may be applied in the practice of school psychologists, educators, and class teachers, as well as in the development of educational programs aimed at strengthening adolescent mental health.