Health Education and Health Promotion

Abstract Aims: This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived social support and the university-to-work transition among graduates of the School of Health.
Instrument & Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 227 graduates of the School of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, in the fields of public health, environmental health engineering, occupational health engineering, and health services management over three consecutive years (2023-2025). Data were collected via an online questionnaire developed using the Porsline platform, including demographic and educational parameters, the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and University-To-Work Transition Scale. Analyses were performed using independent t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, ANOVA, and multivariate regression in SPSS version 25.
Findings: The mean age of the students was 22.89±1.04 years; 75.4% were female, 24.6% were male, and 45.6% were relatively satisfied with their field of study. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between university-to-work transition and the four transition competencies—concern (r=0.77, p=0.0001), curiosity (r=0.80, p=0.0001), confidence (r=0.74, p=0.0001), and control (r=0.75, p=0.0001)—as well as perceived social support from significant others (r=0.13, p=0.037). Multiple regression indicated that field of study, satisfaction with the field, family financial status, and perceived support from significant others accounted for 15% of the variance in university-to-work transition.
Conclusion: Strengthening transition competencies and social support, along with field alignment and finances, can improve graduates’ readiness for the university-to-work transition and their employment outcomes.

Abstract Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between demographic factors and well-being among pediatric residents and to assess the applicability and interrelation of the Short Form Health Survey 8, Linear Analog Self-Assessment, and Maslach Burnout Inventory in evaluating resident well-being.
Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional survey was done on 88 pediatric residents at a single institution. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires, including the Short Form Health Survey 8, Linear Analog Self-Assessment, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Demographic data were collected, and statistical analyses, including linear regression and Spearman correlation, were conducted to identify associations between demographic variables and well-being outcomes.
Findings: Residents living with family exhibited significantly higher Linear Analog Self-Assessment scores (B=1.00, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.78, p=0.012) and lower Short Form Health Survey 8 physical and mental component scores (B=-6.50, 95% CI: -12.54 to -0.47, p=0.035, and B=-7.16, 95% CI: -14.28 to -0.04, p=0.049, respectively). Correlation analysis showed expected interrelations among the Short Form Health Survey 8, Linear Analog Self-Assessment, and Maslach Burnout Inventory scores, supporting their concurrent validity in assessing resident well-being.
Conclusion: There is a significant association between living with family and improved well-being among pediatric residents.

Abstract Aims: Psychological well-being is an important factor affecting career women’s job satisfaction and performance. Resilience predicts psychological well-being, acting as a catalyst for boosting psychological well-being. This systematic literature review explored the relationship between resilience and psychological well-being among career women.
Information & Methods: Relevant papers were retrieved using Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. The inclusion criteria included research published between the years 2012 and 2021 to examine whether there is a relationship between resilience and psychological well-being, as well as the predictors of resilience and psychological well-being.
Findings: There was a favorable relationship between resilience and psychological well-being, with those having higher levels of resilience reporting greater psychological well-being. Resilience is believed to be one of the most essential variables in maintaining positive psychological well-being. Additionally, social and family support, work experience, marital status, education level, and self-esteem were found to predict resilience and psychological well-being.
Conclusion: Age, life experience, work experience, marital status, level of education, and self-efficacy are key predictors of resilience.

Abstract Aims: Evaluating diabetics’ health-promoting behaviors is an essential part of nursing care. This study aimed to examine the relationship between health-promoting behaviors and perceived social support from the family in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Instrument & Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The data were collected from a foundation university hospital in Tabriz, Iran. The sample consisted of 183 type 2 diabetes patients. Data were collected using the Perceived Social Support from Family and Health-Promoting Behaviors scales.
Findings: The average score of social support was 15.07±6.74 (range: 0 to 20), and the average score of health-promoting behaviors was 49.62±17.74 (range: 0 to 112). There was a significant and positive correlation between the scores of health-promoting behaviors and perceived social support (r=0.28, p<0.001). We predicted the changes in health-promoting behaviors based on the regression analysis of the changes in perceived social support from the family (B=0.563).
Conclusions: Family social support affects health-promoting behaviors in type 2 diabetes patients, and should be considered during interventions to improve health-promoting behaviors by nurses and other healthcare providers. We suggest other descriptive correlational studies with a higher sample size and interventional studies on this subject.

Abstract Aims: Patients after diagnosis of COVID-19 may have psychological problems. Illness perceptions and social support can play an important role in individuals’ health and the effects of stress. This study aimed to determine the relationship between mental health, perception of illness, and perceived social support in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19.
Instrument & Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2020. 143 patients with coronavirus who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study. Inclusion criteria are age over 18 years, full consciousness, lack of physical and mental disabilities, diagnosis of coronavirus with the approval of an infectious disease specialist, no history of mental disorders, and the ability to communicate with the researcher. Data collection tools were the 21-item depression, anxiety, and stress scale, Zimet’s multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and the brief illness perception questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS 26 using independent t-test, ANOVA, Spearman correlation coefficient, and multivariate regression.
Findings: The mean score of depression, anxiety, and stress for all participants with coronavirus was 8.12±7.12, 11.74±6.02, and 13.92±6.80, respectively. In total, 30.1% of the participants had high illness perception and 59.4% had high social support levels. The multiple linear regression model showed illness perception and social support were associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Drug history was associated with depression and anxiety. Oxygen saturation was associated with anxiety and stress (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In general depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with Covid 19 are associated with the perception of illness and social support, which is more strongly associated with social support.

Abstract Aims: National sociological studies of the social health of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North have become especially relevant at the current stage of society's development. The purpose of the study is to consider and analyze the issue of the social health of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North.
Information & Methods: The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was the works of Russian and foreign scientists devoted to the problems of socio-economic development of the territories of the North. As a methodological basis of the research, system analysis, synthesis, abstraction, analogy, generalization, and classification were used.
Findings: The study systematizes approaches to identifying the social health of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, gives its definition and identifies its analysis areas. It is argued that the material substrate of the influence mechanism of the social aspect of health on the representatives of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North is a social connection, and relationships that provide various support have a positive socio-regulating and mobilizing effect.
Conclusion: Several indicators adapted to the needs and peculiarities of the territories of the indigenous small-numbered peoples' residence were proposed, which allow assessing their social health and quality of life. The proposed materials of the paper can serve as a basis for the development of an indicative model of social health, which can be used as a diagnostic tool in pedagogical and social work.

Abstract Aims: Adolescence is a golden chance for preventing the harms caused by unhealthy behaviors and it is the time for choosing a permanent healthy lifestyle. The aim of study was to evaluate the impact of educational program on parental nutritional social support among parents' female adolescents.
Materials & Methods: The present field trial was conducted from January to May, 2016. Sixty-three female adolescents (33 persons in intervention group and 30 persons in control group) with the age range of 12 to 15 years at schools of Isfahan, Iran, were selected by multistage random sampling method as the samples of the study. Samples were randomly allocated to two groups. Adolescents’ perceived and received social support from their parents was measured, using a researcher-made questionnaire, of which the validity and reliability were approved. The intervention included 3 educational sessions (each session took 2 hours) within a one-week interval for adolescents’ parents. One month after performing the educational intervention for parents, adolescents’ received and perceived social support for having a healthy diet was measured. The data were analyzed, using SPSS 19 and independent t test, paired t test, Chi square, and Mann-Whitney test.
Findings: There was no significant difference between two groups regarding the demographic characteristics of the two groups. Also, no significant difference was observed between the two groups after the intervention regarding the mean level of their perceived and received nutritional social support.
Conclusion: Educational intervention on parents does not increase perceived and received social support in early adolescents for receiving healthy nutrients.

Abstract Aim: People receive social support from family, peers, and other social systems. Within this wide spectrum, social networks that support people unofficially involve the group of family and peers. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between perceived social support and mental health of students in Tehran.
Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 227 students in Tehran using two questionnaires including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) with 28 questions, and the social support inventory with two scales of Perceived Social Support from Family (PSSFA) and Perceived Social Support from Friends (PSSFR). The collected data were analyzed via SPSS18 software using Pearson correlation test.
Findings: The results showed that mental health had significant relationship with the total score of social support (p<0.05, r=0.197). Furthermore, concerning the other subscales, anxiety and sleep disorders (p<0.02, r=0.155) and social functioning (p<0.006, r=0.190) showed significant relationship with mental health. However, there was no significant correlation between PSSFR and mental health.
Conclusion: As proved by the results of this study, when social support is stronger, an individual will have a better mental health status. Moreover, people who experience a higher level of family support have a better mental health status.

Abstract Aim: Substance abuse is a substantial threat and problem to public health. The goal of drug abuse treatment is to return people to a productive normal situation in the family, workplace, and community. Treatment dropout is one of the major problems, encountered by the treatment programs. The maintenance of treatment is associated with retention in treatment, and many factors are associated with retention. The main purpose of this study is to examine the factors that play important role in retention of addiction treatment. Methods: This is a qualitative research with conventional content analysis method. Purposive sampling was applied and continued until data saturation was achieved. The participants were 22 volunteers, including outpatients, physicians and psychotherapists. The method of data collection was semi-structured face to face interview (30- 40 minutes). All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Findings: By content analysis, two categories were obtained, including emotional and informational support. The main common theme of categories was social support, which was the major requirement to retain the treatment among drug abuse outpatients. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that social support is one of the essential services to stop or reduce substance abuse. Recognizing this factor could improve interaction between the family, clinical staff and patients in addiction treatment retention.