Assaying the effect of regular physical exercises on the general health of prisoners of the Vocational Training and Occupational Therapy Camp and Khorramabad Central Prison (2023-2024)

Abstract

This semi-experimental study investigates the effect of regular physical exercises on the general health of the prisoners of the vocational training and occupational therapy camp and Khorramabad Central Prison (2023-2024). Its statistical population included the prisoners of the vocational training and occupational therapy camp and the Khorramabad Central Prison. The sample size was calculated based on the Cochran sample size formula. Sampling was based on the clustering of different prison wards. The data collection tools were the demographic questionnaire and the GHQ general health questionnaire; the results were analyzed with SPSS software. The results showed that regular physical exercises have a positive effect on the prisoners’ general health. The scores of physical symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, dysfunction, and depression in two intervention and control groups, show significant changes before and after the exercises. The average score of general health was also affected in particular by these interventions. However, there is no significant interaction effect between groups and demographic variables such as age, gender, and socio-economic status. This means that these factors are not influential and do not independently affect the results of the intervention.