Iranian Students Research Articles

Методические аспекты межкультурной коммуникации в преподавании русского языка в иранской аудитории

The article outlines the main stages of the formation and development of intercultural communication as a scientific direction and academic discipline in universities, clarifies some concepts. The difficulties of communication between Iranian students and Russians in the aspect of intercultural communication (based on a questionnaire) are revealed. The authors consider the issues of using comparative regional studies material with a single thematic content in the process of teaching RCT in an Iranian audience, pretext, pre-text and post-text tasks are presented. A typology of tasks and exercises on intercultural communication in the process of teaching Russian as a foreign language has been developed.

Prevalence and associated factors of suicide-related behaviors in Iranian students: a large sample cross-sectional study

BackgroundAdmission to the university changes life conditions and thereby increases mental pressure. If the students cannot bear the psychological pressure of being a student, that may lead to suicide among the vulnerable persons. Therefore, in this research, we would like to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of suicide-related behaviors in Iranian students.MethodsThis online, cross-sectional survey was performed from March 18 to April 15, 2023, in Iran. The questionnaires were completed by 2181 students. In this study, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), and Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) were used. Finally, we identified the factors associated with suicide-related behaviors using univariate and multiple regression.ResultsThe prevalence of suicidal behaviors in students was 57.95%. According to the results, male gender, marriage, having meaning in life, occasional smoking, sleeping after 1 a.m., and having social support were associated with a reduced risk of suicide. In addition, a history of sexual abuse, more anxiety, and higher perceived stress were associated with an increased risk of suicide.ConclusionsThe prevalence of suicide-related behaviors in Iranian students was higher than expected. Urgent interventions should be considered to prevent students from committing suicide. Helping students find meaning in life, as well as eliminating the causes of students’ anxiety and stress, may be effective in this respect. Additionally, teaching students how to control anxiety and stress may be helpful.

The validity and reliability properties of a Persian version of the evidence-based practice profile (EBP2) questionnaire among Iranian students of health-related fields

BackgroundEvidence-based medicine is defined as searching for medical information, reviewing and comparing it to each patient’s situation, and then judging the optimal decision. We aimed to measure the psychometric properties of the Evidence-Based Performance Profile (EBP2) Questionnaire among the students of health-related fields at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021. The EBP2 questionnaire, which includes 74 five-Likert-scale items, was translated into the Persian language using the forward-backward translation method. A panel of five experts approved the face, content, and structural validity of the questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega coefficients were utilized to assess the questionnaire’s internal consistency. Furthermore, both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were used to assess the questionnaire’s construct validity. SPSS software version 25 and LISREL software version 8.8 were used for statistical analysis.ResultsOverall, 339 students participated in this study. The cultural adaptability, linguistic equivalence, and content validity of the Persian version of the EBP2 questionnaire were approved by a five-member team of medical experts. In addition, the results showed excellent internal consistency of the Persian version of the EBP2 questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.962, McDonald’s Omega (ML) = 0.963). Moreover, all domains had acceptable reliability (> 0.7), except the Practice domain which had a marginally acceptable Cronbach’s alpha coefficient equal to 0.686. Exploratory factor analysis discovered six domains for the questionnaire. Moreover, the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that all indices except the comparative fit index (CFI) and adjusted goodness of fit (AGFI) confirmed the validity of the EBP2 questionnaire.ConclusionThe study’s findings indicate that the Persian translated of the EBP2 questionnaire exhibited satisfactory validity and reliability for assessing students’ evidence-based performance in health-related fields.

The Role of Deadwood in Forests between Climate Change Mitigation, Biodiversity Conservation, and Bioenergy Production: A Comparative Analysis Using a Bottom–Up Approach

Recent literature highlights the crucial role of deadwood in forests, emphasizing its contribution to biodiversity conservation, soil fertility, climate change mitigation, and bioenergy production. However, managing deadwood presents challenges as decision-makers must balance trade-offs and synergies between these ecological benefits. A participatory approach, incorporating user opinions, can support effective decision-making. This study surveyed 1207 university students from Iran, Italy, and Türkiye to explore their perceptions of deadwood’s role and the potential trade-offs among climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and bioenergy production. Results indicate a high level of awareness among students regarding deadwood’s ecological functions, but preferences vary significantly across cultural and regional contexts. Results show that for students of all three countries, the most important function related to the deadwood in forests is the provision of microhabitats for wildlife, while in second place for Iranian students, there is bioenergy production, and for Turkish and Italian students, soil fertilization. In addition, results highlight that students prefer the management strategies based on leaving both standing dead trees and lying deadwood in the forest. This study reinforces existing literature on deadwood’s importance for biodiversity and underscores the need for informed policies that balance ecological values with practical management considerations.

Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of the Professional Self Identity Questionnaire (PSIQ) in Iranian Students in Shiraz

Background: Professional identity is a vital component of medical education that influences the future practice of medical students. Currently, there is a lack of a reliable and valid Persian scale for measuring students' readiness for professional identity. Objectives: This study aims to determine whether the Professional Self-identity Questionnaire (PSIQ) can be adapted for Persian healthcare professions. Methods: A descriptive-correlation study was conducted among medical students (years 4 - 7) at Shiraz Medical School. A total of 175 students completed the Persian version of the PSIQ using stratified sampling. The PSIQ consists of nine items. Categorical Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CCFA) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to assess the questionnaire's validity and reliability. The questionnaire was translated into Persian by two independent translators whose first language was Persian, and an agreement was reached. Data analysis and the path diagram were conducted using R.3.6.2 software with the lavaan and semPlot packages. Results: An eight-person expert panel approved the face, content, and structural validity of the questionnaire. The items' Content Validity Index (CVI) exceeded 0.79, and the questionnaire's overall Content Validity Ratio (CVR) exceeded 0.75, according to the Lawshe table. The goodness-of-fit indices for the professional self-identity model included the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) (RMSEA = 0.055, CFI = 0.996, and TLI = 0.994). The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the three subscales—"profession-specific tasks," "generic attributes," and "inter-personal tasks"—were 0.762, 0.622, and 0.747, respectively (P-value < 0.05). The internal consistency of the entire questionnaire, measured by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.873. These statistical results indicate that the hypothesized three-factor model fit the sample data well. Consequently, all nine items were significantly loaded on the three domains. Conclusions: The Persian-translated version of the PSIQ appears to be an appropriate, valid, and reliable tool for assessing the professional self-identity attitudes of medical students in Iran.

Smartphone addiction in Iranian schoolchildren: a population-based study

Smartphone addiction is a public health problem and is increasing globally. It is important to know the latest status of this phenomenon in different region of the world. This study aimed to investigate smartphone addiction in an Iranian student population. The participants were a random sample of Shahroud Schoolchildren Eye Cohort study in 2018. Smartphone addiction was measured by the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-sv) questionnaire. The prevalence and mean estimates were reported with 95% confidence intervals. The analysis of variance, t-test and multiple logistic regression were used for analysis of data. The mean age of 2682 participating students was 13.5 year with an age range of 10 to 15 year, and 1197 (44.6%) of them were girls. The mean SAS-sv score was 27.96 (95% CI: 27.36–28.58) for boys and 26.10 (95% CI: 25.34–26.80) for girls. This score follows a U-shaped pattern with a lower mean score observed at age 8. The Prevalence of smartphone addiction was 29.8% (95% CI: 28.1–31.5) in studied population. Compared to 10 year old students, smartphone addiction was higher in 14 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.7) and 15 (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5–3.8) years old students. Smartphone addiction was higher in boys (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5–3.0; P value < 0.001). Smartphone addiction was not different in urban and rural students after adjusting for age and gender (P = 0.089). Compared to European countries the prevalence of smartphone addiction in Iranian students is relatively high and need prompt intervention especially in boys and older adolescents.

Illuminating wisdom in schools: new insights from Iranian teachers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT In this study, Iranian teachers were selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The purpose of conducting interviews was to discover the perceptions of gifted school teachers about strategies for improving wisdom among Iranian students. The participants believed that teachers themselves should be wisdom role models, wisdom role models should be introduced to students, authentic Iranian stories should be narrated, events should be shown to students from different perspectives, and students should be asked to research social problems and identify wise/unwise people. More research is needed in this field to assess the views of teachers in different environments and societies and then develop an educational approach to improving wisdom.

Serum vitamin D level and female teenage caries experience: a cross-sectional study in Iran

Aims: This study aimed to assess Serum Vitamin D level and female teenage caries experience. Methods: This study evaluated 330 healthy female Iranian students between 13 to 19 years residing in Rey city. A questionnaire collected their demographic information. They underwent clinical dental examination to determine the number of decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) teeth (DMFT index). The nutritional status was evaluated using the food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) by assessing the consumption of cariostatic, cariogenic, remineralizing, sticky foods and carbohydrates. The serum samples were collected to measure the serum vitamin D level using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression and independent samples t-test. Results: The mean DMFT was 5.34±3.94. Of all, 69.3% had severe vitamin D deficiency, 20.3% had moderate vitamin D deficiency and 10.4% had normal level of vitamin D. Cariostatic agents consumption had a significant inverse correlation with DMFT (P=0.006). An increase in serum level of vitamin D by more than 10.27 ng/mL was associated with a reduction in prevalence of dental caries by 22%. Increased consumption of cariostatic agents by more than 89.30 g/day decreased the prevalence of dental caries by 32%. No significant association was noted between the prevalence of dental caries and level of parent’s education, consanguinity of parents, level of income, place of residence, frequency of tooth brushing, dental flossing, and dental visits (P&gt;0.05). Conclusions: While the serum vitamin D level had no significant effect on DMFT, the nutritional regimen seemed to play a more important role in caries control.

Psychological strains after the crisis: evaluating separation anxiety among Iranian children and adolescents in the post-COVID-19 era

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to specifically investigate Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), as one of the noteworthy disorders within the spectrum of anxiety disorders, among children and adolescents, after overcoming the crises caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Efforts were also made to identify socio-demographic factors that could be associated with changes in SAD level and also to assess the effect of different constituting dimensions of SAD on the severity of this disorder.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the parents of 317 (7-13-year-old) Iranian students, who were selected through a multi-stage random sampling method in the city of Shiraz. During the interviews, socio-demographic data were collected, and subsequently, SAD symptoms and dimensions were assessed using the Separation Anxiety Assessment Scale (Parent Version) (SAAS-P) questionnaire. Later, employing the Partition Around Medoids (PAM) statistical method, the participants were categorized into two groups with low and high levels of SAD. Also, to understand the interaction between the different dimensions of SAD, the network analysis method was employed. Finally, univariate analysis and logistic regression were utilized, with a significance level of 0.05, to determine potential associating factors with the level of SAD.ResultsThe sample included 128 girls and 189 boys with a mean age of 9.63 ± 2.63 and 9.63 ± 1.95 years respectively. Based on the PAM method, 51.1% of the participants presented a high level of SAD. According to network analysis, it was demonstrated that the “fear of abandonment” dimension plays a central role in high levels of SAD. Based on logistic regression, female gender, age ≥ 10 years, parents’ unacademic educational background, mother’s employment, and child’s history of physical/mental problems were significantly associated with the high level of SAD.ConclusionsA considerable number of the participants in this study presented a high level of SAD with the “fear of abandonment” being a key influential dimension of elevated levels of this disorder. Maternal employment, female gender, child’s history of health issues, and low parental education were identified as important contributors to the high SAD level. Considering these factors allows for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. However, the need for further studies remains crucial.

Psychometric assessment of the Persian translation of the School Counselor Noncognitive Skills Scale using Iranian high-school students

Assessing students’ perceptions of the services provided by school counselors is crucial in promoting these services. However, there is no reliable scale for this assessment in the Persian language to date. Thus, this study aimed to translate and validate the School Counselor Noncognitive Skills Scale (SCNSS) among Iranian high school students. The English version of the SCNSS was translated into Persian, and its content and face validity were confirmed through cognitive interviews and expert evaluations. Using a convenience sampling method, data were collected from 308 high school students across three educational districts in Sanandaj, Iran. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the SCNSS, demonstrating good model fit. Measurement invariance analysis indicated consistency across genders. The internal consistency of the scale was high, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding .86 for all subscales. Convergent validity was established through significant correlations with the School Belonging Scale (SBS). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the number of counseling sessions attended and students’ perceptions of their counselors’ noncognitive skills. These findings suggest that the Persian version of the SCNSS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the impact of school counselors on the development of noncognitive skills among Iranian students.

English language needs of Iranian students of civil engineering: Are the courses aligned with workplace needs?

Although Iranian universities offer English for specific purposes (ESP) courses extensively, there are plenty of challenges in the process of teaching the courses. Drawing on multiple methods, this study explored what 5 civil-engineering ESP instructors, 5 company engineers, and 10 students expected to be included in their language courses suitable for workplace-specific requirements. It used multiple sources of data, including semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, field notes, and focus group discussions. Analysis of data showed that in addition to proficiency in general English, civil engineers need to discuss technical issues, attend conferences and seminars, read or write specific genres, and communicate orally, all of which require knowledge of both general and technical English. However, university programs are not specifically designed according to students’ specialized needs. This study contributes to the importance of needs-based curriculum development pertinent to engineering English challenges and highlights the significance of tailor-made language instruction. Furthermore, ESP educators, policy makers, course planners, and other stakeholders can take advantage of needs-based resources to help engineering students solve problems pertinent to their specialization.

Consideration of the factors influencing the process of teaching Iranian students to translate from Persian into Russian based on a questionnaire filled out by teachers

Consideration of the factors influencing the process of teaching Iranian students to translate from Persian into Russian based on a questionnaire filled out by teachers

Analysis of Persian WhatsApp Messages with Reference to Age, Politeness, and the Speech Act of Request

Abstract This study investigated WhatsApp messages exchanged between two generations of Iranian students and their respective lecturers in light of politeness, age, and the speech act of request. We utilised two sets of data: messages sent by current young students to two young lecturers, and those sent by former middle-aged students to two senior lecturers. Altogether, 100 WhatsApp messages were analysed (50 from each data set) focusing on salutations, body, and closing parts. The findings revealed that politeness is expressed differently across the two age groups: the younger students’ messages featured short and informal expressions and frequent use of emojis while the older group utilised elaborate messages to express politeness through the frequent use of honorifics and other politeness markers. Moreover, the younger group used WhatsApp messages towards their academic goals, such as requesting the postponement of an exam, whereas the older group messages aimed at re-establishing solidarity with their lecturers.

Validation of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure in Iran through factor analysis

Introduction: Although the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) has been accepted for educational environment assessment in various health education backgrounds, limited studies have confirmed evidence for its use in Iran. This study examined a shortened version of the DREEM-50 among Iranian students. Method: A sample of 316 medical and paramedical students from Iran's selected southwest Universities of Medical Sciences in 2020–2021 were invited to complete DREEM-33, a shortened version of the DREEM questionnaire. Psychometric criteria for assessing reliability included Cronbach's alpha, intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC), and composite coefficients. In the construct validity section, discriminant validity was measured using the Fornell and Larcker criteria based on the confirmatory factor analysis approach, and principal component analysis with varimax rotation using the exploratory factor analysis approach. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25, Smartpls 3.2.8, and Lisrel 8.8 software. Results: The shortened version had 33 items spread across all five components of DREEM-50. The exploratory factor analysis showed that the five components with eigenvalues &gt; 1 accounted for 61% of the variance. Also, standard factor loadings ranged from 0.52 to 0.86. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original five components of the DREEM (χ2= 2106.35; DF=490; P&lt;0.001; CFI=0.94; GFI=0.86; AGFI=0.91; NFI=0.93; SRMR=0.038; RMSEA=0.08). The ICC and Cronbach's alpha for the whole DREEM was 0.92. All subscales had values ranging from 0.72 to 0.93. Conclusion: With satisfactory psychometric properties, the abbreviated DREEM-33 demonstrated its validity and reliability for future use in Iran in various educational environments.

Persian Translation, Cross cultural Adaptation and Validity and Reliability of the Mental Health Literacy Knowledge Assessment Tool in Iranian Students

Persian Translation, Cross cultural Adaptation and Validity and Reliability of the Mental Health Literacy Knowledge Assessment Tool in Iranian Students

The mediating effects of moral disengagement and aggressive humor style: Dark Triad traits and schadenfreude.

While schadenfreude is commonly experienced in interpersonal relationships, it is generally considered immoral. Although previous research has explored the factors relating to schadenfreude, including certain personality traits, moral disengagement, and humor styles, our understanding of these factors remains limited. The present study examined the mediating effects of moral disengagement and aggressive humor style in the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and schadenfreude. In this study, a sample of 693 Iranian students (69.4% female), was recruited using a convenient sampling method, consisting of 330 undergraduate, 230 graduate, and 133 Ph.D. students. The trait schadenfreude scale, the short Dark Triad, the moral disengagement scale, and the aggressive humor style scale were measured through an online survey. The study found that Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were positively related to schadenfreude, aggressive humor style, and moral disengagement. Additionally, aggressive humor style and moral disengagement mediated the relationship between Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy with schadenfreude. This study provides insights into the complex relationships between Dark Triad traits, moral disengagement, aggressive humor style, and schadenfreude. The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of Dark Triad traits may be more likely to experience pleasure from others' misfortunes. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of moral disengagement and aggressive humor style as potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between Dark Triad traits and schadenfreude. Further research should be done to explore the motivational factors influencing schadenfreude in specific settings, thereby elucidating these connections.

Knowledge and practices of Iranian students (13–16 age) regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste

IntroductionFluoride is the main factor in reducing the prevalence of caries worldwide. However, there is insufficient knowledge about whether people in different age groups are aware of the benefits of fluoride toothpaste, as well as about people’s daily oral care habits and whether they use fluoride. The purpose of this research is to investigate the knowledge and performance of Iranian students regarding the use of toothpaste containing fluoride.MethodThis study was conducted on the first- and second-year high school students of Kerman city. Questionnaires containing personal questions, general questions, and questions related to students’ knowledge and performance regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste were provided to them and then they were asked to complete and submit it. The results obtained from the survey were analyzed by T-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Chi-Square test in SPSS Version 24. The significance level in data analysis was P < 0.05.ResultsIn this research, 681 forms including 252 boys and 429 girls were examined. The average age of the participants was 14.1 ± 0.4. 91.2% declared that they use toothpaste and 77.8% of them used toothpaste containing fluoride. 521 people stated that the price of toothpaste is important in using the type of toothpaste. 621 people used regular toothbrush and 609 people evaluated their oral health as good. 621 of the participants stated that toothpaste makes the mouth healthy. The average knowledge score was 16.7 ± 2.1 out of 24, which indicates the average knowledge of students in this field.ConclusionThis study showed that students’ knowledge and performance about using fluoride-containing toothpaste is average. There was no significant relationship between performance and knowledge with age and gender. There was also a positive correlation between knowledge and performance indicating that increasing knowledge leads to an increase in behavioral changes. Also, there was a positive correlation between knowledge and performance, and a correlation coefficient of 0.731 was obtained between knowledge and performance. It shows that increasing knowledge leads to increasing behavioral changes.

Appraising social class dimensions on learning motivation of Iranian students: Family studies and their status in focus Azar Bagheri

Educators have widely accepted motivation as an important factor influencing the success of the second/foreign language learning process. Among many factors affecting the language learners’ motivation, the role of families and their social class have been considered as the main variables of this study. The present study aimed to explore the effect of social class dimensions on learning motivation, focusing on Vygotsky and Gardner’s theories. More specifically, the study tried to investigate the impact of social class dimensions, i.e., parental job, income, and education level on English learning motivation of some high school students in Kerman, Iran. In doing so, 400 teenage students were selected based on the available sampling method. The data were collected through a related two-part questionnaire developed by Gardner (2006). The original English questionnaire was translated into Persian and the researchers checked the reliability and validity. The collected data were inserted to SPSS software version 24 for analyzing and interpreting. The results revealed the effect of social class dimension had a positive effect on Iranian EFL students’ motivation toward learning English. In other words, students who belonged to families with higher social class dimensions reflected higher motivation and desires to learn English than the ones who were in families with lower social class dimensions. Findings have some implications for language teachers and students and can improve teaching methods, curriculum development, and syllabus design.

Increasing Motivation of Iranian Students to Continue Education in Germany. Challenges and Opportunities in Academia

The emigration of educated individuals from Iran has become a prominent and multifaceted issue in recent years, eliciting diverse perspectives. Statistical analysis reveals a substantial surge in the number of Iranian students electing Germany as their preferred destination for higher education. Notably, the count of Iranian students studying in Germany has witnessed a more than threefold increase, soaring from 4,182 students in 2008 to 13,279 in 2023. Moreover, the student population has nearly tripled from 4,182 in 2008 to 11,573 in 2021, signifying a 45% surge compared to the preceding year. This prompts an inquiry into the factors underpinning Iranian students' preference for Germany. To delve into this phenomenon, a survey was conducted among Iranians residing in Germany. The survey outcomes reveal that the deteriorating living conditions in Iran, coupled with Germany's political stability and robust social welfare system, have played pivotal roles in motivating students and university graduates to pursue education abroad. Educational advancement emerges as a secondary consideration in their decision-making process.

Linguistic intuition in the system of teaching Russian as a foreign language at the pre-university stage

The relevance of the study is due to the lack of methodological complexes designed to develop linguistic intuition among foreigners studying the Russian language at pre-university stage. Foreign students at the initial level of education usually use linguistic intuition formed in their native language, but observations show that a full-fledged linguistic intuition in Russian-language speech communication is based on the automatic use of elements and constructions of the Russian language. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the need for consistent use of tasks that contribute to the automated speech skills and stimulate linguistic guess in the process of teaching Russian as foreign language. The following methods were applied: observation of the communicative activities of students learning the Russian language with the proposed methodology, analysis and synthesis of results, as well as observation in order to identify difficulties in achieving automaticity of speech skills and the use of linguistic intuition. The research was conducted at the elementary and basic levels of teaching the Russian language to Iranian students of medical and biological specialties at the Preparatory Faculty of the Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University. A methodology has been developed, based on the system of phonetic, lexical-grammatical and text tasks for classroom and independent work. The training complex uses elements of critical thinking to form and improve speech and cognitive skills that will help foreign students develop the ability to independently solve various communicative problems. Provided that tasks for developing intuition are regularly completed at classroom, it seems promising to achieve freedom of speech behavior of foreign students in communicative acts of various types.