Journal of Education and Community Health
Year:2015 | Volume:2 | Issue:2|Papers Count:7

Background and Objectives: Progressive muscle relaxation is a non-invasive, cost-effective and complication less method which can be performed independently by the individual. Considering the importance of psychological problems during pregnancy, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation counseling on anxiety among primigravida women referred to health care centers in Hamadan, Iran.Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial with two groups (experimental and control) with pre-test and post-test. A total of 120 women were referred to health centers in Hamadan who were experiencing their first pregnancy and were consecutively enrolled in the study, after obtaining informed consents. They were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups (60 women in each group) by allocation concealment. The control group only received routine prenatal care, but the experimental group after two counseling sessions and learning muscle relaxation techniques performed progressive muscle relaxation exercises from 21-22 weeks for 10 weeks, and completed the daily performance sheet of relaxation. The study data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory, and the daily performance sheet for the intervention group. Data were analyzed in SPSS 20 using independent samples t-test, Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and paired t-test.Results: Data analysis reflected the homogeneity of the state and trait anxiety levels in both groups before the intervention. The results showed that state and trait anxiety in the control group after the intervention was significantly increased (P<0.001), but the experimental group showed a significant decrease in state and trait anxiety after the intervention (P<0.001).Conclusions: Teaching progressive muscle relaxation techniques to pregnant women can have a significant impact on reducing pregnancy anxiety.

Background and Objectives: Bullying has been common in schools across the world. There-fore, assessing the psychometric properties of its structures is important. The aim of this study was the assessment of the factorial structure and psychometric properties of bullying prevalence questionnaire.Materials and Methods: The present study was descriptive and psychometric. For this purpose, 400 students (200 boys and 200 girls) were selected by multistage cluster sampling method and answered the bullying prevalence questionnaire and subjective well-being inventory (divergent validity). For data analysis, factor analysis method, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Pearson’s correlation test were used by SPSS software version 22 and AMOS version 21.Results: factor analysis result showed that this questionnaire was saturated with three factors and had good fitness scales. Significant negative relationships of bullying prevalence with subjective well-being (r = -0.10 and P £ 0.05) and academic achievement (r = -0.18 and P £ 0.01) were obtained. Cronbach's alpha for the total scale was calculated as 0.81, and for each of the subscales it was as follows: bullying: 0.81, victim 0.75, and pro-social 0.70, all the scores were satisfactory.Conclusions: Findings of the research showed that the Persian version of the bullying prevalence questionnaire was acceptable among students concerning psychometric characteristic and it can be used as a valid instrument for psychological studies.

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, quality of life is one of the main phenomena in health, which is affected by different factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of psychological hardiness and spiritual health in predicting the quality of life among students.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 120 students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during 2013-2014. Participants were selected by cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Ahvaz psychological hardiness questionnaire, spiritual health questionnaire of Paloutzian & Park and Quality of life questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS 19 using Pearson’s correlation test and stepwise regression analysis.Results: There was a significant positive correlation between psychological hardiness and quality of life (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between spiritual health and quality of life (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant relationship between quality of life and spiritual health in the existential dimension, while, there was a significant relation-ship with religious dimension (P < 0.05). Psychological hardiness and spiritual health can predict 11.3 % of the variance in quality of life.Conclusions: Considering the relationship between the variables, it is better to provide training packages about the increase of spiritual health and psychological hardiness, in order to enhance the quality of life of university students.

Background and Objectives: Since elderlies are susceptible to various impairments due to different physical and mental problems, they need more attention and abiding and efficient self-care program for their health promotion. The present study investigated the effect of self-care training program on quality of life of elderlies.Materials and Methods: This pre- and post-quasi-experimental study was carried out on 160 elderly clients selected from eight health care centers in Zanjan, Iran. The elderlies were selected by randomized sampling and assigned to two groups of experimental (n = 80) and control (n = 80) groups. The experimental group participated in the self-care training program for six sessions of one hour. The study instruments were questionnaires regarding demographic information and short-form health survey (SF-36). Data analysis was performed using SPSS-22 software by independent t-test, Mann-Whitney and chi-squared.Results: The finding showed a significant difference in mean scores of quality of life between the experimental and control groups after the intervention (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Self-care education to elderlies about the practices of proper nutrition, exercise, rest and medication can prevent several problems and help them to improve their quality of lives.

Background and Objectives: Due to the quick development and widespread use of mobile phones and its various effects on the interaction and communication, it is important to study its negative effects on the health of cellphone users. The overall aim of the present study was to investigate cellphone overuse as a predictor of sleep quality as well as anxiety and depression among college students.Materials and Methods: This descriptive–correlation study was carried out on all the students of Kharazmi and Payam-e-Noor universities of Karaj during 2014-2015 school years and the sample consisted of 240 persons who were selected by multistage cluster sampling. For data gathering, questionnaires such as cellphone over use scale (COS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) were used. Data analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation and multiple regressions (stepwise) methods with SPSS 21 software and 0.01 P value.Results: The results of regression showed that the variable of cellphone over use and the variance of sleep quality, anxiety and depression were respectively 0.31% and 0.14%, which predicted and were positively and significantly (r = 0.56, P < 0.01, r = 0.38, P < 0.01) correlated with sleep quality, anxiety and depression.Conclusions: The variable of cellphone overuse can predict and cause changes in sleep quality, anxiety and depression among students and psychotherapists can control these factors to enhance the quality of life and mental health of them.

Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disorder among females. Primary prevention is the easiest and cheapest way to deal with this condition. There-fore, it is important to educate about osteoporosis risk factors and preventive behaviors during adolescence. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of osteoporosis prevention education on knowledge, attitude and practice of adolescent female students in Kermanshah, Iran.Materials and Methods: We performed this quasi-experimental research in 118 adolescent female students in Kermanshah in 2014. The participants were selected with multistage cluster sampling form guidance schools of the city. They were allocated randomly to intervention (n=53) and control (n=65) groups. We collected data by a four-part questionnaire including demographic information, knowledge, attitude and behavior about osteoporosis prevention. Data were analyzed in SPSS 19 using independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-squared and Pearson’s correlation.Results: The mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice displayed no significant difference between case and control groups at pre-intervention (P>0.05). However, the averages of knowledge (P=0.024) and attitude (P=0.003) increased significantly in the training group after performing the educational program. Although, the behavior mean had no significant difference between the two groups at post-intervention (P= 0.086).Conclusions: Educating about osteoporosis prevention led to promote the knowledge and attitude of adolescent female students in Kermanshah. However, this training had no influence on behavior. It is necessary to consider this problem in designing educational interventions in this target group.

Background and Objectives: Breakfast, the first meal of the day, provides children and adolescents with adequate nutrients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention to increase breakfast consumption among high school students in Hamadan based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 140 high school students (70 in the intervention group, 63 in the control group), selected by random sampling method. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire containing items on demo-graphic characteristics, and constructs of the TPB. In both groups, the questionnaires were filled out through interviews before and two months after the intervention. Participants in the intervention group received 8 sessions of training based on the constructs of the TPB. Data were analyzed in SPSS-19 using inferential statistics, such as the independent t-test, paired t-test and chi-square test.Results: The findings showed that the mean score of the constructs of the TPB (attitude to-ward the behavior, perceived behavior control and behavioral intention) in the intervention group did not significantly change after the intervention (P<0.05).Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary that training programs for in-creasing breakfast consumption be conducted for longer periods and using other theories.