Health Literacy and Media Literacy as Predictors of Environmental Concern: The Mediating Role of a Health-Promoting Lifestyle

Introduction

Sports and schools are important institutions for public health, cultural development, and social capital (1). Through effective planning and organization of physical activity, these institutions can help to foster positive attitudes and behaviors towards physical activity throughout society, especially among young people (2). In this system, employees of the Departments of Sport and Youth are in a special double position: on the one hand, they are responsible for the development and promotion of sport in the community; on the other hand, they are the mentors and role models for young people, who influence their attitude and lifestyle. This double responsibility makes it all the more important for them to improve their awareness, skills, and attitudes. By learning and sharing a health-promoting lifestyle, they can be a link between national health strategies and their implementation in the sports community (3).

Health is one of the most basic human needs, not only because it enhances the quality of life of individuals, but also because it is the basis of sustainable social development. Cognitive and behavioral dimensions are crucial to public health, and perhaps the most important is health literacy-the ability to obtain, comprehend, evaluate, and use health-related information (4). Health literacy has a direct impact on daily choices about nutrition, exercise, preventive care, and overall health. Research in a number of countries has found that low levels of health literacy have a negative impact on health outcomes, increase disease prevalence, and limit the effective use of health care services (5-9). Because health literacy is so closely related to determinants and outcomes of health and health-related behaviors, it has become an area of interest among policymakers and researchers (10). People with higher health literacy are more likely to follow medical advice, exercise, and eat healthily (11). Conversely, low health literacy is linked to increased rates of risky behavior, decreased participation in preventive screenings, and increased chronic disease. In addition, studies have shown that low health literacy increases healthcare costs and decreases the quality of life (12). This is a global issue, and some developing countries report that more than half of the population falls into the low health literacy group (13-15).

Health literacy is dynamic and amenable to improvement. As a potent medium for shaping knowledge, the media presents both opportunities and challenges. It can effectively disseminate accurate health information, yet in a post-truth era, misinformation and manipulative content, often crafted as clickbait, pose significant risks (16-19). Media literacy complements health literacy, enabling individuals to critically evaluate messages, discern reliable information from misleading content, and utilize media to enhance personal and community health (20, 21). However, awareness and skills alone are insufficient due to the awareness-action gap, which hinders the adoption of healthy behaviors.

A health-promoting lifestyle, encompassing purposeful behaviors such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, stress management, adequate sleep, and avoidance of high-risk practices, bridges this gap (22, 23). This multidimensional approach, including physical activity, diet, and self-care, supports physical and psychological well-being (24). The World Health Organization defines a healthy lifestyle as extending beyond the absence of disease, promoting comprehensive physical, mental, and social well-being (25). Such lifestyles enhance health, stress resilience, and quality of life (26).

Beyond individual benefits, health-promoting lifestyles yield social and environmental impacts (27). Human health is intertwined with environmental factors: air pollution exacerbates cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, global warming amplifies infectious disease spread, and altered rainfall patterns threaten food security (28). Environmental awareness, reflecting sensitivity to the ecological impact of human activities, fosters pro-environmental behaviors such as energy conservation, waste reduction, and responsible consumption (29-31).

In the last few decades, human-induced environmental changes have put the planet - and therefore human health - at risk in ways we've never seen before (32, 33). Like many other countries, Iran has experienced rapid urbanization, technological and industrial growth, and increasing levels of pollution, all of which have important health implications. Living a health-promoting lifestyle not only enhances quality of life and well-being but also helps to reduce healthcare costs. On the other hand, not having healthy models of living has negative consequences, not only for the individual but for society as a whole (34, 35).

Ultimately, health and healthy lifestyles are not created in isolation. They are affected by a number of factors, including health and media literacy (12, 20, 36). Together, these factors can benefit individual and public health while simultaneously contributing to environmental sustainability through encouraging reduced consumption and more responsible behavior patterns (37).

This research is of significant scientific, theoretical, and practical value. By focusing on the impact of health literacy and media literacy on environmental issues among employees of the Departments of Sport and Youth, and by considering the mediating role of a health-promoting lifestyle, it contributes to filling a gap in the literature regarding the intersections of health, media, and environmental attitudes.

From a theoretical point of view, the study contributes to conceptual models of health-promoting behaviors by specifying the mechanisms through which health and media literacy influence environmental concern. In practice, the staff of the Departments of Sport and Youth, which have a decisive role in the development of a culture of sport and health in society, deserve special consideration in terms of lifestyle choices, health literacy, and environmental sensitivity. This will help them to incorporate these values into organizational programs, become role models for young people, and successfully implement health development programs.

Furthermore, across various populations, physical activity has consistently shown the lowest mean score among health-promoting lifestyle dimensions (38). Given the mediating role of lifestyle in linking literacy (health and media) with environmental concerns, higher levels of physical activity may positively influence both individual health and environmental well-being. This highlights the essential role of attitude–behavior alignment among sport and youth department employees, who are key agents in promoting physical activity within society. 

Environment and lifestyle are closely linked determinants of health. This study highlights the mediating role of a health-promoting lifestyle in shaping the links between health literacy, media literacy, and environmental concern, offering implications for integrated health–environment interventions and organizational policy. By focusing on employees of the Departments of Sport and Youth—a group central to promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles—the present study provides a novel perspective, bridging knowledge, practice, and policy-making in health and environmental initiatives.

In view of these considerations, the overarching research question for this study is: Does health-promoting lifestyle mediate the relationship between health and media literacy and environmental concern?

2. Method and Material

2.1 Sample and procedure

Data for testing the hypothesis were collected from a sample of employees of the Sports and Youth Departments of South Khorasan Province in Iran. The statistical population of the present study included all employees working in this organization during 2024–2025. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 176 were deemed usable after excluding 24 incomplete responses, resulting in a response rate of 88%. We used a quantitative design with a total sampling method including these 176 employees. The sample consisted of 66 females (37.5%) and 110 males (62.5%). The participants’ ages ranged from 24 to 70 years, with the majority falling within the 35–45 age bracket (n = 50, 28.5%).

The questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. It is considered the optimal tool for gathering information due to its ability to efficiently and conveniently collect quantitative data. Questionnaires that had already been developed for each variable were utilized as the instruments for the present study. The questionnaires were designed based on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (“strongly disagree”) to 5 (“strongly agree”). To ensure the reliability of the questionnaire, a pilot study was conducted with 30 participants to confirm its validity. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, with values above 0.7 considered acceptable (39). Cronbach’s alpha test results are presented in Table 1.

The comprehensive empirical analysis included several tests: factor loadings, assessment of convergent validity, examination of discriminant validity, and evaluation of the structural equations model by analyzing the explained variance (R2), predictive relevance (Q2), t-test (5,000 bootstrapping), and effect size (f2) (39, 40). This examination was established using structural equation model-partial least squares (Smart PLS v.3.2.8) and SPSS v.21 software (41).

2.2 Measures

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of Health Literacy (HL) and Media Literacy (ML) on Health-Promoting Lifestyle (HPL) and Environmental Concern (EC). Respondents completed a questionnaire consisting of various items. HL, ML, HPL, and EC were assessed using constructs with a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

At first, the researchers adapted and refined the scales employed in this investigation based on the context of the study population. Since the original versions of the questionnaires were in English, a rigorous translation procedure was conducted to ensure linguistic and conceptual equivalence in Persian. The questionnaires were translated into Persian by two bilingual experts familiar with sport management and behavioral sciences. Then, a back-translation into English was performed by an independent translator who was not involved in the initial translation. The two English versions were compared, and discrepancies were discussed and resolved to achieve semantic consistency. Finally, the Persian versions were reviewed by a panel of ten experts in sport management and behavioral sciences to assess content clarity, cultural relevance, and conceptual validity. Minor modifications were made based on their feedback.

The evaluation of health literacy was conducted using a two-dimensional scale derived from Tavousi et al. (2022) (42). The health literacy scale consisted of 9 items across two dimensions: Basic Skills (5 items) and Decision-Making Skills (4 items). Media literacy was evaluated using 7 items adapted from Mantegh and Jabari (2020) (43). Health-Promoting Lifestyle was measured using a six-dimensional scale derived from Walker (1997) (44). The health-promoting lifestyle scale consisted of 23 items: Self-Actualization (4 items), Responsibility (3 items), Interpersonal Relationships (4 items), Stress Management (3 items), Exercise and Physical Activity (3 items), and Nutrition (5 items). Lastly, Environmental Concern was assessed using a seven-item scale derived from Kim et al. (2019) (45).

2.3 Data analysis

To test our hypotheses, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) with PLS Version 3.2, which is robust to non-normal data and widely used in sport management research. Before conducting the main analysis, a pilot study was carried out on a sample of 30 employees to ensure the clarity and reliability of the questionnaire items. To evaluate the second-order measurements, a second-order confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The reliability and validity of the measurement model were also assessed; detailed criteria and results of reliability and validity are reported in the Results section.

3. Results

3.1 Testing the measurement model

In modeling structural equations, the validity of the construct must first be examined to determine whether the selected indicators are accurate enough to measure the construct. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) is used for this purpose. In this method, the relationship between a latent variable (construct) and its observed variable(s) (indicator) is determined by a number called factor loading. The higher the factor loading of an indicator with a specific construct, the more that indicator explains that construct. Gefen and Straub (2005) (46) suggest that the factor loading of each observed variable should be more than 0.4, and its t-statistic should be more than ±1.96. Otherwise, that variable should be excluded from the set of indicators. As shown in Table 1, the factor load of all items is more than 0.5, so no questions were removed from the analysis.

The reliability of research items was evaluated using two criteria: Cronbach’s alpha (CA) and composite reliability (CR). According to Cronbach (1951) (47), the appropriate amount of Cronbach’s alpha is above 0.7. PLS offers another criterion for reliability called composite reliability, introduced by Werts, Linn, and Joreskog (1974) (48). The advantage of this criterion over Cronbach’s alpha is that the reliability of constructs is not absolute but is calculated concerning the correlation of constructs with each other. Fornell and Larcker (1981) (49) set standards above 0.7 for composite reliability. According to Table 1, Cronbach’s alpha for all constructs is over 0.7, indicating appropriate research item reliability. Also, the composite reliability values for all constructs are above 0.7, indicating that constructs have good composite reliability (see Table 1). In addition, the variance inflation factor (VIF) scores were between 1.12 and 2.78, so multicollinearity was not an issue (39). Indicator reliability, internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity were also examined to assess the overall quality of the measurement model. Reliability was evaluated using composite reliability (CR), while indicator reliability was assessed via factor loadings. Reliability is deemed acceptable when the CR value exceeds the threshold of 0.70 (50). Convergent validity was assessed using the Average Variance Extracted (AVE), which is considered acceptable when its value is above 0.50 (49). Discriminant validity was supported when the square root of the AVE of each construct was higher than its correlations with other constructs in the model (49). These analyses collectively demonstrated that the measurement model possessed adequate reliability and validity for subsequent structural analyses.

The research model's validity is examined using convergent validity and divergent (discriminative) validity. Convergent validity examines the correlation of each construct with its items or indicators. The Averages Variance Extracted (AVE) was used to scrutinize the convergent validity of the research. Fornell and Larcker (1981) set a standard above 0.5 for AVE (49). As Table 2 Shows, the AVE for each research construct is greater than 0.5, so the convergent validity of the research model is perfect. The Fornell-Larcker Test (1981) was used to examine divergent validity (49). According to this test, divergent validity is acceptable when the root AVE for one construct is greater than the correlation coefficients of that construct with other constructs. Table 3 shows the root AVE for each construct and the correlation coefficients between the research constructs. In this table, the values of the original diameter of the matrix present the root AVE, and the values below the original diameter present the coefficients between research constructs. According to this table, the root AVE for each construct is greater than the correlation coefficient of that construct with other constructs. Therefore, the divergent validity of the research model with the mentioned criteria is excellent.

After testing the measurement model, the structural model of the research, which examines relationships between latent variables, is tested

If the value of T is within range of –1.96 and þ1.96, the connection between factors insignificant at the confidence level 95% and if |t| > 1.96 (p < 0.05), the connection between factors will be significant at the confidence level 95%. Hence the results showed that connections between all factors are significant.

The Bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples was used to test the fourth hypothesis, which considers the indirect relationship between Health Literacy, Media Literacy, and Environmental Concern through the mediating role of Health-Promoting Lifestyle. In this method, if the lower limit (LL) and upper limit (UL) of the bootstrap confidence interval are both positive and both negative and the p-value is less than 0.05, the indirect path is considered significant and the hypothesis is confirmed. Table 3 presents the results of the bootstrap analysis to evaluate the significance of the indirect effects.

As shown in Table 4, the significance level of the test is equal to 0.001, which is lower than 0.05, and the 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals (CI) do not include zero, confirming the mediating role of Health-Promoting Lifestyle. This indicates that Health Literacy affects Environmental Concern via Health-Promoting Lifestyle, and similarly, Media Literacy influences Environmental Concern through the same mediator.

Upon completion of the measurement model in PLS analysis, the subsequent step involved the estimation of the structural equation model. To investigate the mediating effects of Health-Promoting Lifestyle, we followed the procedures recommended by (39, 51). Specifically, the direct effect model was initially estimated prior to the indirect effect model, as illustrated in Table 4.

To analyze both direct and indirect effects of the structural model, four criteria were applied:

Coefficient of determination (R²) for endogenous latent variables, to determine the variance explained in each construct.

Predictive relevance (Q²), to assess the model’s predictive power.

Path coefficients, to evaluate the strength of relationships. Statistical significance, assessed using bootstrapping with 5,000 subsamples (41).

The analysis of 5,000 bootstrapped samples, derived from the initial 176 distributed questionnaires, provides a precise estimation of confidence intervals and confirms the significance of both direct and indirect effects (39). The R² values indicate the explanatory power of the independent variables:

Health-Promoting Lifestyle: R² = 0.567, meaning 56.7% of the variance is explained by Health and Media Literacy. Environmental Concern: R² = 0.606, indicating that 60.6% of the variance is explained by Health Literacy, Media Literacy, and Health-Promoting Lifestyle.

Additionally, a cross-validated redundancy measure (Q²) was applied to quantify the predictive significance of the model. Values of 0.02, 0.15, and 0.35 represent weak, moderate, and strong predictive relevance, respectively (39). The obtained Q² values are: Health-Promoting Lifestyle: Q² = 0.279 (moderate). Environmental Concern: Q² = 0.356 (strong). These results demonstrate that the structural model has adequate explanatory and predictive power, confirming the robustness of the mediating role of Health-Promoting Lifestyle.

Goodness of Fit (GOF) examines the overall fit of the structural model. This index, which was developed by Tenenhaus, Amato, and Vinzi (2004)(52), is calculated using the geometric mean of R2 and the mean commonality indicators:

𝐺𝑂𝐹 = √𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙i𝑡𝑦 ∗ 𝑅2

Values of 0.01, 0.25, and 0.36 are suggested as weak, moderate, and strong values for the overall model fit. According to the above formula, the GOF was calculated at 0.499. This value indicates a strong overall fit.

4. Discussion and Conclusion

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a health-promoting lifestyle mediated the relationship between health literacy, media literacy, and environmental concerns.

The results indicated that health literacy has a direct and significant impact on the health-promoting lifestyle of employees in the Departments of Sport and Youth. Prior research has reported similar associations, with Bektas et al. (2021) identifying health literacy as one of the strongest predictors of adopting a health-promoting lifestyle (20), and studies (12, 36) confirming related patterns in different contexts. These findings emphasize the importance of health literacy education and empowerment of staff, as such competencies provide a foundation for sustainable healthy behaviors. Theoretically, our findings can be directly interpreted through Pender’s Health Promotion Model, which highlights knowledge and health-related attitudes as key determinants of health behaviors. Employees with higher health literacy are better able to understand, analyze, and apply health information, enabling informed decisions about nutrition, exercise, disease prevention, and stress management. In this context, sufficient health literacy acts as a catalyst for the adoption of healthy and sustainable lifestyles within the organizational environment of Iran’s sport sector. However, not all studies find a direct relationship. For instance, Lee et al. (2010) reported that high health literacy does not necessarily lead to lifestyle changes, emphasizing the role of mediating factors such as intrinsic motivation, environmental conditions, and social support (53). Such differences can be explained by cultural, economic, or infrastructural factors. In contexts where structural barriers limit access to health resources, such as nutritious food or sport facilities, even employees with high health literacy may face challenges in changing their lifestyle.

The results indicated that media literacy has a direct and significant effect on employees’ health-promoting lifestyle. This finding is consistent with prior studies that reported positive associations between media literacy and health-related behaviors, including Golabi (2022), Liu et al. (2023), and Qin et al. (2024) (36, 54, 55). Similarly, Cui et al. (2024) showed that media literacy and media use improved diet, sleep, and physical activity while reducing depression among Chinese older adults (56). Yang et al. (2025) also emphasized the role of media literacy in promoting physical and mental health (57). From a theoretical perspective, these findings can be interpreted through Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (2001). This theory emphasizes that individuals learn behaviors by observing models in their environment (58). In our study, employees with higher media literacy were better able to recognize and adopt health-promoting behaviors portrayed in media content—such as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, stress management, and mental well-being—while filtering out misleading or harmful messages. Thus, media literacy enhances observational learning, making media a more effective source of positive behavioral models. Additionally, Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (1991) helps explain these findings (59). Employees with higher media literacy not only have greater access to accurate and scientific health information, but also develop more positive attitudes toward healthy behaviors, perceive supportive subjective norms, and experience higher perceived control over health-related decisions. This suggests that their critical evaluation of media messages directly influences their intentions and adoption of a health-promoting lifestyle. In summary, the direct effect of media literacy on employees’ health-promoting lifestyle observed in this study can be understood as the combined influence of observational learning (58) and enhanced behavioral intention and control (59), providing a clear theoretical pathway for how media literacy shapes health-related behaviors.

The findings of this study indicate that health literacy directly and significantly influences the environmental concerns of employees in the Departments of Sport and Youth. This means that as employees better understand health-related concepts, they tend to extend this awareness to the environment in which they live and work. Pour-Omran and Arabi (2018) also found a strong and positive association between health literacy, health-promoting lifestyles, and pro-environmental behavior (60). This consistency strengthens the reliability of the current results. Connecting theoretical models more directly to findings: According to Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (1991), individuals who possess higher levels of health literacy form stronger positive attitudes and perceived behavioral control toward actions that benefit both personal and environmental health. In the context of this study, employees who understand the links between physical health, clean environments, and active lifestyles are more likely to adopt environmentally responsible behaviors such as reducing waste in sport facilities or promoting sustainable sport practices. Similarly, Schwartz’s Norm Activation Model (1997) (61) helps to explain why health-literate individuals demonstrate a sense of moral obligation that extends beyond self-interest. When individuals recognize that environmental degradation threatens public health, their personal norms become activated, motivating pro-environmental actions such as conserving resources and protecting green spaces. From a health psychology perspective, this relationship reflects how greater awareness of health risk factors (e.g., pollution, sedentary lifestyle) fosters an integrated understanding of well-being that includes environmental sustainability. Within Iran’s sport and health management system, this finding is particularly relevant. The integration of health literacy programs into sport organizations could enhance both personal well-being and collective environmental responsibility among employees. By embedding environmental health education into sport-related training, policymakers can promote a culture that values sustainability alongside athletic and public health development. In summary, health literacy not only shapes individual health behaviors but also promotes environmental stewardship among employees. This dual impact highlights the importance of designing sport and health education policies in Iran that address both personal and environmental dimensions of health.

The results also reveal that media literacy has a direct and significant impact on employees’ environmental concern. This finding is consistent with the studies of Norouzi (2022), Yousefkhani and Amiri (2020), and Javaheri et al. (2019), who showed that awareness, attitudes, and supportive behaviors toward the environment are strengthened by exposure to media and increased awareness of media content (62-64). According to Goffman’s (1974) (65) framing theory, media framing plays a crucial role in shaping how individuals perceive and respond to environmental issues. When environmental crises are presented with emphasis on human responsibility and consequences, employees with higher levels of media literacy are more capable of interpreting, questioning, and responding to these messages. This theoretical perspective helps explain the present findings: media-literate employees in the Departments of Sport and Youth are more sensitive to how media constructs environmental meaning, which in turn influences their environmental attitudes and behaviors. Media literacy—defined as the ability to access, analyze, critically evaluate, and create content through multiple media channels—enhances individuals’ capacity to process environmental information critically. In this context, employees with greater media literacy are more likely to detect biases, verify sources, and adopt evidence-based environmental actions. They are therefore better prepared to engage in responsible behaviors and sustainable choices, translating awareness into greener practices both in their workplaces and sports-related activities. In the Iranian sport and youth management system, this relationship is highly relevant. Integrating media literacy education into sport organizations can promote environmental awareness among employees and the broader public. By equipping staff with skills to critically interpret environmental content, managers can encourage a culture of sustainability in sport facilities and youth programs, aligning with national goals for environmental protection and social responsibility. In sum, the theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that media literacy acts as a cognitive and motivational driver of environmental concern, enabling employees to transform environmental information into conscious, sustainable practices

Furthermore, the structural model showed that a health-promoting lifestyle has a direct and significant effect on environmental concerns. This result is consistent with the result of Hajizadeh Maimandi and Faleckoddin (2020)(66). People who take an active interest in their physical, mental, and social well-being are also more likely to be concerned about the environment and more likely to behave responsibly in their everyday lives. Theoretically, this can be explained by McLeroy et al.'s (1988) ecological model of health, which focuses on the interaction of individual, interpersonal, institutional, social, and environmental factors in the determination of health-related behaviors (67). A health-promoting lifestyle, therefore, not only raises awareness of the environment but also reinforces sustainable practices. Likewise, Bourdieu's theory of lifestyle highlights the fact that lifestyle is a manifestation of social values, beliefs, and structures. Researchers have found that employees who make lifestyle choices that promote health are more likely to be from cultural groups in which responsibility, environmental ethics, and global concerns are more important.

The analysis also supported the mediating role of a health-promoting lifestyle in the relationship between health literacy and environmental concern. The indirect effect was significant (β = 0.258, t = 4.148, p = 0.001), indicating that part of the influence of health literacy on environmental concern operates through individuals’ adoption of healthier lifestyles. In line with a growing body of evidence, such as that of Soleiman Pour-Omran and Arabi (2018) (60), the current results emphasize that health literacy plays a vital role in shaping pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Health-literate individuals can critically process large amounts of health and wellness information, identify what is essential for prevention and treatment, and apply it in their daily routines. This competence promotes behaviors such as healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, and mindful resource use. These habits not only enhance individual well-being but also naturally align with environmentally sustainable practices. For instance, reducing red meat consumption improves metabolic health while lowering carbon footprints; similarly, choosing active modes of transportation, such as cycling or walking, supports both cardiovascular fitness and pollution reduction. From Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory perspective, health literacy fosters a sense of self-efficacy, encouraging individuals to believe they can influence both their personal health and environmental outcomes through everyday behaviors. Consequently, environmental concern becomes an integral part of one’s healthy-living identity, rather than an abstract or distant concept.

The results also supported the mediating role of a health-promoting lifestyle in the association between media literacy and environmental concern, with a significant indirect effect (β = 0.087, t = 2.135, p = 0.001). Media are important in creating models of lifestyle, and those with high media literacy will be better able to understand, critique, and adopt these models in everyday life. Healthy lifestyles - based on healthy eating, physical activity, and stress reduction, getting enough sleep, and abstaining from high-risk behaviors - are often a counterpoint to the consumerist and destructive lifestyles fostered by commercial media. People who live healthy lives are more environmentally conscious because they understand the two-way relationship between personal and ecological health. Deciding to drive less, eat fewer processed foods, or avoid overconsumption is not only good for one's personal health, but it is also good for the planet. Media literacy increases critical awareness of cultural and environmental messages and guides people towards making choices that are congruent with healthy living and environmental preservation. In this sense, media literacy promotes environmental concern indirectly by first promoting the adoption of healthier lifestyle practices. Overall, the results indicate that those who have the ability to interpret and assess information about health tend to have a healthier lifestyle, which in turn increases their environmental responsibility and sensitivity. A health-promoting lifestyle therefore, acts as a mediating factor between personal awareness and environmentally responsible behavior. Accordingly, joint investment in health literacy and media literacy can become a foundation for educational and cultural policy. In the context of Iran’s sport and health management system, fostering health and media literacy among employees can enhance environmental responsibility. These results highlight the potential value of integrating literacy-based training programs within sports organizations and youth programs to promote sustainable behaviors and support national health and environmental objectives.

5. Limitations and Future Research

This study has some limitations. Its cross-sectional nature limits causal inference, and its use of self-reported measures may have response bias. In addition, exogenous factors such as organizational culture, economic conditions, or availability of health resources, which may be associated with lifestyle and attitudes towards environmental issues, were not controlled for. Future research should therefore use longitudinal or intervention-based designs to investigate these dynamics over time and take more explicit account of external factors.

From a practical perspective, it is suggested that public health and environmental sustainability need to be embedded into a common agenda that brings together organizations, policymakers, and relevant institutions. By integrating the concepts of health literacy, media literacy, and health-promoting lifestyles, sustainable health and environmental well-being are promoted concurrently through a focus on individual, social, and environmental determinants.

Acknowledgments,

Author contribution,

Funding,

Conflict of interest,

Ethical Considerations

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