Shahid Beheshti University Sports Psychology 2676-3729 18 1 2026 03 21 Effect of a Health-Centered Educational Program on the Lifestyle, Motivation for Sports Participation, and Psychological Characteristics of Students: An Action Research Study Effect of a Health-Centered Educational Program on the Lifestyle, Motivation for Sports Participation, and Psychological Characteristics of Students: An Action Research Study 105515 10.48308/mbsp.2023.209008.0 FA Fatemeh Palizvan Ph.D. student in Motor Behavior, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Rokhsareh Badami Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 0000-0002-4507-0382 Zahra Serjuei Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran. 0000-0001-9510-3958 Journal Article 2020 04 16 Purpose: Physical education and sports are essential components of education and crucial for promoting health in the younger generation. However, psychological needs of students have often been overlooked in research studies. This study aims to address this gap by developing and implementing a health-centered educational program in school sports classes to evaluate its impact on students' lifestyle and psychological characteristics. <br /><br />Methods: The participants in this study were ninth-grade female students in Shahrekord. The research tools included questionnaires on body image concerns, a short multidimensional life satisfaction scale, a standard sports participation motivation questionnaire, a lifestyle questionnaire, and a social anxiety questionnaire. <br /><br />Results: The findings indicated a positive change and increase in average scores for life satisfaction, sports participation motivation, and lifestyle at each stage of the program. Conversely, average scores for body image concerns and social anxiety decreased. Implementing the health-centered educational program, tailored to address students' psychological and social needs, resulted in better decision-making skills, improved mental health, and reduced social anxiety among students.<br /><br />Conclusion: It is recommended that future interventions focus on providing educational programs for teachers and parents that align with health-centered education in school sports classes. Purpose: Physical education and sports are essential components of education and crucial for promoting health in the younger generation. However, psychological needs of students have often been overlooked in research studies. This study aims to address this gap by developing and implementing a health-centered educational program in school sports classes to evaluate its impact on students' lifestyle and psychological characteristics. <br /><br />Methods: The participants in this study were ninth-grade female students in Shahrekord. The research tools included questionnaires on body image concerns, a short multidimensional life satisfaction scale, a standard sports participation motivation questionnaire, a lifestyle questionnaire, and a social anxiety questionnaire. <br /><br />Results: The findings indicated a positive change and increase in average scores for life satisfaction, sports participation motivation, and lifestyle at each stage of the program. Conversely, average scores for body image concerns and social anxiety decreased. Implementing the health-centered educational program, tailored to address students' psychological and social needs, resulted in better decision-making skills, improved mental health, and reduced social anxiety among students.<br /><br />Conclusion: It is recommended that future interventions focus on providing educational programs for teachers and parents that align with health-centered education in school sports classes.