Developing a Model of the Role of Security and Social Support in Students’ Extracurricular Activities (Sports–Leisure) and Its Role in Crime Prevention

Authors

    Ali Sadeghi * Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran A.sadeghi@pnu.ac.ir
    Javad Jahan Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
    Ali Ahmadi Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
    Ali Karimi Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Keywords:

Extracurricular curriculum, social environment, crime and delinquency, leisure and sports activities.

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of developing a model of the role of security and social support in students’ extracurricular activities (sports–leisure) and its role in crime prevention. In terms of purpose, the study was applied research; in terms of nature, it was descriptive; and in terms of implementation, it employed structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of students of Payame Noor University in Kermanshah Province. The samples were selected from among students who, according to reports from the university’s cultural and sports authorities, spent at least one hour of their leisure time on physical and sports activities (155 participants). The sampling method was multi-stage cluster random sampling. Data were collected from students through a standardized questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.91), and its validity was confirmed by experts in the field of sports sciences and criminology specialists. The results indicated that security factors and social support significantly influenced the level of students’ extracurricular activities (sports–leisure) in the direction of crime prevention. The findings also revealed that the level and type of security and social support differed among the branches of Payame Noor University in Kermanshah Province. Finally, it was determined that different forms of social support (financial, emotional, and instrumental support) increased students’ participation in sports and leisure activities for the purpose of crime prevention. Therefore, it is recommended that the government and relevant organizations, including the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and Payame Noor University, reduce security-related barriers and strengthen various forms of social support, such as reducing student tuition fees and improving free university sports facilities, in order to enhance students’ leisure and sports activities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Razavi Fard B. Criminology of international crimes and atrocities: Challenges in the study of international crimes. Research and Development in Criminal Law and Criminology. 2024;1(2):23-39.

2. Fathi MJ, Karamati Moez H. Legal and criminological analysis of apology for spiritual harm caused by crime. Applied Criminology Research. 2024;2(5):1-24.

3. Kourtit K, Pele M, Nijkamp P, Pele DT. Safe cities in the new urban world: A comparative cluster dynamics analysis through machine learning. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2021;66:102665. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102665.

4. Borg I, Hermann D. Attitudes toward crimes and their relations to gender, age, and personal values. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences. 2023;4:100111.

5. Kekäläinen T, Freund AM, Sipilä S, Kokko K. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between leisure time physical activity, mental well-being and subjective health in middle adulthood. Applied Research in Quality of Life. 2020;15(4):10-39.

6. Himmelstein MS, Beaver JN, Gilman TL. Anxiety and stress over COVID-19 pandemic associated with increased eating. Obesity Science & Practice. 2021;14(4):117-33. doi: 10.1002/osp4.576.

7. Downward P, Hallmann K, Rasciute S. Exploring the interrelationship between sport, health and social outcomes in the UK: implications for health policy. European Journal of Public Health. 2018;28(1):99-104. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckx063.

8. Ghorbani MH, Amiri-Moghaddam M, Zareian H. Identification and Formulation of a Model of Ethical Values in Iranian Sport. Research on Educational Sport. 2019;7(17):277-304. doi: 10.22089/res.2018.5239.1398.

9. Joseph RP, Vega-López S, Han S. Physical Activity Patterns and Neighborhood Characteristics of First-Generation Latina Immigrants Living in Arizona: Cross-sectional Study. JMIR Formative Research. 2021;5(5):e25663.

10. Godarzi M, Hosseini M, Bostaki M, Shahrian R. Investigating the role of security in motivating women's participation in public sports activities. Police Women. 2022;16(37):89-114.

11. Shariati J, Khosromanesh R, Asadolahi A. Challenges of physical activity of Iranian women in different stages of life. Sport Management Journal. 2023;14(4):117-33. doi: 10.22059/JSM.2021.325936.2748.

12. Varaee P, Mamdouhi Z, Varaee P, Varaee E. Public sports, sense of social security and social values: Predictors of social vitality in the Iranian sample. JCSNP. 2021;1(1-2):51-63.

13. Di Marco MH, Sandberg S, Fondevila G. Parenthood, gender, and turning points to crime for young people in Latin America. Advances in Life Course Research. 2025;63:100657.

14. Ferdowsi MH, Nikbakhsh B, Zebarjad S. The women's sport self-efficacy based on social support and socioeconomic status (mediating variable of motivation for sports participation). Quarterly Journal of Woman and Society. 2023;14(54):157-72. doi: 10.30495/jzvj.2023.31507.3970.

15. McCormack GR, Spence JC, McHugh TL, Mummery WK. The effect of neighborhood walkability on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during a 12-week pedometer-facilitated intervention. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(12):e0278596. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278596.

16. Paudel S, Owen AJ, Smith BJ. Socio-ecological influences of leisure-time physical activity among Nepalese adults: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11484-3.

17. Arumugam A, Mohammad Zadeh SA, Zabin ZA, Hawarneh TME, Ahmed HI, Jauhari FS, et al. Sedentary and physical activity time differs between self-reported ATLS-2 physical activity questionnaire and accelerometer measurements in adolescents and young adults in the United Arab Emirates. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15881-8.

18. Khosravi A, Selk Ghaffari M, Hassanmirzaei B, Kelishadi R, Qorbani M, Ahmadnehzhad E, et al. Health-enhancing physical activity monograph in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Sports Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2020.

19. Ghorbani E, Garousi S. Sports Participation of Female Students and Social Factors Affecting It. Journal of Iranian Social Studies. 2023;17(1):73-95. doi: 10.22034/jss.2023.552837.1689.

20. Ghaderi D, Fakhari A, Forooreshi M. The relationship between demographic characteristics and type of crime with psychopathy disorder in male prisoners in Mahabad. Journal of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. 2022;65(3):1222-32.

21. Hosseini SB, Sadeghi A, Khosravi Babadi AA, Dovayi M. Designing the extracurricular activities curriculum of Farhangian University: A grounded theory study. Curriculum Development. 2022;1(1):64-82. doi: 10.22080/dc.2022.3845.

22. Rivera E, Timperio A, Loh VH, Deforche B, Veitch J. Important Park features for encouraging park visitation, physical activity and social interaction among adolescents: a conjoint analysis. Health & Place. 2021;70:102617. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102617.

23. Liu Z, Kemperman A, Timmermans H, Yang D. Heterogeneity in physical activity participation of older adults: a latent class analysis. Journal of Transport Geography. 2021;92:102999. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.102999.

24. Kretschmer AC, Dumith SC. Physical activity in leisure-time and perceived environment: A population-based study with adults and the elderly from Southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia. 2020;23:e200043. doi: 10.1590/1980-549720200043.

Downloads

Published

2026-09-01

Submitted

2025-11-18

Revised

2026-04-20

Accepted

2026-04-28

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Sadeghi, A., Jahan, J. ., Ahmadi, A. ., & Karimi, A. . (2026). Developing a Model of the Role of Security and Social Support in Students’ Extracurricular Activities (Sports–Leisure) and Its Role in Crime Prevention. Assessment and Practice in Educational Sciences, 1-14. https://journalapes.com/index.php/apes/article/view/252

Similar Articles

21-30 of 113

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.