Associate Professor Dr. Ali Esmaeili’s research primarily focuses on the psychological and cognitive dimensions of sports science and human movement behavior. His extensive body of work explores how emotional regulation, motivation, and social skills influence executive functions and overall well-being among students and athletes. Esmaeili has investigated the mediating role of emotional regulation in the relationship between social skills and executive functioning, as well as the cognitive benefits of game-based sports exercises for late learners. His studies also examine how sports participation enhances social identity and well-being, particularly among female students. Beyond educational contexts, Esmaeili’s research extends to clinical and developmental psychology, addressing topics such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, separation anxiety, and emotion regulation in families with children with autism. He has further contributed to understanding attentional bias modification, forgiveness therapy, and hypnosis as psychological interventions for improved mental health and performance. His publications span multiple interdisciplinary journals, bridging physical education, cognitive psychology, and behavioral sciences, highlighting his commitment to integrating psychological frameworks into sports and movement studies. Collectively, Esmaeili’s research advances knowledge in sport psychology, emphasizing emotional and cognitive development through structured physical activity and psychological skill training.
Featured Publications:
Esmaeili, A. (2025). Exploring factors influencing sustainable behaviors in undergraduate students’ sports participation through model development and validation. Scientific Reports.
Esmaeili, A. (2024). The mediating role of emotional regulation skills in the relationship between social skills with executive functions of students. Modern Psychological Research.
Esmaeili, A. (2024). Effect of game-based sports exercises on high-level cognitive processes of late learners. Cognition Behavior Learning Journal.
Esmaeili, A. (2024). The role of motivating sports participation in the social well-being and social identity of female students of the first secondary school of knowledge in rural Jajarm City. Psychology of Development (Royeshe-Ravanshenasi).