https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/ Research on Women's Sports en daily 1 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5056.html Chronic low back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition that imposes substantial physical, psychological, and social burdens, particularly among women.This quasi-experimental randomized controlled trial was conducted on 40 women aged 35–45 years diagnosed with non-specific chronic low back pain lasting longer than 12 weeks.Participants were recruited using purposive sampling from local health centers and public announcements and were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20).Data were collected before and after the intervention using standardized self-report questionnaires. Happiness was assessed using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire–Short Form, and pain self-efficacy was measured using the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.Following the eight-week intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in both psychological variables, whereas the control group showed no improvement or a slight decline.The findings of this study demonstrate that an eight-week aquatic Pilates exercise program is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving happiness and pain self-efficacy in women with non-specific chronic low back pain. https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5074.html The aim of this research was to examine the relationship of social support and women perceived sports performance, with intrinsic motivation serving as a mediating role with SEM approach . This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational research conducted through fieldwork. The research population consisted of female athletes with sports experience at provincial, national, and international levels. A total of 98 female athletes were selected as the sample based on the structural equation modeling sampling formula and using purposive sampling method. The fieldwork involved administering standard questionnaires that had been previously used in similar studies. To test the research hypotheses and assess the model's validity, the Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modeling technique was employed. The findings indicated that social support had significant relationship with sports performance (β=0.39) and intrinsic motivation (β=0.42) among female athletes. Additionally, another part of the results showed that intrinsic motivation had a significant relationship with women's sports performance (β=0.44). Moreover, intrinsic motivation, acting as a mediator, was able to facilitate and strengthen the relationship of social support and women's sports performance (β=0.57). The Goodness of Fit (GOF) index also indicated an acceptable model fit. The findings of this study highlight the interaction of social factors and internal factors in strengthening and improving the performance of female athletes. According to the findings, external social factors and internal motivational processes interact dynamically and are able to provide the basis for the successful performance of female athletes. https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5070.html Background and PurposeWhat is very important here is that perhaps empowerment itself occurs more or less in sports organizations, but the lack of a specific and valid model and also the failure to take advantage of the role of the media, which can have a significant impact in any field today, naturally increases the costs of empowerment of these organizations, and perhaps empowering female employees for women's sports management occurs incompletely and limitedly. Therefore, having an appropriate and valid model for equal empowerment of women and taking advantage of the role of the media in this matter can be of great help in the management of sports organizations. Therefore, in order to scientifically provide the underlying grounds for similar research and also to practically reduce organizational costs (including financial, time, and personnel costs) for empowering women in sports management, the present study was conducted with the aim of modeling women's empowerment in sports management with an emphasis on the role of the media.MethodsThe present study is applied in terms of its purpose, quantitative in terms of data type, field in terms of data collection method, and causal-correlation in terms of data analysis. The participants in this study consisted of women's sports managers and coaches in East Azerbaijan Province, of whom 146 were selected using an accessible and purposeful method, and the selection criterion for individuals was having a management background in sports organizations or an executive and research background in the field of sports management and media. The number of statistical samples was also determined using the GPower software and the information entered into it, including the number of variables (6), measurement error (0.05), and the average impact factor (0.15). The data collection tool in the present study was a researcher-made questionnaire derived from the qualitative findings. To verify the validity, this questionnaire was provided to 10 university sports management professors, and their opinions regarding the research design and validation of the model obtained from the quality of the design were applied based on 1- suitability of the design, 2- correctness of the design, 3- consistency within the design, and 4- analytical adequacy. It was provided to them once again for final verification, which was approved. Also, in order to verify the construct validity of this questionnaire, convergent and divergent validity indices were used, and to verify and verify its reliability, factor loadings, Cronbach's alpha, and composite reliability were used. All indices indicated high validity and reliability of the questionnaire, and their results are reported in detail in the findings section. In the present study, in order to analyze the data, the demographic information of the participants in this study was first described, and then the data were analyzed and the research model was fitted using structural equation modeling and its specific type, namely confirmatory factor analysis with partial least squares in SmartPLS software version 3.1.1 at a significance level of 0.05.ResultsThe descriptive findings of the study showed that of the 146 people who participated in the present study, all of whom were women, most of them (51%) were between 40 and 50 years old, 89% of them were married and 11% were single, 55% of the participants had a master's degree, 30% had a doctorate, and 15% had a bachelor's degree, and most of their work experience (53%) was between 10 and 15 years. The results of the study also showed that the research model has a good fit and that causal factors (β=0.801; t=27.245) have a positive and significant relationship with women's empowerment in sports management with an emphasis on the role of the media; Women's empowerment (β=0.517; t=4.392) and contextual factors (β=0.247; t=2.062) have a positive and significant relationship, and intervening factors (β=-0.175; t=2.154) have a negative and significant relationship with strategies and strategies (β=0.889; t=37.771) have a positive and significant relationship with outcomes.ConclusionImproving the status and role of women in the field of sports management requires attention to a set of individuals, organizational, and social factors. Providing appropriate platforms, reforming attitudes and policies, and utilizing existing capacities can pave the way for women's progress and more effective presence. Also, the role of environmental support and culture building is very key to the success of this process and can lead to the realization of sustainable development and greater productivity in organizations and society. Therefore, according to the results of this study, it is suggested that sports organizations provide equal opportunities for women by reforming management structures and policies and preventing gender discrimination, that special training and empowerment programs be designed and implemented for women managers to increase their skills and self-confidence, that the media play an active role in promoting women's successes and capabilities, and that by producing positive content, change society's attitude toward women's presence in sports management, and that the support of senior managers and the creation of a justice-oriented organizational culture provide the basis for the successful implementation of empowerment strategies. It should be noted that the present study also had some limitations. This study may not be generalizable to all sports communities and organizations due to geographical and cultural constraints. The data were also collected mainly based on the participants' self-reports, which increases the possibility of bias. Also, some influential factors such as macro policies or economic conditions have not been fully investigated. Therefore, considering the results and the limitations of the study, it is recommended that future researchers conduct comparative studies in other management areas and different countries to examine the differences and similarities in the process of women's empowerment, examine the role of macro policies and supportive laws in promoting the status of women in sports management, and study the impact of new technologies and social networks as new media tools in empowering women in sports management.Article messageProviding appropriate platforms, reforming attitudes and policies, and utilizing existing capacities can pave the way for women to progress and become more effective in sports management. Ethical ConsiderationsIn the present study, all ethical considerations were observed, including voluntary participation in the study, confidentiality of information with the authors, etc.Authors’ Contributions …Conflict of InterestThere are no conflicts of interest in the present study.AcknowledgmentsThe present research is an extract from a doctoral dissertation, and we would like to express our gratitude to all those who participated in all stages of this research. https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5069.html This study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators of sport participation among new mothers and to explore their lived experiences of engaging in physical activity during the postpartum period. Employing a qualitative design with a descriptive phenomenological approach, the research recruited thirteen new mothers through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data were collected via in-depth semi‑structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven‑step method. The analysis revealed two overarching domains—barriers and facilitators—comprising five thematic categories in each. Key barriers included the burden of maternal and household roles, lack of supportive childcare networks, physical and psychological challenges after childbirth, structural and economic constraints in sport environments, and individual difficulties coupled with social pressures. In contrast, facilitating themes encompassed family support and redistribution of roles, accessible mother‑child‑friendly sport infrastructures, financial support and incentive policies, cultural awareness and shifts in societal attitudes, and mothers’ individual strategies and self‑regulation. The findings indicate that recommending exercise to new mothers, without simultaneously addressing the multilayered individual, familial, social, and structural barriers they face, is unlikely to yield sustainable behavior change. Designing multi‑level interventions at the family, community, and health‑ and sport‑service system levels appears essential for enabling postpartum mothers’ participation in physical activity and enhancing their quality of life. https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5071.html Background and Purpose: This study investigated the effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and nanocurcumin supplementation on quality of life in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods : Thirty-four infertile women visiting the Rooya Infertility Treatment Center completed this single-blind clinical trial. They were randomly divided into the HIIT (n=8), the HIIT+nanocurcumin (n=8), the nanocurcumin (n=9), and the control groups (n=9). Those in the HIIT and HIIT+nanocurcumin groups performed the HIIT three days a week for 12 weeks. In the trial period, those in the HIIT+ nanocurcumin group also received one 80-mg nanocurcumin capsule per day. All participants were weighed, and the questionnaire was completed by them, both before the trial started and after it ended. The data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the paired samples t-test, and ANOVA in SPSS 26. Results: Data comparison indicated that there were significant within-group differences in the HIIT and HIIT+nanocurcumin groups before and after the trial in all areas except for hirsutism (P>0.05). The only significant within-group difference observed in the nanocurcumin group before and after the trial was in menstruation (P<0.002). Natural pregnancy occurred in the two HIIT participants. Moreover, one natural pregnancy happened, and one participant became pregnant by IVF, in the HIIT+nanocurcumin group (four live births in all).Conclusions: HIIT alone or together with nanocurcumin supplementation can significantly improve quality of life in infertile women with PCOS even without significant changes in body weight. https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5112.html Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeGender equality and the empowerment of women constitute a foundational development objective that has gained global traction and is widely regarded as indispensable for sustainable development. Women occupy multifaceted and indispensable roles across domestic, professional, and societal domains, respectively, and their contributions are central to the economic vitality of nations, given that they represent approximately half of the world's population. Advancing gender equality is thus a core component of any development strategy aimed at enabling both men and women to escape poverty and elevate their standards of living. Within the specific context of sport, gender disparities persist in participation rates, resource allocation, media coverage, and leadership representation, despite the well-documented benefits of athletic engagement for physical health, psychological well-being, and social capital accumulation among women. The present study, therefore, seeks to examine the predictors of perceived gender inequality among Iranian female athletes, with particular attention to the roles of quality of life, socioeconomic status, age, and perceived health, in order to inform targeted interventions that can redress systemic imbalances and foster more equitable sporting environments.MethodsThis investigation was applied in its overarching purpose, quantitative in its data orientation, and cross-sectional in its temporal design, employing a descriptive–correlational field methodology. The target population comprised all Iranian female athletes who had maintained a minimum of five years of regular sports participation. Given the indeterminate size of this population, the minimum requisite sample was calculated as 384 respondents using Cochran's formula for unlimited populations. To enhance precision and account for potential attrition, a final sample of 498 participants was recruited through random cluster sampling stratified across five distinct geographical regions of the country—North, South, East, West, and Central. In the initial stage, clusters were selected at random from predefined geographic strata; subsequently, questionnaires were administered within each cluster using a convenience sampling approach. Data collection instruments included the standardized WHO Quality of Life questionnaire, a socioeconomic status scale, and a researcher-developed Gender Inequality inventory comprising 57 items, which demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.758). Quantitative data analysis was performed using hierarchical multiple regression within the SPSS-25 software environment.ResultsA multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify significant predictors of perceived gender inequality among the participating female athletes. The overall model demonstrated adequate explanatory capacity, accounting for 21% of the variance in the dependent variable (R² = 0.21). Among the predictor variables, Quality of Life emerged as the strongest positive correlate of perceived gender inequality (β = 0.347, p < 0.001), underscoring its predominant influence in shaping participants' perceptions. In addition, Socioeconomic Status exhibited a significant positive association with the dependent variable (β = 0.161, p < 0.001), suggesting that greater access to material resources and elevated social standing are linked to heightened awareness of gendered inequities. Conversely, Age yielded a negative standardized coefficient (β = −0.193, p < 0.001), indicating an inverse relationship whereby older participants reported lower levels of perceived gender inequality. Regarding Perceived Health, although this variable is frequently cited in the literature as a meaningful determinant, it failed to attain statistical significance within the current model (p > 0.05). This null finding may appear counterintuitive; however, it is plausible that perceived health exerts its influence not directly but indirectly through mediating pathways—such as socioeconomic status, social support networks, or community participation—some of which were controlled for in the present analysis, while others remained outside the study's purview. Alternatively, perceived health may function as a moderating factor that alters the magnitude of other individual or structural effects without manifesting a standalone direct impact. Conceptual and measurement considerations also warrant attention, as disparate instruments may capture divergent dimensions of perceived health, thereby affecting the observed relationships. Other demographic and sport-related background variables did not demonstrate significant effects on the dependent variable (p > 0.05). These discrepancies may be attributable to the distinctive characteristics of the study population or to synergistic interactions among variables within the model, both of which merit further exploration in subsequent investigations.ConclusionThe findings collectively indicate that awareness of gender inequality is contingent upon improvements in welfare and cognitive indicators, rather than being a straightforward reflection of objective deprivation. At the operational level, it is recommended that the Ministry of Sports and Youth prioritize "fairness in resource distribution" and institute "legal and gender-awareness training programs," particularly targeting younger athletes and underserved geographical areas, so as to cultivate a conducive environment for constructive advocacy and the progressive reduction of gender disparities within Iranian sport.Article MessageThe results of this study demonstrate that perceived gender inequality in women's sports does not directly mirror objective material deprivation; rather, it emerges from a complex interplay between social structures and institutionalized representations of gender roles. The data indicate that enhancements in quality of life and socioeconomic status are accompanied by an amplified critical consciousness regarding discriminatory patterns and gender-based constraints—suggesting that as women increasingly distance themselves from traditional role frameworks, their sensitivity to inequality intensifies. From a theoretical standpoint, it can be posited that within the Iranian sporting landscape, the manifestation of inequality is not merely a consequence of resource scarcity or ineffective policy implementation, but rather the product of entrenched institutionalization of traditional gender roles within legal frameworks, media representations, and organizational policies—roles that delimit women's public participation, including in sport, strictly within the boundaries of "permissible" and "acceptable" conduct. Accordingly, policymakers must extend their purview beyond economic and infrastructural planning to address the redefinition of these roles at cultural and institutional levels. Sports federations can also curtail the reproduction of gender-role stereotypes by ensuring transparency in resource allocation and promoting equitable media representation of women's athletic achievements. Furthermore, coaches and sports administrators are encouraged to foster attitudinal shifts toward women's roles in sport through anti-stereotyping education and the design of inclusive training environments. Collectively, these measures could precipitate a gradual transformation in societal understandings of masculine and feminine roles within the sporting domain, thereby attenuating perceived inequality. Fundamentally, gender inequality in Iranian sports is not an isolated individual issue but a consequence of the tension between entrenched gender roles and emergent social identities; it is remediable only through simultaneous intervention at structural, cultural, and behavioral levels. Future research should, therefore, aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms shaping these perceptions by concurrently analyzing institutional, cultural, and macro-structural variables—including organizational policies, societal attitudes toward gender roles, and media framing.Ethical ConsiderationsThis study received ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of Razi University (IR.RAZI.REC.1402.105). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their involvement in the research.Authors' ContributionsThe authors of this research contributed equally to all stages of project implementation, including design, execution, and manuscript preparation.Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist in the conduct of this research or in the preparation of this article. All research activities were carried out independently, impartially, and without affiliation to any political, commercial, or organizational interests.AcknowledgmentsSincere gratitude and appreciation are extended to all those who provided constructive comments and feedback at various stages of this research, thereby contributing to its refinement and completion.  https://rws.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5113.html Sports injuries, as a multidimensional challenge, affect not only the physical performance but also the psychological health of athletes. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the psychological characteristics of injured and healthy female CrossFit athletes. This research was an applied descriptive study carried out on 154 female CrossFit athletes from the cities of Shahrud and Semnan (68 injured and 86 healthy). Injured athletes were identified based on the Oslo questionnaire with a score of 29 and above. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires on athletic identity by Brewer, Rosenberg self-esteem, Kessler psychological distress, and War quality of life and analyzed using the MANOVA test. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of quality of life (F=12.582, P=0.001), psychological health (F=15.42, P=0.001), and self-esteem (F=7.32, P=0.008), in favor of the healthy group. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the variable of athletic identity (P=0.186). Sports injuries negatively affect athletes' quality of life, mental health, and self-esteem, but they do not have a significant impact on their athletic identity. These findings emphasize the need to pay attention to psychological aspects in rehabilitation programs for injured athletes.