Promoting Environmental Behaviors through Educational Sports Interventions: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examines interventions aimed at promoting environmental behaviors through educational sports programs. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across several databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and relevant Iranian databases, for studies published until winter 2023. In total, 34 studies focused on school and university settings were included in this analysis. These studies investigated interventions that combined sports activities with environmental education, targeting behaviors such as recycling, energy conservation, and environmental advocacy. Data were extracted and analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, employing a random effects model to assess the overall impact of these interventions. The findings revealed that educational sports programs significantly promote environmental behaviors, with a moderate overall effect. School-based interventions were particularly effective, showing slightly higher impact than university programs, although the latter demonstrated more sustainable behavioral changes. Outdoor sports, especially those involving direct interaction with nature, were found to be more effective than indoor activities. The analysis also indicated that younger participants and female students were more responsive to these interventions. The study concludes with practical recommendations for policymakers in Iran's Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology to incorporate these findings into national and university curricula, supporting the broader adoption of sustainable practices through sports.