Journal of Social Behavior and Community Health

Physical Activity for the Elderly and Different Ways of Their Participation

2025-11-26T12:55:45+00:00

The Article Abstract is not available.

Proximity to Fast Food Restaurants and Its Association with Obesity: A Public Health Concern

2025-11-26T12:55:44+00:00

The Article Abstract is not available.

How Effective Is Tele-Nursing in Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Colonoscopy Screening?

2025-11-26T12:55:43+00:00

The Article Abstract is not available.

Relationship between Emotional Exhaustion and Chronic Fatigue in Nurses: The Moderating Role of Health-Promoting Lifestyles

2025-11-26T12:55:42+00:00

Background: The present study aims to investigate the moderating role of health-promoting lifestyle in the relationship between emotional exhaustion and chronic fatigue in nurses.

Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study and the statistical population of this study included nurses at Sinai Hospital and Heart Center in Isfahan who were working in the winter of 2022. Based on the Krejci and Morgan’s table, 280 questionnaires were distributed among the sample members, of which 266 questionnaires could be analyzed statistically. The data collection tools included the Maslach Emotional Exhaustion Questionnaire, the Chalder Chronic Fatigue Questionnaire, and the Walker Health-Promoting Lifestyle. Data analysis was conducted using two software programs: SPSS and Smart PLS.

Results: The results demonstrated that nurses' chronic fatigue was significantly improved by emotional exhaustion (β = 0.146, p < 0.05). Furthermore, it was discovered that a healthier lifestyle had a greater impact on lowering chronic fatigue (β = -0.393, p < 0.001). An acceptable fit was shown by the model fit indices (SRMR = 0.080, NFI = 0.928, R²= 0.42). Furthermore, the moderating effect of a healthy lifestyle was validated, showing that increased participation in healthy behaviors lessened the effect of emotional exhaustion on chronic fatigue.

Conclusion: The results showed that a health-promoting lifestyle can play a moderating role in the relationship between emotional exhaustion and chronic fatigue in nurses; therefore, paying attention to factors affecting the increase in a health-promoting lifestyle can be considered in improving the conditions of nurses who are exposed to burnout and chronic fatigue and improve their performance.

Physical Activity, Well-Being, and Community Engagement: A Socioecological Examination of Volunteers Walking Shelter Dogs

2025-11-26T12:55:41+00:00

Background: The purpose of this work is to examine physical activity levels of volunteers who walk shelter dogs at an open-admission animal shelter in the southern United States. In doing so, shelter dog walking is presented as an activity of relational community engagement that can enhance well-being at all levels.

Methods: For this quasi-experimental study, a purposive sample of volunteer dog walkers in rural North Carolina was asked to record daily activity for a twelve-week period, with a total of 336 days submitted. Descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test were analyze the data.

Results: Data from a total of 336 days was collected. Paired-samples t-test was performed to compare outcomes assessed on days shelter dogs were not walked and days they were walked by volunteers. Significant differences were demonstrated for the steps taken (t(154) = 9.5, p < .001), the distance walked (t(154) = 9.0, p < .001), and the calories expended (t(154) = 5.2, p < .001).

Conclusion: The implications of these findings are multi-level and suggest walking shelter dogs can be a beneficial activity for all parties involved. At the micro-level, volunteers walked further, burned more calories, and accumulated more steps on days they walked shelter dogs. In turn, shelter staff and the local community benefited at the meso- and macro-levels, respectively.

Profile of Unintentional Injuries at the Household Level among Under-Five Children in Faridkot, India: An Urban-Rural Comparison

2025-11-26T12:55:40+00:00

Introduction: Unintentional injuries, caused by energy transfers, cause over 2 lakh deaths annually, with drowning and falls being top causes in India. In impoverished neighborhoods, inadequate preventive measures, unstable living, and poor educational conditions contribute to the risk. Hence, this study was conducted to estimate the proportion of under-five children having unintentional injuries along with injury profile at household level in urban and rural areas.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an institution's field practice area from May 2019 to April 2020, focusing on households with under-five children. A total of 280 mother-child duos were included, with a 1:1.7 ratio for representation of both urban and rural populations. The study used a self-designed household survey questionnaire to assess injury profiles among under-five children. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the variation of variables across urban and rural areas.

Results: Out of 280 households, injury was present in 115 (100%) urban and 155 (93.9%) rural houses. Overall, 270 (96.43%) of households reported at least one child injury event. Majority i.e. 254 (90.71%) households reported falls with a 907.14 injury rate/1000/year.

Conclusions: Falls were the most common type of injury reported, with a high injury rate per 1000 children per year. Health education among adolescents, parents, school teachers, and district health authorities must address causes, severity, complications, and prevention of unintentional injury. Child injuries can be prevented through public health initiatives, requiring collaboration between international communities, governments, and civil society to create safer societies.

Fourth-Generation Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change as a Novel Strategy for Sustainable Health Promotion: A Systematic Review

2025-11-26T12:55:39+00:00

Background: Health promotion has evolved significantly since its conceptualization, emphasizing the need for sustainable interventions to address population health challenges. This systematic review explored the effectiveness of the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change in promoting sustainable health behavior.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, and Academic Search Premier databases. From 883 records sourced after removal of duplicates, abstracts were screened and followed by complete article reading and screening. Eight experimental studies (four randomized controlled trials and four quasi-experimental studies) published between 2016 and 2024 were included. Data extraction focused on study design, population, interventions, and outcomes, with risk of bias assessed using Cochrane tools (RoB 2 and ROBINS-I).

Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in health behaviors, including reduced water pipe smoking, increased physical activity, healthier diets, and enhanced quality of life. MTM constructs—particularly participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, emotional transformation, and practice for change—showed strong, statistically significant effects (p < 0.001). Process evaluations confirmed high intervention fidelity, strong engagement, and feasibility for community implementation. Despite small sample sizes, biases, and heterogeneous designs, the interventions effectively promoted sustainable, equitable behavior change across diverse populations. Overall, the results demonstrate the MTM’s potential for long-term health promotion through integrated behavioral and environmental strategies that align with public health sustainability goals.

Conclusion The review underscores MTM's potential as a robust framework for sustainable health promotion. By integrating environmental sustainability principles and fostering community engagement, MTM-based interventions can address social determinants of health and promote long-term behavior change. Future research should focus on scaling MTM interventions, addressing methodological limitations, and exploring its integration with other sustainability frameworks to enhance public health outcomes.

The Effectiveness of Visual-Auditory Perception Training on Working Memory and Attention in Children with Dyslexia

2025-11-26T12:55:38+00:00

Background: Attention and working memory are impaired as reading correlates in children with dyslexia. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of auditory-visual perception training on attention and working memory in these children.

Methods: The present research was a quasi-experimental study using a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population consisted of students referred to the learning disorders centers of Afagh, Shahid Hosseinzadeh, and Arvandroud in Birjand during the academic year 2024–2025. A total of 30 dyslexic students were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned into experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group participated in 16 sessions of auditory-visual perception training, while the control group received no intervention. To collect data, the Diagnostic Questionnaire for Specific Learning Disorders, the abbreviated form of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (ABIQ), the N-Back test, and the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) were used. Finally, data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).

Results: The results indicated a significant improvement in working memory (F =73.97, p<.001) and attention scores (F=43.61, p< .001) in the experimental group compared to the control group in posttest.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that auditory-visual perception training can be effectively used as an intervention method to enhance attention and working memory in children with dyslexia.

Navigating the Care Landscape for Spinal Cord Injury: A Sociological Insight

2025-11-26T12:55:37+00:00

background: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a major global public health concern, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa. In Nigeria, most research has emphasized clinical and rehabilitative outcomes, with limited attention to sociocultural aspects of SCI care. This study examined how people living with SCI and their caregivers navigate the healthcare landscape, and the sociocultural factors shaping their choices and experiences.

Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2018 and February 2019 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, using a mixed-methods design. Data were collected through surveys with 108 informal caregivers, in-depth interviews with 30 SCI patients and caregivers, and 6 key informant interviews with traditional healers. Quantitative data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically.

Results: Biomedical care was the most common initial response to SCI, driven by its acute presentation and availability of specialized services. Many participants later concurrently or sequentially utilized alternative care, including traditional bone setting (25.9%) and spiritual healing (71.3%). Medical tourism was reported in a few cases, and decision-making was heavily influenced by family, friends, and spiritual advisors. Despite skepticism, some caregivers reported psychological and cultural value in alternative therapies. No significant associations were found between caregivers’ socio-demographic characteristics and alternative care use.

Conclusion: Healthcare-seeking for SCI in Nigeria reflects a complex blend of biomedical, traditional, and spiritual practices. Integrating culturally sensitive, community-based rehabilitation strategies with evidence-based care is critical for improving outcomes and ensuring continuity of care in LMICs.

Beliefs and Behaviors toward Breast Cancer Screening among Women in Rural Southern Iran: A Health Belief Model Approach

2025-11-26T12:55:36+00:00

Background: Early detection of breast cancer through screening significantly improves survival rates; however, there is limited understanding of rural Iranian women’s beliefs and behaviors related to breast cancer screening. This study explores these beliefs and behaviors among women in the Khonj region of Iran, using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a framework.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 394 women aged 20–68 using a structured questionnaire assessing demographics, HBM constructs (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action), and screening behaviors (BSE, CBE, mammography). Pearson correlations and logistic regression analyzed relationships between beliefs, risk factors, and screening behaviors.

Results: The HBM focuses on the beliefs of the individual about health conditions to predict health-related behaviors. The model predicts that the higher the perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefit of a desired health behavior, the higher the likelihood of engagement in health-promoting behavior. This study revealed that participants had a low perceived susceptibility towards breast cancer (mean=2.34± 2.48) and a low confidence in doing a breast self-examination (mean=5.47± 4.68). However, they had a relatively high perceived benefit towards clinical breast examination (mean=15.15± 5.85) and mammography (mean=17.21± 7.91). Overall, participants perceiving the severity of breast cancer positively affected their perception of the benefits of getting breast self-examination (r =.119, p <.05), clinical breast examination (r =.276, p <.05), and mammogram (r =.238, p <.05).

Conclusions: Women recognized the seriousness of breast cancer and the benefits of screening, but low perceived susceptibility and limited self-efficacy restricted participation in preventive behaviors. Accordingly, interventions targeting self-efficacy, BSE skills training, and provider-led CBE programs were recommended. Since early detection is the key to survival rate, raising awareness of breast cancer can positively affect the quality of life for women.

The Relationship between Loneliness and Emotion Regulation in Predicting Internet Addiction among Men and Women in Yazd, Iran

2025-11-29T12:07:34+00:00

Background: Cyberspace is a new form of social interaction that, despite its relatively short history, has successfully become integrated into people’s daily lives. Maladaptive patterns of Internet use and excessive engagement can lead to behavioral addiction and ultimately to internet addiction. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between loneliness and emotion regulation and the tendency toward Internet addiction among men and women in the city of Yazd,Iran.

Methods: The research method was a survey. The population included all men and women in Yazd in 1403, from which 300 people (150 men and 150 women) from different age groups were selected by random sampling. In this way, the link to the online questionnaire (Porsline) was placed on local social networks and popular groups in Yazd and in public places such as parks, universities and cultural centers, for optional completion by individuals. The quality of entry included participating, residing in Yazd, and having a minimum level of literacy. The output included incomplete or invalid responses in the questionnaires. Young's Internet Usefulness, Russell's Loneliness, and Gross's Emotion Regulation questionnaires were administered to the subjects. Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS26 software.

Results: The results of the present study showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between loneliness and relationship (r=0.407, p<0.001). Also, a negative relationship was observed between emotion regulation and Internet use (r=-0.211, p<0.001). These results were felt in both sexes, with the difference that the correlation coefficient was stronger in men (men: r=0.503, p<0.001; women: r=0.307, p<0.001). F=35.802, p<0.001). In this model, loneliness was a positive and significant predictor of Internet use (β=0.389, p<0.001) and emotion regulation was a significant predictor (β=-0.171, p<0.001). In other words, increasing loneliness significantly increased the likelihood of using the Internet, and increasing pressure on other regulation significantly reduced Internet use.

Conclusion: In summary, it can be concluded that loneliness and dysfunctional emotion regulation are good predictors of Internet use tendencies.

Quality of Care, Physician–Patient Communication, and Patient Satisfaction: A Cross-Sectional Study in Selected Hospitals of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

2025-11-26T12:55:33+00:00

Background: Physician-patient relationships play an important role in the delivery of high-quality medical care. There are many concerns reported by patients about service quality, communication with healthcare providers, and overall hospital experiences in Bangladesh. Despite government efforts to improve public hospital management in Bangladesh, patient-centered care remains overlooked. This study assesses care quality, physician–patient communication, and factors influencing patient satisfaction.

Methods: This study used a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 125 outdoor patients from two public hospitals. Survey interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire based on convenience sampling. Moreover, multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of patient satisfaction in relation to care quality and physician–patient communication. Statistical significance is determined by P > 0.05.

Results: A total of 125 patients (45.6% male, 54.4% female) were analyzed (mean age = 26.62; SD=5.95). The mean score of patients' satisfaction with quality of care and physician-patient communication were 2.56 and 2.49, respectively, indicating lower satisfaction. The majority (60%) of patients reported that doctors did not attentively listen, with 64.8% had consultations lasting less than five minutes. Multivariate analysis revealed that long ticket collection times (p=0.01), and seeing 3-4 patients (p=0.02) at once significantly lower patient’s satisfaction level. Further analysis showed that listening attentively (p=0.00), providing prescription explanations (p=0.04), discussing prescriptions with patients (p=0.04), and allowing longer consultation times (p=0.00) were key factors influencing patients’ satisfaction with physician–patient communication.

Conclusion: The findings call for policies that foster patient-centered care by improving staff attitudes, consultation time, ethical oversight, and access to essential medicines to enhance trust and satisfaction in public healthcare.

Challenges of Educating Single-Child Students: Perspectives of First-Grade Elementary Teachers in Yazd, Iran

2025-11-26T12:55:32+00:00

Background: The aim of the current research is to study the views of first grade elementary school teachers in Yazd about the challenges of working with single-child students.

Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, 15 primary school teachers were selected through theoretical sampling. The criteria for determining sample size were achieving the theoretical saturation in extracted categories. The inclusion criteria were willingness to participate and at least one academic year of teaching experience with single-child students in the classroom. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews conducted over a period of 3 months. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with a conventional (inductive) approach. To ensure research rigor, the authors addressed trustworthiness through four criteria: (1) credibility (via member checking and peer debriefing), (2) transferability (thick description of context), (3) dependability (audit trail of research process), and (4) confirmability (researcher reflexivity journals). Triangulation was achieved through multiple data sources and analyst cross-checking.

Results: Three core themes emerged from the analysis, with twenty distinct subthemes illuminating the challenges faced by single-child students in classroom settings:Social Competency Deficits (Social isolation, peer incompatibility, egocentric behaviors, conflict resolution difficulties, rule-compliance challenges, friendship formation barriers), Developmental Vulnerability Traits (Depressive tendencies, obsessive behaviors, low self-efficacy, poor resilience, indecisiveness, digital overreliance, self-regulation gaps, delayed social acceptance, passive listening, accountability deficits),Emotional Regulation Difficulties (Separation anxiety, perceived deviance distress, emotional dysregulation, excessive validation-seeking).

Conclusion: The study reveals that single-child students' developmental trajectories are significantly shaped by their limited peer socialization opportunities, which are manifested in three interrelated domains: underdeveloped social competencies, heightened vulnerability in personality development, and impaired emotional regulation capacities. These findings suggest that the absence of sibling relationships may create distinct socialization challenges that classroom environments must intentionally address through targeted pedagogical interventions.

The Critical Role of Programming Languages among Healthcare Data Scientists: A Systematic Review of Trends, Applications, and Future Directions

2025-11-26T12:55:31+00:00

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) and data science have transformed healthcare by enabling advanced analytical techniques. AI-driven solutions rely on sophisticated algorithms that require specialized programming languages. Understanding the most commonly used programming languages is essential for healthcare data scientists in order to navigate this domain effectively. This study explores the trends and applications of programming languages in healthcare data science, highlighting their roles in machine learning (ML) and related methodologies.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) covering the period 2010–2023. Keyword combinations included artificial intelligence, machine learning, programming languages, healthcare, and medical informatics. After screening, 174 studies that explicitly mentioned programming languages in their abstracts were included for analysis.

Results: Public health accounted for 50.6% (n=88/174) of the reviewed studies, followed by medicine at 25.9% (n=45/174) and genomics at 14.4% (n=25/174). Python emerged as the most widely used programming language, appearing in 37.47% (n=65) of the articles, followed by R at 29.6% (n=51) and MATLAB at 17.8% (n=31). Machine learning methods were predominant in genomics and epidemiology. The temporal trend showed an increasing preference for Python, while MATLAB use declined in recent years.

Conclusion: The selection of programming languages in healthcare data science is influenced by technical needs, application-specific requirements, and collaboration dynamics. Python’s versatility has made it a dominant choice, while R’s statistical focus and MATLAB’s specialized toolkits remain significant in specific domains. The findings provide a framework for educational strategies, guiding data scientists in making informed decisions about language proficiency. Future research should evaluate the long-term implications of programming language adoption on healthcare analytics