QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK
Year:2018 | Volume:7 | Issue:2 (24) |Papers Count:8

Introduction: Social health is a major issue in any society; because the foundation of a healthy society and its progress require a society with all types of physical, mental and social health. The present study investigated social capital and its dimensions, including structural, cognitive and relational dimensions as well as its underlying variables. Methods: Method of this study was correlational descriptive. The study population consisted of all the students between fifteen and eighteen years old living in Babolsar, Iran; in 2017. Using multistage cluster sampling four hundred individuals were selected as sample. T-test, Ftest and structural equation modeling (LISREL) were used to test the hypotheses. Results: The findings showed that there was a significant direct correlation between social capital and social health. (r=0. 74) The "relational" dimension was the most influential dimension of social capital on social health. The Studying with demographic variables, education variable, was correlated to the dependent variable, but variable gender wasn’ t correlated. Also, the mean scores of social capital and social health were slightly higher than average. (4. 02, 3. 82>3) Conclusions: Given the direct impact of social capital on health, we must work towards strengthening the social capital of society, especially for young people.

Introduction: Cancer is one of the most stressful events in life that has negative effects on the quality of life; and increases the need for social support. Social protection is a tool that may alter the patient's quality of life and their encounter with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support and quality of life. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, which conducted in a geodesic way through the social support self-made questionnaire (a combination of MOS and Saeedeh Garoosi social support questionnaires) and health-related quality of life SF-36 questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the questionnaires were measured through face validity and internal consistency. The study population consists of all cancer patients in Kerman; during the six-month of the sampling period, an estimated one thousand four hundred people had formed and according to population, the sample size of this study based on the Cochran formula was three hundred people. Data analysis were carried out using the SPSS21 and Pearson test with regression. Results: The results showed that there was a statistically significant association(p<0/01) between social support and quality of life. Regression analysis also showed that emotional aspect (kindness and empathy) of social support are able to directly predict the quality of life. Conclusions: In general, this study showed that social support could be used to improve the quality of life of cancer patients to overcome their disease. According to the results, it is suggested to formulate a comprehensive care program alongside increasing social support in order to improve the quality of cancer patients.

Introduction: Drug addiction has been one of the most important health and social crises in recent decades. One of the types of addiction that is prevalent among adolescents today is the addiction to Naswā r, with the increasing youth tendency towards Naswā r, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the lived experiences Naswā r abuser adolescents. Methods: This study was carried out in a qualitative way and the phenomenological method was used. Participants were selected among the youth of Kerman. Twenty participants were selected through purposeful sampling. Data collection method was a semi-structured interview that was rewritten with the consent of the participants and analyzed by Colaizzi method. Results: During the process of reviewing the lived experiences of Naswā r abuser adolescents, two main themes with three contexts each were extracted; the main theme of personal factors with three contexts "sensual seduction, misassumption, risk taking and looking for excitement" and the main theme of social factors, with three contexts "family problems, availability of drug, and influenceability by peers". Conclusions: By describing the determinants of Naswā r consumption, in addition to individual factors; this study found social factors as an important factor to such behaviors. Therefore, it is suggested to the national authorities to address this problem as an urgent and health priority; by using effective methods to educate and inform adolescents and their families about the side effects of Naswā r; by facilitating suitable and accessible pastime; and by using life skill classes to teach them how to say no to drugs.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders, as one of childhood disorders, have severe effects on life and family's social and physiological health. Including high levels of anxiety, stress, isolation and uncertainty in parents and other family members. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based therapy on quality of life and coping styles of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, thirty mothers of children with autistic spectrum disorder in Qods city were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. After performing the pretest, the experimental group participated in the eight sessions of mindfulness awareness and afterward a posttest was performed. Data were collected using SF-36 quality of life and Lazarus coping styles questionnaires, and were analyzed by SPSS23 using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics), multivariate covariance analysis. Results: The results of the data analysis indicated that mindfulnessbased therapy had a positive and significant effect on the quality of life and coping strategies of mothers of children with autistic spectrum disorder. (P< 0. 05) Conclusions: This study showed that mindfulness can improve the quality of life and the coping strategies of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders, so, based on these findings, it is recommended to implement this kind of intervention in consulting, social welfare centers and social work clinic.

Introduction: Homelessness is an unpleasant condition especially in big cities that some people are experiencing it. Many factors affect the frequency and permanency of homelessness, such as individual, familial, economic, social and environmental factors. In this research, the relationship between individual factors with the frequency and duration of homelessness were studied. Methods: This study is a non-experimental study, which was conducted with survey method by a questionnaire, the sample included hundred homeless (eighty male and twenty female), which is proportional to the whole populations of homeless men and women deployed in two shelters (Khavaran and Lavizan) of Tehran municipality. From the existed questionaries around homelessness area of study, the researcher produced a questionnaire, then tested and approved its reliability and formal validity. To ensure about answers; the assessment tool (questionnaire) carried out by face to face interview. Results: There was no strong significant correlation between individual characteristics and frequency of homelessness; which shows the replications of homelessness occurs regardless of age, sex, marital status, relationship with family, employment status and type of providing cost of living; so it implies the strength of other social and family factors. Some conditions and characteristics of these people show a significant correlation with the duration of homelessness, such as increasing communication, emotional and financial support from the family; and also employment is important. Conclusions: The findings confirmed the results of previous studies about the important role of the family, addictions, and employment. Certainly empowerment programs, such as treating addiction and developing family and emotional belonging with paving the way for the elimination of unemployment, can help homeless people to return to the community.