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Introduction: The HBC-HBP Scale is the most common scale for measuring adherence to medication in the elderly with hypertension, its Persian version has never been tested in Iran. Methods: 281 older adults with hypertension were randomly selected from health care centers in Iran during the second half-year of 2019. The demographic questionnaire and Persian, Turkmen, and Kazak versions of HBC-HBP were completed by participants. The scale structure was evaluated using goodness of fit by Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis using IBM-SPSS v.26 and AMOS v.24. Results: The mean of CVI was 0.94, indicating good content validity for HBC-HBP. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed two subscales for HBC-HBP, collectively explaining 70% of the adherence medication variance in three versions. All item loadings were “moderate” to “excellent”, ranging from 0.38 (Moderate) to 0.95(excellent). Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated the goodness of fit for the HBC-HBP based on the trilingual version. A high goodness of fit was sown for Turkmen, Persian, and Kazak versions of HBC-HBP. (Chi-Square=8.213, 8.354, 8.210, RMSEA=0.016, 0.013, 0.010, GFI=0.90, 0.90, 0.91, CFI=0.91, 0.90, 0.91, and AGFI=0.90, 0.91, 0.90). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.90 for the whole scale (p

Marital satisfaction is important for health and well-being among aged couples. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between knowledge, sexual attitude, and quality of life with marital satisfaction of aged couples of over 60 years in southern Iran. This APIM analytical study was performed on 510 aged couples in southern Iran in 2020. Proportionate stratified sampling was randomly performed in three stages relative to the aging population in main cities in the south Iran. Data collection tools included demographic information (age, education, occupation, living alone, type of disability, etc.), sexual knowledge and attitude scale (SKAS-10), quality of life scale (SF-12), and marital satisfaction questionnaire. Mean score of marital satisfaction, sexual attitude, sexual knowledge, and QoL (SF-12) was 49.71 (SD = 14.8), 27.5 (SD = 7.3), 24.7 (SD = 8.5), and 31.49 (SD = 3.2), respectively. The present study showed that sexual knowledge and attitude, quality of life, are among the estimators of marital satisfaction in aged couples.

Background: Measuring of social capital has turned out to be a point view in most social studies Social capital defined as linkage among social systems and groups for strengthening communication among citizens. Notwithstanding, there is neglect for that among gerontologists sociologically. Method: This study attend to portray distribution of social capital within 3031 aged samples in eight counties of Khuzistan province in southwest of Iran with the majority of Arab dwellers during 2020. About 26 definitions for indicators of social capital were mentioned and 23 main categories were collected. Results: Finally, the instrument for collection of data was conducted by them. Social Intermediary is new indicator to estimate social capital about elders first time. Findings have mentioned new definition for social capital in Gerontological aspect. Discussion and Conclusion: There are most deference and variations within indicators of social capital upon rural are and ethnicity that war policies about seniors in society.

Introduction Girls can use their mother’s emotional, informational and behavioral support to perform healthy behaviors due to their constant access to their mothers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of role modeling and maternal support in the family to improve healthy behaviors and perceived Family Health Climate (FHC) in female students. Methods In this educational quasi-experimental study, 261 female students (133 in the intervention group and 128 in the control group) and 223 mothers (109 intervention and 114 control) were selected using the cluster multi-stages sampling method and entered the study. Participants (intervention and control groups) completed the FHC scale at three stages (before intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after intervention). A training program that comprised 12 sessions for students and six sessions for their mothers using collaborative learning techniques and printed materials was conducted with the experimental group. Also after completing the questionnaire in the follow-up phase, pamphlets and educational videos were given to the control group. Data were analyzed using SPSS20 via a chi-square test, independent t-test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05. Results Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between demographic variables and the score of the FHC scale in both groups (p p Conclusions Educating and informing mothers about the impact of their role modeling on their children, especially girls, can make them more aware of health-oriented behaviors towards their children. Such findings reinforced the importance of focusing on actions to encourage a healthy lifestyle (healthy diet and physical activity) in students with a focus on role modeling and parental support, especially mothers.

Background: Aging and retirement are a passage to a new course of ​​life for veterans. The role of army grandparents in relation with their adult children is important; therefore, it is necessary to study grandparent-adult children interactions during retirement. Unfortunately, there was no Iranian version of an instrument to measure this interaction. Hence, the study aimed to evaluate the Persian version of the Perceived Parenting Roles Inventory (PPRI-2019). The translation process was conducted based on WHO’s guidance of instruments translation and adaptation. Methods: The research method was descriptive and had a psychometric type. A total of 251 grandparents were randomly selected from the Iranian Veterans Association. The PPRI and demographic questionnaire were used to gather data at the end of 2019. The scale structure was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach’s alpha assessed internal consistency and the optimal cut-off points were obtained by calculating the area under the curve (ROC). Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24. Results: The construct validity of PPRI based on CFA showed that the two subscales explained a total of 73.017 % of the variance. The PPRI scale demonstrated excellent reliability, and Cronbach’s alpha obtained 0.792 for the entire scale (p< 0.000). The optimal cut-off point of PPRI was 19.50, with a sensitivity of 100%, a 1-specificity of 0.127. Conclusions: Based on the results, the Persian version of PPRI is a valid and reliable tool that other researchers can use to measure perceived parenting roles among other retirees. But further investigations are suggested.

Aims More than three decades have passed since the end of the Iraq-Iran war, and this period has been concurrent with a rapid growth of the older community in Iran which includes the community of veterans who often suffer from serious psychological and behavioral problems. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of loneliness in middle and older veterans in southern Iran. Materials & methods A cross-sectional study conducted among 583 middle and older male veterans (50 years Findings The mean score of feeling lonely in the veterans was 51.08 ± 4.74. The study found a significant relationship between the participants’ education and their feeling of loneliness (P-value = 0.01, effect size = -0.31). Multivariate regression demonstrated that demographic variables (i.e., age, employment status, level of education, type of living) and the severity and type of injury predict 31% of the variance in the middle and older veterans’ feeling of loneliness. Conclusion The mental, psychological and physical effects of war disability were associated with the social functions of veterans in the family and community. Strategies such as increasing social support and psychological counseling for veterans along with improving their pension and income can be effective in promoting public health, especially the mental health of this group.

Background: The lack of knowledge about menopausal care in couples and inappropriate coping with menopause symptoms can reduce the couples' quality of the marital relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the knowledge and ability of men to prevent menopause destructive effects on marital relations and the well-being of the couples. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of men's menopausal care education on their marital satisfaction. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2019 among 80 men in Shiraz, Iran. The samples were randomly selected using cluster random sampling method; they were equally divided into control and intervention groups. Four training sessions were held for the intervention group. The data were collected using a questionnaire on the menopausal knowledge and the ENRICH-10 questionnaire at the beginning and two months after the intervention and analyzed using SPSS v. 25 and Amos v. 21. Results: Based on the results, at the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference in the mean score of the menopausal knowledge and marital satisfaction between the intervention and control groups (p

Background: Frailty syndrome involves a complex combination of the natural process of getting old with different medical problems. Different indexes have been designed for each physical, mental, and social dimensions of frailty. Fried’s five-item index of frailty syndrome checklist is one of the most applicable scales to screen frailty. This study aimed to determine a psychometric index of frailty and the cut-off points for the Iranian elderly population. Methods: In a cross-sectional and psychpmetric study, 249 frail elderly people were selected among members of two Iranian Army Retirees Clubs in 2019. This was a cross-sectional-psychometric study which aimed at determining the psychometric index and cut-off points of a brief checklist of 5-item FSC among Iranian adults older than 60 years old and comparing this to prior results in different countries. Results: The data were analyzed by ANOVA, multi-variable regression, confirmatory, and exploratory factor analysis, and ROC analysis via SPSS 25 and AMOS 24. The validity of the study findings was determined by internal validity, high correlation of 5 questions, confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis of 3 subdomains with a clarity value of 0.87, and high goodness of fit index (GFI). Conclusion: The determined cut-off points were compatible with those of Fried’s prior study. The designed tools used in this study evaluated frailty syndrome of the Iranian elderly in elderly rehabilitation studies with high confidence. The application of the tool would provide caregivers and policymakers with additional information as to caring for this population.

Background and objective: Considering the worldwide increase in mental health problems among adolescents and the hypothetical positive impact of mental health literacy (MHL) on mental health promotive behaviours, this study examined the effect of a MHL intervention in a sample of Iranian high school students. Design: Educational intervention with a pretest–posttest and control group design conducted among Iranian high school students in 2019. Setting: Four public schools in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: In this study, 220 students (110 in each intervention and control group) were selected using the cluster multi-stage sampling and participated in the study. Participants completed the adolescent MHL questionnaire at two stages (pretest and posttest). A training programme which comprised six 60- to 90-minutes sessions using collaborative learning techniques and printed materials was conducted with the experimental group. Data were subjected to covariance analysis. Results: No significant differences were found between study groups regarding demographic and MHL scores before the intervention. After completing the training programme, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in MHL and subscale scores ( p < .01). Covariance analysis confirmed an improvement of MHL in the intervention group after controlling for pretest scores but not in the control group. Conclusion: Study findings demonstrated the efficacy of the training intervention to improve adolescents’ MHL. Further research is recommended to examine the effects of the same intervention among boys and longer-term outcomes.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions curtailed physical activity. The current study applied an integrated Theory of Planned Behavior to identify the determinants of physical activity behavior and the processes involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz city, Southern Iran, among 2500 people who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Data were collected using the demographic information questions and questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs. The Questionnaire via WhatsApp, emails, and SMS was shared. Data analysis was performed using SPSS26 and Amos version 24. Mean and standard deviation was used to describe the data. Also, one-way ANOVA and structural equation analysis were used to analyze the data. The significance level in all the tests was considered to be 0.05. Results One thousand one hundred sixty-nine samples (46.8%) said they had been exercising less than 3 days a week, and 47.6% of them did not have any exercise or physical activities (n = 1191). The mean score of attitudes, SN, PBC, and intention were 9.38 ± 2.07, 9.27 ± 2.03, 9.32 ± 2.05, and 12.29 ± 2.35, respectively. The effect size values demonstrate the independent variables’ high coefficient of influence on explaining the theoretical model. According to the results, the factors play an important role in samples’ intention (η2 ≥ 0.2, p ≤ 0.05). The effect size of intention on doing physical activities and exercise during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is Eta square = 0.777, which means the measure was high. The obtained model was good based on the main goodness of fit indices (Chi2 = 108.6, df = 25, n = 2500, Chi2/df = 4.344, RMSEA = 0.036, AGFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.95, GFI = 0.90, Fornell-Larcker criterion = 0.87, HTMT = 0.89). Conclusion The TPB provides a useful framework to explore psychosocial determinants of physical activity behavior during the pandemic and identify key strategies for program planning aimed at improving exercise among people who were already influenced by quarantine and lockdown restrictions.

The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Short Form Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ) among Iranian community-dwelling older adults and to determine its optimal cutoff point. In Shiraz, Iran, a cross-sectional study of 500 older adults ≥ 60 years was conducted in two steps. The forward–backward method was used for translation. Psychometric properties, such as the face and content validity, based on the point of view of experts, construct validity based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity by assessing the relationship with the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-10), and reliability based on Cronbach’s α were examined. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to confirm the cutoff point. Validity of both the face and the content was confirmed. The first stage of construct validity was performed using the kurtosis test and the EFA, and finally, only 20 items in four subscales were loaded with 76.34% of the total variance. The CFA indicated a good fit to the data (root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.059; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.92; and goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.89). Cronbach’s α coefficient of the SSRQ-20 increased to 0.87. A significant positive correlation was found between the SSRQ-20 and the GSE-10 (r = 0.44), indicating acceptable convergent validity. The optimal cutoff score for differentiating older adults in terms of self-regulation was 71. This study demonstrates that the Persian version of the SSRQ, which contains 20 items, is a valid and reliable tool for assessing self-regulation in Iranian community-dwelling older adults.

Introduction: One of the main challenges of Methadone Maintenance treatment (MMT) centers is the patients’ non-adherence to treatment process in tempting situations. This study was conducted to validate the Persian version of one of the valid questionnaires on situational drug use temptation. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was carried out on 150 men referring to MMT centers in Shiraz, Iran, in 2019. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire containing demographic data and Persian version of drug use temptation questionnaire with 20 items. The content validity was assessed by 15 psychiatrists and health education and promotion experts based on the Lawshe criteria. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach’s alpha. The construct validity was evaluated by exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 and Amos 24. Results: Overall, 141 individuals completed the questionnaire (response rate: 94%). The mean and standard deviation of the participants' age were 37±7. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test of sampling was adequate (KMO 0.913) and the Bartlett test of sphericity was significant (Chi-square 1847.65; p= 0.001). Four factors were extracted and two items were not included in any of the factors. Goodness of fit indices of structural equation model, i.e. Chi2, Chi2/df, and RMSEA were ​​ 158.504, 1.22 and 0.04, respectively, which indicated the acceptable fitness of the model. Conclusion: The Persian version of the questionnaire of temptation to use drugs is suitable for use among the Iranian population.

Objective: Caregiving burden is defined as a specific level of pressure and problems expressed by caregiver or family, which involves a range of psychological, emotional, social and economic problems. Further, satisfaction is described as the level of the mental happiness, self-confidence and usefulness sensed by caregiver about his/her own caregiving behaviour. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of caregiving satisfaction (SCR) and caregiving burden of grandchildren scales (BCR) among grandparent population by considering the lack of a Persian tool for their measurement. Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 70 grandparents who were selected through convenience sampling among the individuals referred to the healthcare centres of five southern cities in Iran Shiraz, Sepidan, Fasa, Jahrom, and Borazjan from April to August, 2019. The questionnaires were filled out by individual interview with participants and the data were analysed through explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses and ROC curve, using SPSS 25 and Amos 21. Results: Two factors were extracted in each questionnaire (Regarding each questionnaire, happiness and responsibility in individual and social satisfaction in caregiving burden were extracted through explanatory factor analysis), representing 78.1 and 75.1% of total variance, respectively. The Cronbach's coefficients alpha related to these subscales were obtained as 0.709-0.859 by indicating an acceptable internal consistency. Conclusion: The Persian version of these questionnaires had appropriate validity and reliability required for measuring satisfaction and caregiving burden of grandchildren among Iranian grandparents and can be used in day care and healthcare centres.

The study aimed to evaluate Persian version of the TSAI-2011 to determine successful aging issues in older adults. In a psychometric study, the instrument was completed by 400 men and women aged 60 and above and the Rasch partial credit model was used. The PCM indicated that items 1 and 20 were misfitting. Also, it successive response categories for all items were located in the expected order and version of TSAI with 22-items had more internal consistency. Although Rasch analysis indicated to relevant of TSAI 22-Items, it should be evaluated in further studies and divergent cultures.

Introduction Women heads of households (widows or divorcees) are vulnerable groups in society who face various psychological problems and have less resilience than other women. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of resilience educational intervention on the psychological capital of poor widows in Fasa city, south Iran. Materials and Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 120 widows covered by Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation were selected by a simple random sampling method based on a random Efron algorithm (Efron coin) and randomly assigned into two interventions and control groups (60 people each) in the second half of 2021. About 8 training sessions on resilience and psychological capital were held for the experimental group through training clips, audio transmissions, and podcasts. Data were collected using demographic characteristics forms, widowers' resilience assessment questionnaires, and Luten's psychological capital scale for testing and control before and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed with Chi-square test, independent and paired t-test using SPSS V. 26 software. Results There were differences between the two groups at pretest in demographic variables and psychological capital and its subscales, and resilience and its subscales (P ≥ 0.05).. But two months after the educational intervention, a statistically significant increase was observed in the experimental group in these variables compared to the control group (p Discussion and Conclusion Using a resilience-based educational approach as a novelty of this research to promote psychological capital and resilience can increase resilience and psychological capital in widows. Then, considering the positive effect of this educational approach and the low cost of this intervention, it seems that the implementation of such interventions should be included in the plans related to widows.

Objectives. Mental Health Literacy (MHL) is an important factor in promoting mental health. Assessing this structure is required for early recognition and intervention in mental health problems. To date, there was no tool to assess it among Iranian adolescents, so this study was aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Adolescent Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire (AMHLQ) among Iranian female students. Method. The study instrument was a Persian version of the AMHLQ prepared through a translation and back-translation process. In this cross-sectional study, 275 female students completed the AMHLQ, and the Adolescent Strengths, and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results. Findings of content, construct validity tests, Cronbach’s alpha, and split-half coefficient demonstrated that the AMHLQ had satisfactory validity and suitable reliability. The exploratory factor analysis showed four dimensions of the AMHLQ: (1) knowledge of mental health problems ( α = 0.89 ); (2) erroneous beliefs/stereotypes ( α = 0.89 ); (3) help-seeking and first aid skills ( α = 0.86 ); and (4) self-help strategies ( α = 0.74 ). Conclusion. The findings showed that the tool was confirmed by questions and subscales, and this questionnaire was a valid and reliable tool in assessing level differences of MHL and in determining the impact of programs designed to improve MHL in Iranian female adolescents.

Purpose: Iranians’ worry over the number of older patients negatively impacted by COVID-19 surged dramatically throughout the 5 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, which lasted from January 2020 to September 2021. The goal of this research was to assess the physical and mental health of Iranian older persons throughout the COVID-19 pandemic’s major waves. Methods: The health condition of 507 older persons with a positive examination for COVID-19 illness was assessed before and throughout the 5 waves of coronavirus in south Iran in analytical and hybrid longitudinal research. Results: The primary consequences of COVID-19 incidence on frailty and mental health issues were revealed in this investigation. Using a linear mixed model, we found a reduction of 0.33 in loneliness (β = −.33, 95% CI −0.39 to −0.26) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The probabilities of becoming depressed, anxious, or frail rose 4.61 (95% CI: 3.77-5.63), 1.85 (95% CI: 1.52-2.24), as well as 1.42 (95% CI: 1.17-1.42) time, subsequently, with COVID-19 occurrence, according to the mixed logistic models. Furthermore, the influence of COVID-19 incidence on loneliness result differs by gender; for depression, it varies by education; and for anxiety, it changes by comorbidities and living independently. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts the mental health and frailty of older persons with the positive COVID-19 situation, and this scenario is gender-based too.

Introduction: Girls can use their mothers emotional, informational and behavioral support to perform healthy behaviors due to their constant access to their mothers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of role modeling and maternal support in the family to improve healthy behaviors and perceived Family Health Climate (FHC) in female students.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study 261 female students (133 in intervention group and 128 in control group) and 223 mothers (109 intervention and 114 control) were selected, using cluster multi-stages sampling method and entered the study. Participants completed the FHC scale at three stages (Before intervention, immediately after the intervention and two month after intervention). A training programme which comprised 12 sessions for students and 6 sessions for their mothers using collaborative learning techniques and printed materials was conducted with the experimental group. Data were analyzed using SPSS20 via chi-square test, independent t-test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA at significance level of 0.05.Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between demographic variables and the score of FHC scale in both groups (pConclusions: Educating and informing mothers about their role model defects for their children, especially girls, can make them more aware of health-oriented behaviors towards their children. Such findings reinforced the importance of focusing on actions to encourage a healthy lifestyle (healthy diet and physical activity) in students with a focus on role modeling and parental support, especially mothers.

Objectives: Older people have a fear of falling, which is far more difficult than falling itself. We measured the extent of this feeling using a short and valid Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) 7-item questionnaire for the aging community in Iran. Methods: The present psychometric work deals with outlining the validation and translation of FES-I (short version) among 9117 Persian-speaking elderly people with a mean age of 70.2±8.3 years (54.1% female and 45.9% male) in July 2021. Investigations were performed on confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, and construct validity along with test-retest reliability, receiver operating characteristic analysis, inter-rater, and convergent validity. Results: 72.4% of the subjects were living alone, 92.9% required support in activities of daily living , and 93.0% experienced falling in the past two years. A one-factor solution was assigned by exploratory factor analysis for FES-I. Thus, this model was proved by the confirmatory factor analysis with valid fit indices. Based on Cronbach’s alpha, intra-cluster correlation coefficient, and McDonald’s omega (≥ 0.80), internal consistency was confirmed. The exact cut-off value was represented by the receiver operating characteristic analysis for male/female and between with/without fear of falling among older samples with higher measures of specificity and sensitivity. Moreover, a significant effect of age, aging in place, loneliness, hospitalization rate, frailty, and sense of anxiety (effect size ≥ 0.80, p ≤ 0.05) on fear of falls was detected using analysis of variance.Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the original scale were preserved by the Persian version of FES-I seven items as a self-reported measure of fear of falling. It could be assuredly a measure in both community and clinical settings. The possible uses and limitations of the Iranian FES-I were also discussed.

Background: Successful aging (SA) is considered an indicator of satisfaction of older people. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) on SA among older women. Materials and Methods: quasi-experimental research with a control group was conducted in 2021 on 120 older women in Shiraz city, south Iran. Eligible samples were selected by a three-stage cluster sampling method and were classified into two equal intervention and control groups. Eight training sessions (exercises) were conducted for the intervention group using the OEP. SA questionnaire was completed at the beginning and 2 months after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the IBM-SPSS version 26, and the effect sizes were extracted. Results: The mean age of samples in the intervention and control groups was 69.71 + 59.59 and 68.83 + 5.08 years, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in the mean scores of SA between the two groups at the beginning of the study, 2 months after the intervention implementation, the mean scores of SA increased significantly in the intervention group ( t = 8.57, p ≤ .001). Conclusion: It seems that OEP is an effective strategy for supporting SA in older people.

Objectivewidowhood is one of the inevitable challenges of aging, which may affect the quality of life. If the widow is in a good relationship with relatives and friends, the possibility of exposition to the damage caused by widowhood is decreased. Hence, the present study has been conducted to determine the relationship between quality of relationships and quality of life of elderly widows in northeastern Iran.Materials & Methodsthe descriptive-analytical study in kind of cross-sectional design was done on 1456 widows in northeastern ran in 2021. The sampling in this study was done using proportional stratified random sampling. The data collection instrument included three questionnaires of demographic information, Quality of Relationships Inventory (QRI), and Elderly Quality of Life (QoL) Questionnaire (LIPAD). Data analysis was done using SPSS-25, and Amos-21.Results75.9% of elderly widows were suffering from types of chronic diseases. 82.7% of widows were illiterate. The results of this study showed that the quality of relationships can have a significant effect on the quality of life of elderly widows (effect size≥0.30). Conclusionas it is proved that social support is an underlying indicator in health-related quality of life, the negative effects of widowhood on the quality of life can be reduced by making supporting family and social relationships.

Background: The evidence suggests nutrition style as a key determinant of health. On the other hand, nutrition literacy is a key determinant of nutrition decisions and behaviors. This study aimed to develop and validate an inventory in order to predict nutrition literacy promoting behavior based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in the youth. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 203 students (100 females and 103 males) were selected using the randomized cluster method from dormitories in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. They were supposed to complete Nutrition Literacy Promoting Behavior based on TPB (TPB-NLPB) questionnaire. The tool was developed using relevant scientific literature and its validity was confirmed by the experts’ panel (n = 6). The instrument includes four subscales: attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. The reliability and validity of the instrument were assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The coefficients of Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.87), Guttmann method (λ1 = 0.84 to λ6 = 0.91), and convergent validity (0.74) were estimated (P < 0.01). The exploratory factor analysis demonstrated five factors, which clarified 64.91% of the scale’s variance. Second-order confirmatory factor analysis pointed out that the factor was well matched up onto the principal factor. Consequently, the five-factor model was appropriate for the data using fit index techniques for adjusting the scale. Conclusions: The results confirmed the well-adjusted reliability and psychometric properties of the TPB-NLPB and its usefulness for the relevant studies.

Background: COVID-19[1] is a new infectious disease that has been declared by WHO[2] as a public health emergency worldwide due to its rapid spread to China and then to other parts of the world. The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical manifestations of this disease in the elderly. Methods: We performed a systematic review on the database of the World Health Organization, CDC[3], PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and lancet. All of the articles published until March 15, 2020, have been extracted from the above articles in English on coronavirus infection, disease, virology, epidemiology, clinical features, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Of the 1376 articles, 5 were selected out of recently published articles focusing on the epidemiological information of the virus, pneumonia caused by new corona virus, and the effects of the disease on different age groups, especially the elderly, and the rest were excluded from the review. The mean age of the patients, the mean age of mortality and the underlying diseases were chosen as the criteria of data extraction. Findings: Based on the researchers' perceptions of the text of the articles, 342 cases were included in these 5 studies. The mean age of the patients was 58.4 and that of the diceased patients was 66.5. More than 50% of the total cases had one or more underlying diseases. Conclusion: Despite the involvement of various age groups in this infection, the virus is most likely to cause severe complications and fatalities in older people with underlying diseases.

Objectives The quality of life (QoL) of the elderly and elder abuse are growing public health concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of abuse and the association between QoL and abuse in older adults. Methods Multistage random cluster sampling, along with valid QoL (LEIPAD: LEIden, the Netherlands; PADua, Italy; Helsinki, Finland) and abuse questionnaires, were used to assess QoL and elder abuse. Path analysis was performed using Mplus. SPSS and AMOS were used for the other analyses. Results A total of 386 elderly individuals with a mean age of 68.00±6.10 years were interviewed, of whom 200 (51.8%), 289 (74.9%), and 376 (97.4%) were women, educated, and married, respectively. Moreover, 167 (43.2%) had low-to-moderate QoL, and 108 (27.9%) had experienced a moderate level of abuse. QoL and abuse were inversely associated (r=-0.253), with men (β=-0.24) more affected than women (β=-0.21). Musculoskeletal disorders were also strong determinants of QoL in the elderly. QoL was strongly associated with emotional abuse, while abuse was highly related to the social component of QoL. Furthermore, emotional abuse was the type of abuse most significantly associated with the self-care, depression/anxiety, cognitive, and social components of QoL. Sexual abuse, violation of personal rights, and neglect were the main determinants of the physical functioning, life satisfaction, and sexual domains of QoL, respectively. Conclusions Nearly half of the elderly individuals lacked a high QoL, and at least one-fourth had experienced some form of abuse. Elder abuse was correlated inversely with QoL. Therefore, preventive interventions are recommended to decrease elder abuse in the family, community, and other settings.

Background: Despite the key role of nutrition literacy and behavior in health, evidence suggests a low adherence to healthy nutritional behaviors. We sought to determine the influence of a group-based interactive training program on nutrition-related literacy, knowledge and behavior of students. Methods: Two-hundred and three undergraduate students were enrolled by multi-stage cluster sampling and were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (n=106) and control (n=97). Four questionnaires measured the demographic variables, nutrition-related literacy, knowledge, and behavior. The educational intervention was performed as workshop using a new educational style. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic variables. After educational intervention, a significant increase was found in the mean scores of nutrition literacy from 22.20±3.85 to 31.95±2.19, nutrition knowledge from 54.23±1.80 to 77.06±7.20, and nutritional behavior from 52.32±16.54 to 67.52±19.69 (p

Background: Nutrition literacy is a key determinant of nutrition decision and behavior. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Nutrition Literacy Inventory (NLI-28) among university students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 203 students (101 women and 102 men) were enrolled through a randomized cluster sampling method from the four dormitories of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The instrument was prepared through a translation and back-translation process and it was used as a self-administered inventory. The NLI-28 included three subscales i.e. functional nutrition literacy, interactive nutrition literacy, and critical nutrition literacy. The reliability and validity of the instrument were assessed by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: Mean of content validity ratio (CVR) for essential criterion, means of content validity index (CVI) for simply criterion, clarity criterion, and relevance criterion were obtained as 0.89, 0.9, 0.96, and 0.98, respectively. The coefficients of Cronbach’s alpha (α=0.87), convergent validity (0.74), divergent validity (-0.11), and criterion validity (0.73) were estimated (p

Purpose Injecting drug use addiction is a main factor in hepatitis B, C infection and HIV–AIDS infection. The purpose of this paper is to measure seroprevalence of hepatitis B, C virus and HIV–AIDS amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) and its influencing factors. Design/methodology/approach The cross-sectional method was used in mid-2017 in Ahwaz city, southwest Iran. In total, 133 IDUs, aged 29–71 years (mean age=48.21 ± 10.4), were chosen from Aria addiction treatment centre. The data were collected on demographic and behavioural characteristics. In addition, serum samples were screened for those diseases. Findings In a total of 131 IDUs, 2 (1.5 per cent) were HIV+, 16 (11.7 per cent) HCV+ and 8 (6.1 per cent) HBV+. There was a significant correlation between diseases and IDU. Results of multiple regression stated that IDU was a more predicting variable as β=0.76 and the model was able to predict 74.1 per cent of the variance, F (3, 35)=12.42, ρR2=0.741, OR=3.01, 95% CI [1.44, 3.83]. The synchronised pairwise effect of age, imprisonment and IDU with GLM analysis was significant, F (2, 114)=20.433, ρ η HCV + 2 = 0.609 , η HBV + 2 = 0.616 , and η HCV + 2 = 0.612 , λWilks’=0.056. The infection rate among IDUs was significant and the most important risk factor for these infections has been intravenous drug use, together with age of misusing and imprisonment. Research limitations/implications The non-cooperation of two samples, lack of participation of three addiction rehabilitation centres in Ahwaz city, the end of cooperation in the first two months of the implementation of the plan, and the lack of consistency of the three serum samples in the cases (two cases) were limitations of the study. Practical implications Based on the results, the following suggestions could be presented: establishing “Intervention Clubs” for treatment in the peripheral urban areas for the participation of women drug users – the responsible organisation is Cultural and Social Deputy of Ahwaz Municipality Organisation. Integration of “Small Self-caring Groups” in Sepidar Women’s Penitentiary in the East Ahwaz region – the responsible organisation is Khuzistan Province Prisons Organisation (the southwestern Iranian prisons authority); constructing “Community-based Committees” to increase the level of social intervention – the responsible organisation is the Iran Drug Control Headquarters at Iranian Presidential Office; screening of injecting drug use in the populations at risk, especially girls and women in marginalised areas – the responsible organisation is Deputy Director of Prevention and Treatment of Addiction in the Iran Welfare and Rehabilitation Organisation; establishing an “Patient Treatment Center” in high-risk areas along with directing drug users and supervising the relevant authorities – the responsible organisation is Deputy Police Commander on Social Assistance; providing education to families involved with addiction in the “Neighborhood Parks” – the responsible organisation is Deputy for Health Affairs. Social implications They are mixed with practical implications as well. Originality/value The comprehensive harm reduction plan and prison-related issues of IDUs with shared syringe along with the pairwise age and imprisonment need to consider the above factors.

The study was aimed to assess mental health of the older adults who did not participate in the three stages of national vaccination program. As a descriptive-analytical study, about 285 Iranian older people were interviewed in 2022. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics, conspiracy scale, superstitious beliefs instrument, and Templer death anxiety. The convenience sampling method was used and data were analyzed using BIM-SPSS version 28. Death anxiety statistically effect on conspiratory and superstitions with scores 0.190 and 0.320 using adjusted Eta squared, respectively and superstitious beliefs effected 81% of conspiracy as well ( p = 0.001). Using ROC analysis, the cutoff points for conspiracy of men and women and final SEM model were extracted too. Interaction of conspiracy illusion, superstitions with death anxiety during the pandemic time among vulnerable groups i.e ageing community can shape a decision line in health policy making.

Lack of menopausal knowledge damages the quality of life (QoL) and couples' relationships. A new approach to prevent marital distress based upon stress and coping has introduced Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). The present study assessed the effect of menopause care training using CCET approach on QoL and coping in menopausal women. This educational interventional study was conducted in 2019 on 80 postmenopausal women and their spouses. The couples were randomly selected from health care centers using the cluster random sampling method and were divided into control and intervention groups. Four training sessions were held for the intervention group. Data were collected using The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire, menopausal knowledge questionnaire, and Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) and were analyzed using independent Sample t-test, Paired Sample T-Test, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in SPSS version 25 and Amos version 21 software. At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference in menopausal knowledge, QoL, and dyadic coping between the two groups. However, the CCET approach significantly increased menopausal knowledge, coping in couples and women's QoL in the intervention group compared to the control group. CCET can help couples to cope with menopausal symptoms more efficiently.

Background: Retirement is a challenge for veterans during their life course. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of educational intervention on the perception of aging and social adjustment during retirement. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 100 military retirees in Shiraz, Iran. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, Perception of Aging, and Social Adjustment. The educational intervention used included six training sessions on the subject of mindfulness, physical and psychological changes of aging, health and self-care management, attitudes toward aging, and social and family relationships in old age. Data were collected at the beginning of the study and two months after the intervention and then analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: The results showed no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of demographic variables, perception of aging, and social adjustment before the educational intervention. However, the perception of aging significantly decreased, and social adjustment increased in the intervention group after the educational intervention. Improving the perception of aging and parents' perceived role can positively affect social adjustment. Multiple regression analysis indicated a predictive model for social adjustment in later life. Conclusions: With increased knowledge of the retirees on self-care, their perceptions of aging and their role in later life improved and predicte social adjustment.

Objectives. This study examined the validity and reliability of the Family Health Climate Scale (FHC-Scale) among Iranian families. Second, can it be attributed to other family members by measuring the health climate in one person? Method. In total, 261 female students and 196 mothers completed the FHC-Scale. The study instrument was a Persian version of the FHC-Scale prepared through a translation and back-translation process. Results. The results showed that the Persian version of the FHC-Scale is acceptable. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for FHC-PA in female students and their mothers, respectively, was 0.88 and 0.86 for the whole scale. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for FHC-NU in female students and their mothers, respectively, was 0.83 and 0.92 for the whole scale. The CVI values for all the items were equal to or above 0.8, and the CVR value for the total scale was 0.90. Conclusion. The Persian version of the FHC-Scale is therefore an effective tool for evaluating the different dimensions of family health climate in the Iranian population.

Background: Illegal drug abuse is an important challenge that is not adequately addressed with respect to gerontology in rural areas. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 641 people aged 60 years or older supported by rural health centers in Southern Iran were investigated (310 and 331 men and women, respectively). To take a sample size of 326, snowball sampling was used. Then, the sample size was developed and simulated to 1.65 million rural elderly using the Monte Carlo simulation and bootstrapping technique (upon the 2016 national census), calculated in SPSS V.25. The ASSIST-WHO, 2017 instrument was used to collect the data. Results: A significant difference was found between the mean sub-variables of marital status using the MANOVA. Widowhood and divorce had more impact on the tendency to addiction compared to the other factors on marital status. Nomads and farmers were more vulnerable to be addicted than those occupied in the public sector. It was also confirmed by the Eta2 coefficient that older men feeling loneliness have a higher tendency to commit risky behaviors. Conclusions: Being a nomad or framer and widowhood and divorce increased the tendency of male elderly towards illegal drugs. Further studies are required to develop guidelines for policy-makers concerning the rural aging community.

Presented data was gathered from a local rehabilitation & caring center in Ahwaz city, southwest Iran end-2017. Data was classified in the six sections upon two predictors i.e. years of imprisonments and Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) to predict three blood infectious diseases i.e. HIV-Aids, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), & Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Each section jointly includes the following: tables of raw data, input data concerning false & true positive fractions (18 tables), scatter graph concerning false positive fractions (FPF) & true positive fractions (TPF) (6 graphs), and six ROC curves. The full access to data set is available at Mendeley data repository via doi:10.17632/6s9yzm7hr7.1 .

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here. Background and Objective: Discussion of localizing sciences in all fields of humanities is a contentious issue in Iranian academic settings and has its supporters and opponents. Among new branches of sciences developed in the 20th century, the science of biological, psychological, and social aspects of older adults, known as gerontology, is a recent one. Like other modern sciences, this field of study has an occidental origin. In recent years, it has also found its place in academic settings in Iran. The present study aimed to discover the theoretical, Islamic, and ideological origins of gerontology in oriental and Islamic society. Method: This library-based study was an attempt to review available resources. To this end, Quranic verses, hadiths, and historical documents about the elderly were consulted. Keywords such as the elderly and old age were used to search for these resources. All ethical issues were observed in the study and the researchers declared no conflict of interests. Results: According to the available resources of Islamic jurisprudence, it seems that the current situation is appropriate for localizing gerontology through referring to Quranic resources, Islamic hadiths, ancient history of Iranian culture, and documents on Islamic jurisprudence. Conclusion: Considering the thorough and eternal nature of Islam and its dominance on human’s existential structure and his real needs, it is necessary to design the curriculum of gerontology, which is a newly established discipline, based on Islamic principles and standards. For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.

Background:Early detection of breast cancer is a crucial factor in surviving the disease. This study aimed to investigate the mammography screening based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) among rural women in Fasa and Shiraz cities, Iran.Methods:This study is a cross-sectional study performed on 800 female clients referring to rural health centers in Fasa and Shiraz cities in southern Iran in early 2021. The authors decided to send and distribute the electronic questionnaire form through the WhatsApp application in collaboration with the health staff of rural health centers for the people covered by these centers. Data gathering tools were a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, a questionnaire based on constructs of TPB, and behavior of mammography screening. Using the structural equation model (SEM), the TPB constructs and demographic variables were entered into the model. Data analysis was executed employing SPSS software version 26 and Amos version 24 (IBM Co., Ann Arbor, MI, USA). Analyzing the data was carried out using the 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), logistic regression, and structural equation analysis. During data analysis, various model indicators such as the goodness of fit, including comparative fit index (CFI), goodness-of-fit index (GFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and chi-square index/ df were evaluated. The significance level in all tests was considered 0.05.Results:The knowledge, attitude, and perceived behavioral control were the predictors of intention and behavior of mammography screening among the women. Among demographic variables, age, literacy, being menopausal, cancer in family, city, and ethnicity contribute more to the variance variation in TPB constructs. In this study, 7.2% of Persians, 8% of Qashqai Turks, and 4.5% of Arabs are contemplating going to mammography screening. In total, 6.8% (54 people) of all individuals intended to go mammography screening, and 5.4% (43 people) had a history of mammography screening. Goodness-of-fit indices (χ2 = 18.45, df = 10, n = 800, χ2/ df = 1.845, RMSEA = 0.032, GFI = 0.90, non-normed fit index (NNFI) = 0.91) of conceptual model of this study indicate the suitability of the model.Conclusions:The results of the study indicated that the constructs of the TPB can predict mammography screening behaviors in rural women. It has also demonstrated that mammographic behavior can be improved in rural women using education based on the TPB model, emphasizing critical psychological factors of creating or changing behavior.

Evidence suggests that the quality of family relationships is associated with family members’ general health. Given of the scanty studies on adolescents, especially in Iran, this study aimed to determine the association between parent-adolescent conflict and adolescents’ general health. Methods: Out of 40 high schools in Behbahan, 10 were randomly selected, and then 391 students were selected through random sampling method. The Parent-Adolescent Conflict Questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire were used for data collection. Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, and ANOVA were used for data analysis in SPSS. Results: The findings of this study showed a significant and positive correlation between parent-adolescent conflict and general health (p=0.001, r=0.142). There was also a significant difference between the parent-adolescent conflict and mother's educational level (p=0.001), between general health and mother's educational level (p=0. 01), and between parent-adolescent conflict and father's educational level (p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference between gender and parent-adolescent conflict and general health. Conclusion: According to the results, with an increase in parent-adolescent conflict, the general health scores would also increase, indicating lower general health. Further studies are recommended to identify familial conflict and general health (mental) risk factors. A family-oriented training program is recommended to improve the parent-adolescent communication skills

Introduction: Declining social participation and reduced engagement in communal activities among Khuzistani citizens are specifically more evident among the elderly than other age groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the social well-being within Aged People in Ahwaz city. Methods: Via cross-sectional study in 2016, data were collected during interview with 382 samples (195 male and 187 female) 60 years old and above in accordance to cluster-multistage sampling method and the sample size were estimated by Cochran Formula as a whole. Data collection instrument was the version of 33 items of the Social Well-being Scale of Keyes. Data were analyzed by SPSS in descriptive statistics, F-test & geographical information system. Sampling method was cluster-ratio based on municipal zones, ethnicity, and gender. Results: Total scores of Scale of Social Well-being (Mean = 61.42, SD = 14.92) show the average rank of loneliness among participants (between 59.35 and 64.20). Arabs (Mean = 59.35, SD = 14.95) have a lower social well-being rank than other ethnic groups. The comparison of the social well-being by gender and ethnic characteristics illustrates that the variables have significant differences within the aged as well (N = 382, ρ £ 0.05).Regarding financial support and economic status of aged samples, those older persons who did not receive any financial support, had better rank of social well-being than aged who were supported (Mean = 64.89, SD = 16.22). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, aged minority ethnic group women faced inequalities regarding social well-being in Ahwaz City, Iran.

Supplemental material, Supplemental_material for Item response analysis to explore psychometric properties of the Persian version of Troutman successful aging inventory: Rasch partial credit model by Mozhgan Seif, Abdolrahim Asadollahi, Mahsa Yarelahi and Elham Rezaian in Journal of Health Psychology

Introduction: Gender composition and the soaring trends of drug and tobacco dependency reveal the priority of social skills training related to drug avoidance self-efficacy among female students. The aim of this study was to verify the impact training high school female students to have the social skills needed to avoid the use of drugs. Methods: This study was conducted from September 2012 to May 2013 in two high schools in Ahvaz City in southwest Iran. The participants were divided randomly into two groups of 60 students, one experimental group and one control group using the multi-stage simple sampling method. Two questionnaires, i.e. the ASES and TISS questionnaires, were completed before and after the intervention. Descriptive statistics, chi squared, paired- samples t-test, and the independent-samples t-test were used. Results: The participants had a mean age of 14.93 years. Among the 120 participants, 90.8% indicated that they had never smoked a cigarette, and 51.7% of the participants denied having smoked a hookah. There was no significant relationship between the self-sufficiency means of drug avoidance in the two groups of girls before intervention (p ≥ 0.05). However, after intervention, a significant difference was found in test score of self- efficacy of drug avoidance between the two groups, i.e., 94.91 ± 8.3 for the control group versus 99.16 ± 3.8 for the experimental group, p < 0.05). Significant increases were observed for the pre- and post-test scores of self- efficacy of drug avoidance in the experimental group compared to the control group (99.16 ± 3.8 (p = 0.001) vs. 96.58 ± 6.98 (p > 0.05). The mean values of the pre- and post-test scores of social skill before and after intervention increased significantly only for the experimental group (97.60 ± 19.19 vs. 100.58 ± 12.37, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Educational intervention can significantly enhance social skills for drug avoidance self-efficacy, so it is recommended that such skills be taught in the high school curriculum.

Objective: This study examines the social and cultural structure of drug offenses in Ahwaz municipal areas using GIS. Method: The population of the study consisted of drug offenders in Correction and Rehabilitation Center of Ahwaz in 2013. Statistical tests and graphs, including Mean Center test, Standard Deviation Ellipse, Kernel Density Estimation were used in this study. Results: The most important centers of drug crime are in the same border with informal settlement areas, such as Kut Abdullah, Lashkar Abad, and Khashayar (urban areas 5 and 6 of Ahwaz city). In addition, there is a direct relationship between illiteracy rate & population density and crime rate. Discussion and Conclusion: Spatial analysis of geographic crime and punishment can act as a means for security and safety policy making in the fight against drugs.