Journal of Foresight and Health Governance

Modeling the Pragmatic Legitimacy of Public Organizations Based on Good Governance Principles

Marjan Lashkari iD , Ali Reza Modanlo Joibari ^* , Changiz Mohammadizadeh iD

As public expectations become more complex and scrutiny of public-sector performance intensifies, organizational legitimacy and good governance have become central concerns for managers and policymakers. Inefficiency, limited transparency, internal resistance, and political pressure can weaken the legitimacy of public organizations and erode public trust. This study develops a context-sensitive model of pragmatic legitimacy for Iranian public organizations based on good-governance principles. An applied qualitative design using grounded theory was adopted. Fourteen academic and executive experts in public administration, public policy, and governance were selected through purposive sampling supported by snowball referrals, with recruitment continuing until theoretical saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding. Initial coding produced 362 preliminary labels; after comparison, removal of duplication, and conceptual consolidation, 336 retained open-code statements were organized into six axial categories and 18 selective themes. The model identifies sociocultural, governance-administrative, and international-technological drivers; structural reform, transparency, accountability, anti-corruption, and public-participation strategies; cultural-social, structural-institutional, and legal-regulatory contextual conditions; external intervention, intra-organizational resistance, and systemic inefficiency as intervening conditions; and transparency, citizenship rights, efficiency, and organizational development as the core phenomenon. Expected outcomes include stronger legitimacy and public trust, greater transparency and accountability, lower corruption, improved efficiency, and higher service quality. The findings show that pragmatic legitimacy is not a single organizational attribute but a dynamic outcome of alignment among institutional conditions, stakeholder expectations, administrative capabilities, and credible governance practices.

Development of Basketball in Iraq Based on the Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

Ahmed Hamzah Chichan Jooqaly iD , Nasrin Azizian Kohan ^* iD , Mehrdad Moharramzadeh iD , Farzad Nobakht iD

This study identified and prioritized the internal and external factors affecting basketball development in Iraq, determined its strategic position, and formulated context-appropriate development strategies. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used. Documentary review, in-depth expert interviews, and a Delphi process were employed to identify the proposed vision, mission, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A researcher-developed questionnaire was then administered to managers, specialists, basketball development and talent-identification experts, and sport-science faculty members. Data from 134 respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t tests against the theoretical midpoint of 3, Friedman tests, and SWOT internal-external evaluation. Content validity was assessed using expert judgment and the content validity ratio. The final framework included 11 strengths, 11 weaknesses, 10 opportunities, and 10 threats. The main strengths were adequate basic facilities, continuous club activity across provinces, and the potential to establish specialized academies. The main weaknesses were the absence of a coherent strategic plan, inadequate support for elite players and coaches, limited budgets, and a fragmented talent pathway. Young people's interest in basketball was the leading opportunity, whereas rising equipment and maintenance costs, short-term managerial decision making, and economic pressure were major threats. The internal-external evaluation placed Iraqi basketball in the strength-threat position. Iraqi basketball possesses meaningful internal capacity but requires stronger coordination, strategic continuity, standardized talent development, stable financing, and performance monitoring. The proposed strategies should be treated as a context-specific planning framework derived from expert judgments rather than as evidence of causal effectiveness.

A Prospective Analysis of Factors Influencing the Pro-Environmental Behavior of Iranian Citizens: Environmental Governance and Structural Equation Modeling

Mehran Nasr iD , Mojtaba Shahnoushi ^* iD

Pro-environmental behavior among citizens is a fundamental component of sustainable development and the mitigation of contemporary environmental crises. International experience indicates that environmental policies rarely produce durable outcomes without informed and responsible public participation. Understanding the determinants of pro-environmental behavior is therefore particularly important in urban communities confronted with air pollution, waste generation, excessive energy use, water scarcity, and degradation of natural resources. This study prospectively analyzed the cultural, cognitive, value-based, and ethical factors associated with the pro-environmental behavior of Iranian citizens. The theoretical framework drew on the Theory of Planned Behavior, Norm-Activation Theory, Value-Belief-Norm theory, and contemporary explanations of the knowledge-action gap. The study was applied in purpose and descriptive-correlational in design. The population consisted of residents of District 12 of Tehran, and data were collected from 390 participants using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Environmental education, environmental awareness and knowledge, environmental values, and environmental ethics all had positive and statistically significant effects on pro-environmental behavior. Environmental ethics showed the strongest direct effect and significantly mediated the relationships of education, awareness, and values with behavior. The model explained 71% of the variance in pro-environmental behavior. These findings indicate that increasing general knowledge alone is insufficient. Effective policy requires the reinforcement of biocentric values, the internalization of moral responsibility toward nature, and educational and cultural programs adapted to citizens' social context.

A Psychological Model of Self-Reported Physical Health in Insufficiently Active Adults: The Roles of Mindfulness, Body Image, and Perceived Social Acceptance

Ezzatolah Kordmirza Nikoozadeh iD , Mojgan Agahheris iD , Afagh Saleh ^* iD , Maryam Abdolkarimy Nazary iD

To test a cross-sectional structural model linking mindfulness and perceived social acceptance with self-reported physical health, directly and indirectly through body image, among insufficiently active adults. This descriptive-correlational study included 400 adults aged 18–59 years in Tehran, Iran, recruited through multistage cluster sampling in 2026. Insufficient physical activity was defined as <600 MET-min/week on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form. Mindfulness, body image, perceived social acceptance, and self-reported physical health were assessed using questionnaires. The hypothesized pathways were tested using structural equation modeling in SPSS and AMOS; indirect effects were evaluated with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Body image was the strongest direct correlate of physical health (β = .43). Mindfulness and perceived social acceptance were positively associated with body image (β = .39 and β = .32, respectively), and both had smaller direct associations with physical health (β = .18 and β = .13). The standardized indirect effects through body image were .168 (95% CI [.120, .224]) for mindfulness and .138 (95% CI [.094, .188]) for social acceptance. The model accounted for 34% of the variance in body image and 48% of the variance in physical health and showed acceptable fit (χ²/df = 2.18, CFI = .941, TLI = .933, RMSEA = .055, SRMR = .052). In this cross-sectional sample, mindfulness and perceived social acceptance were associated with better self-reported physical health partly through more favorable body image. Longitudinal research using objective health and activity measures is required before causal or intervention claims can be made.

A Thematic Model of Effective Coaching Skills Training for Sports Coaches in Tehran Province: A Qualitative Study

Hoora Heybatzadeh iD , Mahdi Naderi Nasab ^* iD , Seyyed Abbas Biniaz iD

Coach education is often treated mainly as technical instruction, although coaches also require communication, leadership, emotional self-regulation, reflective learning, ethical judgment, and contextual awareness. This qualitative study developed a thematic model of effective coaching skills training for sports coaches in Tehran Province. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants, including active coaches, sport education and sport management specialists, and academic experts in coach development. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling until data adequacy was judged to have been reached. Data were analysed using a codebook-oriented thematic analysis informed by Braun and Clarke's six-phase procedure. The analysis generated eight themes: specialist and scientific coaching knowledge, communication and interpersonal skills, leadership and team-management competencies, emotional intelligence and self-regulation, experiential learning and reflection, career-path management and professional development, technology and innovative educational approaches, and contextual, cultural, and organizational factors. The model should be interpreted as a conceptual organization of interview-derived themes rather than as a tested causal model. The findings suggest that coach education in this context should move beyond short technical courses and include structured, continuous, reflective, ethically informed, and context-sensitive professional development. Potential implications for athlete-supportive practice and sport governance are discussed cautiously because athlete outcomes and governance effectiveness were not directly measured.

Digital Mental Health: Definitions, Concepts and Dimensions– A Scoping Review

Fatemeh Bagheri Hoseinabadi iD , Reza Fallahchai ^* iD , Keyvan Salehi iD , Abdolvahab Samavi iD

Digital mental health (DMH) interventions, powered by artificial intelligence, mobile applications, and telemedicine, are rapidly advancing. These developments are transforming mental health care delivery, particularly in the context of global clinician shortages and the persistent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the field lacks unified conceptual foundations, hindering standardization and equitable implementation. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this scoping review synthesizes definitions of DMH from 33 peer-reviewed articles (2020–2025), identifies core dimensions and indicators, and evaluates existing assessment frameworks. Systematic searches across PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science revealed an evolution from broad technology-enabled support to sophisticated, AI-driven models that emphasize personalization, predictive analytics, and real-time adaptation. The review identified twelve core dimensions—including accessibility, equity and inclusion, co-design, effectiveness, engagement, usability, data privacy, implementation, youth involvement, cultural relevance, and refugee-specific considerations—with frequently reported indicators such as adherence, retention, user satisfaction, and symptom reduction. Evaluated frameworks (e.g., APA App Evaluation Model, NASSS, Digital Therapeutic Alliance, and E-XAI) demonstrated theoretical adaptability but highlighted significant resource and implementation barriers. We propose a comprehensive, integrative definition of DMH informed by the synthesized evidence. This scoping review underscores the transformative potential of DMH to deliver scalable, personalized, and equitable care worldwide, while persistent gaps in conceptual consensus, privacy policies, and culturally sensitive evaluation tools remain critical challenges. These findings highlight the urgent need for global terminological agreement and robust assessment standards to ensure DMH becomes truly inclusive and sustainable for diverse and underserved populations.

Designing a Policy Implementation Model for Drug Control (A Collaborative Governance Approach)

Zahra Amini , Yousef Mohammadi Moghadam ^* , Mahmoud Ahmadi Sharif iD

Participatory approaches provide a basis for the presence of citizens alongside governments in policy implementation and in the resolution of social problems. Because drug control is rooted in a deeply social context, it has substantial potential for the use of participatory approaches. Accordingly, the present study aimed to design a model for implementing drug control policies through a collaborative governance approach. The research used both qualitative and quantitative procedures and combined inductive and deductive reasoning. In terms of purpose, it was applied; in terms of nature and method, it was descriptive-survey. The statistical population consisted of 18 experts and informed specialists on the subject who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in the qualitative phase and through a questionnaire in the quantitative phase. Qualitative data were classified using grounded theory, and the quantitative phase validated the model through the fuzzy Delphi technique. Transferability in the qualitative phase was supported through systematic coding, and confirmability was strengthened through documentation and archiving of different coding stages, including initial coding. In the quantitative phase, reliability was assessed by the test-retest method and validity was examined through content validity. The qualitative findings produced 140 initial codes, 38 concepts, and 17 categories, which were positioned within the Strauss and Corbin grounded theory paradigm model. Based on the findings, the study recommends promoting civic demand-making in educational settings, emphasizing problem-oriented, legally aware, and contemporary civic education, conducting workshops on associational life, teaching principles of fairness, intergenerational responsibility and respect for human dignity, and implementing small-scale civic projects.

Developing a Paradigmatic Model for Track and Field Development in Iraq: A Grounded Theory Approach

Murtadha Abdulabbas Deiri Alasadi iD , Abbas Naghizadeh-Baghi ^* iD , Nasrin Azizian Kohan iD , Merdad Moharramzadeh iD

This qualitative study developed a paradigmatic model for track and field development in Iraq. Track and field is a foundational Olympic discipline with potential to strengthen public health, youth development, sport culture, international representation, and sport diplomacy. However, its development in Iraq has been constrained by managerial instability, financial limitations, weak infrastructure, insufficient human resources, limited school-based talent identification, socio-cultural barriers, and political-security disruptions. Using the grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 experts, including national and age-group coaches, Iraqi Athletics Federation officials, university faculty members, and international referees. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were analyzed in MAXQDA through open, axial, and selective coding. The analysis produced 177 open codes, 34 axial codes, and five selective categories. The final model included causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences. Causal conditions consisted of managerial and financial challenges, infrastructure and human-resource limitations, and education and talent-development challenges. Contextual conditions comprised cultural-social, structural-demographic, and economic-organizational factors. Intervening conditions included political-security and temporary managerial-institutional influences. The proposed strategies included governance reform, human-resource development, talent identification, international engagement, media promotion, technology use, and infrastructure expansion. Expected outcomes included health and sport development, cultural and social development, economic and infrastructural development, and political-international development. The model indicates that sustainable track and field development in Iraq requires integrated intervention across governance, finance, education, culture, infrastructure, and international cooperation.

Journal of Foresight and Health Governance

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Sport Tourism as a Future-Oriented Public Health Strategy: Developing a Sustainable Development Model for Qeshm Island

Toward Intelligent Governance of Healthy Digital Learning Systems: A Future-Oriented Model of AI-Supported Blended Learning in Higher Education

Developing a Model of Organizational Inclusion in Multicultural Environments:Evidence from Government Organizations in Kermanshah Province, Iran

Designing a Competency Model for Negotiators of International Sports Contracts (Case Study: Football)

Meritocracy in the Selection of Senior Physical Education Managers in the Ministry of Education

Design and Development of the Strategic Plan of the Handball Federation of Iran

Formulation and Determination of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, and Opportunities Governing Swimming in Iraq

Validation of a Model for Implementing Health System Policies in the Social Security Organization

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