Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

other بررسی ارتباط فعالیت‌های بدنی با سلامت روان و پیشگیری از مصرف مواد مخدر در دانش‌آموزان دختر شهر تهران Association of Physical Activity with Mental Health and Prevention of Substance Abuse Among Female Students in Tehran روانشناسی بالینی Clinical Psychiatry پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;">زمینه و هدف: سلامت روان و پیشگیری از گرایش به مصرف مواد مخدر از مهم‌ترین مؤلفه‌های سلامت نوجوانان محسوب می‌شوند. فعالیت بدنی به‌عنوان یکی از مؤثرترین راهکارهای ارتقای سلامت، می‌تواند نقش مهمی در بهبود وضعیت روان‌شناختی و کاهش رفتارهای پرخطر ایفا کند. ازاین‌رو، پژوهش حاضر با هدف بررسی ارتباط فعالیت‌های بدنی با سلامت روان و پیشگیری از مصرف مواد مخدر در دانش‌آموزان دختر شهر تهران انجام شد. روش‌ها: این پژوهش از نوع توصیفی-همبستگی بود. جامعه آماری را تمامی دانش‌آموزان دختر دوره متوسطه دوم منطقه 4 آموزش‌وپرورش شهر تهران در سال تحصیلی 1404-1403 تشکیل دادند. تعداد 400 نفر به روش نمونه‌گیری خوشه‌ای چندمرحله‌ای انتخاب شدند. داده‌ها با استفاده از پرسشنامه بین‌المللی فعالیت بدنی (IPAQ) (2001)، پرسشنامه سلامت عمومی (GHQ-28) گلدبرگ و همکاران (1979) و پرسشنامه آمادگی به اعتیاد وید و همکاران (1992) جمع‌آوری شد. تجزیه‌وتحلیل داده‌ها با استفاده از آزمون ضریب همبستگی پیرسون و تحلیل رگرسیون خطی انجام شد. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد بین فعالیت بدنی و سلامت روان رابطه منفی و معناداری وجود دارد (582/0- =r، 001/0>p). همچنین بین فعالیت بدنی و گرایش به مصرف مواد مخدر نیز رابطه منفی و معناداری مشاهده شد (491/0- =r، 001/0>p). نتایج تحلیل رگرسیون نشان داد فعالیت بدنی توانست 9/33 درصد از تغییرات سلامت روان و 1/24 درصد از تغییرات گرایش به مصرف مواد مخدر را پیش‌بینی کند (001/0>p). نتیجه‌گیری: فعالیت بدنی با بهبود سلامت روان و کاهش گرایش به مصرف مواد مخدر در دانش‌آموزان دختر ارتباط معناداری دارد. بنابراین، توسعه برنامه‌های منظم ورزشی در مدارس می‌تواند به‌عنوان راهبردی مؤثر در ارتقای سلامت روان و پیشگیری از رفتارهای پرخطر نوجوانان مورد استفاده قرار گیرد.</div> <div> <table align="left" hspace="0" vspace="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in 12px; text-align: justify;" valign="top">Background & Aims: Mental health is a fundamental component of overall health and well-being and plays a crucial role in adolescents' emotional, cognitive, and social development. Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by rapid biological, psychological, and social changes that may increase vulnerability to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and engagement in high-risk behaviors, including substance abuse. The increasing prevalence of mental health problems and substance use among adolescents has become a major public health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in seven adolescents experiences a mental health disorder, while substance use during adolescence contributes substantially to morbidity, mortality, poor academic performance, and long-term psychosocial consequences. Therefore, identifying protective factors that can simultaneously enhance mental health and reduce the risk of substance abuse has become a priority for researchers, healthcare professionals, and educational policymakers. Among various lifestyle-related factors, physical activity has been recognized as one of the most effective and accessible non-pharmacological interventions for promoting both physical and psychological health. Regular participation in physical activity has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, body composition, metabolic function, and immune responses while also exerting beneficial effects on mental health through multiple biological and psychological mechanisms. Exercise stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, enhances brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and reduces chronic stress and inflammation. Collectively, these adaptations contribute to improved mood, reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms, enhanced self-esteem, better emotional regulation, and improved cognitive performance. Beyond its physiological effects, physical activity also provides important psychosocial benefits. Participation in organized sports and recreational activities strengthens social relationships, promotes teamwork and communication skills, increases self-confidence and resilience, and provides adolescents with healthy opportunities for leisure and stress management. These positive experiences may reduce susceptibility to peer pressure and discourage engagement in risky behaviors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use. Consequently, physically active adolescents are generally more likely to adopt healthier lifestyles and demonstrate greater psychological resilience than their inactive peers. Despite the growing body of evidence supporting the health benefits of physical activity, relatively few studies have simultaneously examined its relationship with both mental health and the prevention of substance abuse among Iranian female adolescents. Considering the cultural and social characteristics of this population, further investigation is warranted to provide evidence that can guide school-based health promotion strategies. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity, mental health, and the prevention of substance abuse among female students in Tehran. It was hypothesized that higher levels of physical activity would be associated with better mental health and a lower tendency toward substance abuse. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of effective school-based interventions designed to promote psychological well-being and reduce high-risk behaviors among adolescents. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted among female high school students in District 4 of the Tehran Department of Education during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 400 participants were selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (2001), the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) developed by Goldberg et al. (1979), and the Addiction Potential Scale (APS) developed by Weed et al. (1992). Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. Results:   The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between physical activity and mental health (r= −0.582, P< 0.001). A significant negative correlation was also observed between physical activity and the tendency toward substance abuse (r= −0.491, P< 0.001). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that physical activity accounted for 33.9% of the variance in mental health and 24.1% of the variance in the tendency toward substance abuse (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that physical activity is significantly associated with improved mental health and a reduced tendency toward substance abuse among female high school students. Participants with higher levels of physical activity reported better psychological well-being and a lower inclination toward substance use, highlighting the important role of an active lifestyle in promoting adolescent health. Furthermore, regression analysis indicated that physical activity significantly predicted both mental health status and the tendency toward substance abuse, suggesting that regular engagement in physical activity contributes meaningfully to psychological resilience and the prevention of high-risk behaviors. The beneficial effects of physical activity can be explained through several interconnected biological, psychological, and social mechanisms. Regular exercise has been shown to improve emotional well-being by enhancing the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, reducing stress hormone secretion, and promoting neuroplasticity. In addition, physical activity increases self-esteem, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, and social connectedness, all of which are recognized as protective factors against mental health problems and substance use. Participation in organized physical activities also provides adolescents with constructive leisure opportunities, strengthens peer relationships, and reduces exposure to environments associated with risky behaviors. Although physical activity explained a considerable proportion of the variance in both mental health and substance abuse tendency, these outcomes are influenced by multiple factors, including family environment, socioeconomic status, peer influence, educational conditions, and individual psychological characteristics. Therefore, physical activity should be considered an essential component of a comprehensive health promotion strategy rather than a standalone intervention. The findings of this study have important practical implications for educational authorities, school administrators, and public health policymakers. Developing and implementing regular school-based physical activity programs, improving access to sports facilities, encouraging participation in recreational and organized sports, and integrating physical activity into health education curricula may contribute to improving students' mental health while reducing the likelihood of substance abuse. In conclusion, promoting an active lifestyle during adolescence represents a practical, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to enhancing psychological well-being and preventing high-risk behaviors. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are recommended to further clarify the causal relationship between physical activity, mental health, and substance abuse prevention among adolescents.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"></div> فعالیت بدنی, سلامت روان, گرایش به مصرف مواد مخدر, دانش‌آموزان دختر Physical activity, Mental health, Substance abuse tendency, Female students 1 12 http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-8836-1&slc_lang=other&sid=1 Seyyed Mostafa Tayyebi Sani سید مصطفی طیبی ثانی sm.tayyebisani@cfu.ac.ir 3900319475328460091356 0009-0001-3523-315X Yes Faculty Member, Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, PO Box 888-14665 Tehran, Iran. Afsaneh Rouhani افسانه روحانی 3900319475328460091357 0009-0005-8795-9832 No PhD in Sports Management. Official Secretary of Education, District 1, Tehran. Tehran. Iran Zohreh Borhani Kakhki زهره برهانی کاخکی 3900319475328460091358 3900319475328460091358 No Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran