Research on Educational Sport

Identifying Barriers and Solutions for the Development of Sports among Prisoners

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

ebrahim alidoust ghahfarokhi 1
mahdi ghafouri yazdi 1
rahim Khosromanesh 2

1 Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Sport Sciences and Health, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Tehran, Iran

10.22089/res.2025.17281.2555
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
The primary objective of this study is to identify barriers and propose practical solutions for the development of sports programs among prisoners. Participation in physical activities within correctional facilities has been consistently linked to numerous benefits, including improved physical and mental health, enhanced social integration, and reduced rates of recidivism. Despite these advantages, prisoners face multiple challenges that limit their active involvement in sports. This research systematically analyzes these barriers by exploring the perspectives of prison officials, staff members, and inmates themselves. Furthermore, it develops actionable strategies aimed at enhancing the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of sports programs in prison settings. The study’s insights offer policymakers and prison administrators evidence-based guidance to establish structured, inclusive, and effective sports initiatives that support rehabilitation and facilitate the successful reintegration of inmates into society after their release.
 
Methods
A mixed-methods approach was adopted, blending qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to comprehensively examine the issue. The qualitative phase consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted with prison directors, officials, staff, and inmates. Participants were selected using purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved, allowing for a nuanced understanding of key barriers and enablers of sports participation within correctional institutions. Data from interviews were analyzed utilizing open, axial, and selective coding techniques to systematically categorize emergent themes.
In the quantitative phase, a survey was administered to a cohort of 160 prison staff members employing a cluster random sampling procedure. The structured questionnaire was meticulously developed based on qualitative findings and existing literature to ensure relevance and comprehensiveness. Its reliability was validated via Cronbach’s alpha, confirming internal consistency, while validity was supported through expert panel review. Analytical methods included exploratory factor analysis to uncover underlying barrier and solution dimensions, and the Friedman test to rank these factors according to their relative importance.
The study identified six principal categories of barriers restricting prisoners’ engagement in sports:
1.       Infrastructural and Equipment Barriers: Restricted access to adequate sports facilities, poor-quality or insufficient equipment, and unsafe environments impeding physical activity.
2.       Managerial and Organizational Barriers: Lack of coherent policies, limited institutional support from management, and inadequate funding allocation for sports programming within prisons.
3.       Lack of Awareness and Education: Insufficient knowledge among inmates about the health benefits of sports participation and absence of formal training or orientation programs.
4.       Individual-Level Obstacles: Psychological challenges such as depression and anxiety, low motivation, and physical disabilities that restrict active involvement.
5.       Socio-Cultural Barriers: Concerns regarding security and safety, unequal distribution of sports resources among inmates, and prevailing social stigmas attached to participation in prison sports.
6.       COVID-19-Related Barriers: Pandemic-induced restrictions limiting group gatherings, closure of sports venues, and heightened health risks affecting both inmates and staff.
Correspondingly, five strategic solution domains were proposed:
·         Infrastructural and Financial Strategies: Enhancing investments to upgrade sports facilities, improving accessibility to diverse and safe sports options, and ensuring resource adequacy.
·         Motivational and Knowledge-Based Initiatives: Delivering awareness campaigns, instituting incentives to encourage participation, and developing training tailored to inmates’ capabilities and interests.
·         Managerial and Organizational Improvements: Reinforcing institutional policies that support sports, engaging prison authorities actively in sports promotion, and implementing flexible scheduling to accommodate inmate availability.
·         Socio-Cultural Adaptations: Encouraging group-based activities that facilitate social interaction, working to diminish stigma, and cultivating a positive sports culture within the prison community.
·         Educational and Media-Driven Approaches: Broadcasting educational content highlighting the importance of sports, utilizing inmate-athletes as role models to inspire peers, and orchestrating media campaigns to raise overall awareness and engagement.
Statistical analysis underscored the prominence of infrastructural and financial initiatives, which ranked highest among the proposed strategies, reflecting their critical role in overcoming systemic limitations.
Results
The mixed-methods analysis confirmed the multifaceted nature of barriers faced by prisoners in sports participation, emphasizing the interplay between physical environment inadequacies, organizational inefficiencies, psychosocial factors, and external disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The multi-tiered solutions address these challenges holistically, highlighting the need for comprehensive reforms encompassing facility enhancement, educational outreach, policy reform, cultural change, and communicative efforts.
 
Conclusion
This study elucidates the indispensable role that well-structured sports programs play within prisons, contributing significantly to the physical health, mental wellbeing, and social rehabilitation of inmates. Targeted investments in infrastructure and equipment, alongside bolstered managerial support, are paramount to fostering an enabling environment conducive to sports participation. Coupled with motivational incentives and educational initiatives—both within the facility and via media channels—these measures can markedly enhance inmate engagement.
Prison administrators and policymakers are urged to integrate these evidence-based strategies into rehabilitation frameworks to leverage sports as an efficacious rehabilitative tool. Enhanced sports participation within correctional settings not only bolsters inmates’ health outcomes but also supports their societal reintegration, potentially lowering recidivism and facilitating smoother transitions post-release.
Article Message
Addressing the comprehensive barriers to sports development among prisoners, this study delivers an evidence-informed blueprint for correctional administrators, policymakers, and stakeholders. It demonstrates the transformative potential of well-supported sports programs to improve inmates’ physical and psychological health, augment social integration, and reduce rates of reoffending. Employing a robust mixed-methods design, the research bridges theoretical understanding with practical recommendations aimed at creating sustainable, inclusive sports initiatives within correctional environments, ultimately advancing rehabilitation and reintegration objectives.
 
Ethical Considerations
Although formal ethical approval was not mandated for this study, all research procedures were conducted in strict accordance with ethical principles, particularly regarding the voluntary participation, anonymity, and confidentiality of all respondents. Verbal informed consent was obtained from all individuals prior to participation.
 
Authors’ Contributions
All authors contributed equally and substantially to the study’s conceptualization, design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation. All have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest related to this publication.
 
Acknowledgments
The authors express sincere gratitude to all participants for their invaluable cooperation. Special acknowledgment is extended to the Office of Education and Research at the Prisons and Security-Corrective Measures Organization of Iran for its financial and moral support throughout this study’s execution.
 


Keywords

Prisons, Inmates, Detainees, Sports Development, Mixed-Methods Research

Main Subjects

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Research on Educational Sport
Volume 13, Issue 38
August 2025
Pages 1-22

  • Receive Date 25 September 2024
  • Revise Date 06 February 2025
  • Accept Date 04 May 2025

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