Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire Research Articles

Family Socioeconomic Status and Adolescents’ Academic Shame: The Chain Mediator Effect of Self-Control and Gratitude

Academic shame has been found to interfere with motivation and, in turn, affect students’ academic goals and achievements. This study explored the factors that influence academic shame and the underlying mechanisms among high school students by investigating the influence of family socioeconomic status on academic shame and the mediating roles of self-control and gratitude. A total of 957 high school students participated in this study and completed the Family Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire, Self-Control Scale, Adolescents’ Gratitude Scale, and Academic Shame Scale. Descriptive statistics consisted of means and standard deviations. Pearson’s correlations were used to test the strength of relationships among the research variables. A structural equation model was constructed, and the significance of the mediating effects was tested by percentile bootstrap analysis with deviation correction. The results showed that family socioeconomic status was positively correlated with self-control and negatively correlated with academic shame; self-control was positively correlated with gratitude and negatively correlated with academic shame; and gratitude was positively correlated with academic shame. Self-control played a mediating role between family socioeconomic status and academic shame, and self-control and gratitude played a chain mediating role between family socioeconomic status and academic shame. The mediating effect was a masking effect. Therefore, family socioeconomic status directly and negatively affected academic shame among senior high school students, and indirectly affected their academic shame through self-control and gratitude.

Could a Growth Mindset Attenuate the Link Between Family Socioeconomic Status and Depressive Symptoms? Evidence from Chinese Adolescents.

The alleviating effects of a growth mindset on depression are promising. However, whether a growth mindset can attenuate the effect of low family socioeconomic status (SES) on depressive symptoms among adolescents remains unknown. Based on the Family Stress Model, the current study explores whether a growth mindset could moderate the associations between family SES, interparental conflict, and adolescent depressive symptoms. The participants were 1572 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.35 years, SD = 1.16, 51.84% female). They completed the family SES questionnaire, Children's Perceptions of Interparental Conflict scale, Growth Mindset scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. We tested the moderation, mediation, and moderated mediation models using the SPSS macro program PROCESS. A growth mindset moderated the association between family SES and depressive symptoms. Family SES was significantly related to depressive symptoms in adolescents with a lower growth mindset, but not in those with a higher growth mindset. After incorporating the mediating effect of interparental conflict, the growth mindset did not exert a significant moderating influence on the direct path; however, it significantly moderated the mediating effect of interparental conflict on depressive symptoms. Specifically, while a lower growth mindset in adolescents was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms due to interparental conflict, those with a higher growth mindset showed a less pronounced effect. A growth mindset attenuates the link between family SES and depressive symptoms among adolescents. These findings highlight the benefits of a growth mindset on mental health, especially for low-SES adolescents.

Household food expenditures and socioeconomic status in relation to dietary nutrient intake in Iranian families

PurposeExamining the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and expenses spent on food preparation on nutritional intake has always been one of the critical concerns for policymakers. This study aims to investigate the association between household food expenditure as well as SES and dietary nutrient intake in Kermanshah, Iran.Design/methodology/approachIn this cross-sectional study, households were randomly selected from different strict in Kermanshah, Iran. Data were collected with an SES questionnaire, a demographic data collection form, a weekly food purchase checklist and a food record. The authors performed the analysis of covariance to determine the relationship of dietary nutrient intake of study participants across quintile categories of SES and total food expenses per day.FindingsOut of 125 households, 119 households including 401 people finished the study. A significant association was observed between higher SES and higher intake of vitamin B2 (p-value = 0.03). Moreover, the household members at the top level of total food expenses per day had significantly greater dietary nutrient intake of energy (p < 0.001), potassium (p < 0.001), magnesium (p < 0.001), calcium (p < 0.001), zinc (p < 0.001), vitamin B2 (p < 0.001), B6 (p < 0.001), B12 (p = 0.002) and vitamin C (p = 0.04).Originality/valueIn our study, higher dietary nutrient intake was observed in the household members at the highest level of total food expenses daily as well as SES. Therefore, governments and policymakers should pay basic attention to optimizing food costs and improving the economic status of people.

Effectiveness of the Hypertension Screening Corner in Enhancing the Cascade of Care at Primary Healthcare Center Level: Evidence from Zambezia, Mozambique.

Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, whose death burden is dramatically increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. To curb its effects, early diagnosis and effective follow-up are essential. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a hypertension screening corner on the hypertension care cascade at the primary healthcare level. A prospective cohort study was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 in two PHCCs in Zambezia (Mozambique). The study involved a demographic and socioeconomic status (SES) questionnaire for those screened. Patients with blood pressure (BP) > 140/90 mmHg were given a follow-up questionnaire regarding the care cascade. The four cascade steps were: medical visit, diagnosis confirmation, follow-up visit, and recalling the follow-up appointment. The odds ratio (OR) of reaching each step of the cascade was assessed by binomial logistic regression. Patients with BP > 140/90 mmHg were 454, and 370 (86.0%) completed both study phases. Individuals attending the medical visit were 225 (60.8%). Those with low SES had a higher probability of visit attendance than those with middle (OR = 0.46, 0.95CI[0.23-0.88] p = 0.020) and high (OR = 0.21 0.95CI[0.10-0.42], p < 0.001). Hypertension diagnosis was confirmed in 181 (80.4%), with higher probability in the low SES group compared to the middle (OR = 0.24 IC95[0.08-0.66], p = 0.007) and high (OR = 0.23, IC95[0.07-0.74], p = 0.016) groups. The OR to complete step 1 and step 2 were higher for older age groups. A follow-up appointment was received and recalled by 166 (91.7%) and 162 (97.6%) patients, respectively. The hypertension corner proved to be a useful tool for effective screening of hypertension with satisfactory retention in care, especially for people with lower socio-economic status.

Baseline socioeconomic status predicting post-COVID-19 symptoms: Results from Isfahan COVID Cohort (ICC) study

ObjectivesPatients experience complications following their recovery from COVID-19, known as post-COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate the association between baseline socioeconomic status (SES) and post-COVID-19 symptoms among hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. MethodsIn the study, we used data from the Isfahan COVID Cohort (ICC) study, a 5-year longitudinal cohort study started from March 10, 2020. SES was measured using short form of SES questionnaire (SES-SQ), consisting of employment status, house room number, the number of trips taken, and using notebooks, laptop, or tablet in the house. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to examine the association between baseline SES and post-COVID-19 symptoms including general, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, adjusting for potential confounders. ResultsOut of the 3912 patients included in the study, 66.4 % reported post-COVID-19 symptoms. There was an association between low SES and increased risk of post-COVID-19 cardiovascular symptoms in the whole population (HR = 1.15; 95 CI, 1.01–1.31, p = 0.039). Considering the hospitalization status revealed that hospitalized patients with low SES had a higher risk of experiencing post-COVID-19 cardiovascular symptoms (HR = 1.96; 95 CI, 1.23–3.12, p = 0.004), while in non-hospitalized, low SES patients a lower risk was observed (HR = 0.82; 95 CI, 0.70–0.97, p = 0.017). No significant association was found between SES and other post-COVID-19 symptoms including general and respiratory symptoms. ConclusionsWe concluded an association between higher SES and increased post-COVID-19 cardiovascular symptoms. Low SES was associated with higher risk of post-COVID-19 cardiovascular symptoms in hospitalized patients, while in non-hospitalized, it was associated with a lower risk.

Causal association between family health, perceived relationship quality components, and attitudes toward childbearing in Iranian women: A WHO model analysis.

Given the unprecedented global decline in fertility as a major demographic development in recent years, the present study was conducted to determine Causal association Between Family Health, Perceived Relationship Quality Components, and Attitudes toward Childbearing in Iranian Women: A WHO Model Analysis METHODS: In 2023, this descriptive study recruited 400 married women presenting to selected comprehensive health centers affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. The data were collected through multistage stratified cluster sampling and using a socioeconomic status questionnaire (Ghodratnama), the Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQC) scale, the family-of-origin scale (FOS), the attitudes toward fertility and childbearing scale (AFCS) and a demographic checklist were analyzed in SPSS 25 and LISREL 8.8. According to the path analysis, family health exerted the most significant and positive causal effect on attitudes to childbearing directly through one path (B=0.334) and relationship quality (B=0.698) and duration of married life (B=0.387) both directly and indirectly. The number of children (B=-0.057), however, exerted the most significant and negative causal effect on attitudes to childbearing through both paths. The present findings suggested the significant effects of family health and relationship quality on attitudes toward childbearing. It is therefore recommended that these variables be screened in comprehensive health centers, the associated limitations and problems be identified and appropriate training and counseling solutions be provided by health specialists.

The Relationship Between Academic Motivation and Self-Efficacy in Undergraduate Students: Kosovo Case

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and academic motivation in Kosovo undergraduate students. It also examined whether the relationship between academic motivation and self-efficacy was significantly mediated by the effect of educational achievement. It also took into account the role of the socio-economic status in this relationship. Theoretical Framework: The rationale of this study was framed within the theoretical framework of self-determination that focuses on the controlled behavior in academic performance and within the theoretical framework of self-efficacy which is based on belief in one's ability to complete specified tasks or goals. Methods: This study used a quantitative methodology by adopting standardized measures including a 27-item survey of academic motivation and a 10-item instrument of self-efficacy. The construct of academic achievement was measured by a self-reported average grade of students and a socio-economic status questionnaire was designed for this purpose of this study. Data collection was carried out online through the online Qualtrics platform. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that there was a statistical significant effect of self-efficacy to both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Results revealed that there was no significant correlation between academic achievement and self-efficacy or academic motivation and no significant correlation between the socio-economic status scores and all the variables. Implications of research: The findings of this study have practical implications for university administrators and researchers focused in students’ retention in universities and their academic achievements. It demonstrates that how well students are academically motivated to achieve their academic goal very well depends on their perceived self-efficacy. Originality/value: The study included a range of 85 undergraduate students from the department of psychology and the department of English language. The novelty of this study is that it examined Albanian speaking undergraduates, which is a highly underrepresented population in this area of study.

Personality Traits and Family SES Moderate the Relationship between Media Multitasking and Reasoning Performance.

The prevalence of media multitasking has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on cognitive abilities. Despite increasing attention given to this topic, there remains no consensus on how media multitasking is related to cognitive performance. This study aims to shed light on this issue by examining whether and how personality traits and family socioeconomic status (SES) moderate the relationship between media multitasking and reasoning performance. To this end, a large sample of university students (n = 777) completed a battery of measures, including the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices, the Media Multitasking Inventory, the Big Five Inventory, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Grit Scale, and the Family SES Questionnaire. Results revealed a negative correlation between media multitasking and reasoning performance. However, this relationship was substantially moderated by conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and family SES. Specifically, media multitasking was more detrimental to reasoning performance among individuals with lower levels of conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and family SES, whereas it was less detrimental to counterparts with higher levels of these personality traits and family SES. The proposed moderation model, for the first time, not only offers novel insights into the theoretical accounts regarding how media multitasking relates to cognitive abilities, but also identifies the protective factors that may buffer the negative impacts of media multitasking.

PERAN CITRA TUBUH, FAKTOR SOSIAL EKONOMI, KUALITAS KONSUMSI PANGAN DAN HUBUNGANNYA DENGAN KEJADIAN KEK PADA WANITA USIA SUBUR DI KECAMATAN MENES KABUPATEN PANDEGLANG

Chronic energy deficiency (CED) is a condition resulting from prolonged or chronic lack of food intake, especially energy and protein, and is characterized by Mid-upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) &lt; 23.5 cm. The CED can occur due to low socio-economic status and dissatisfaction with the body, which will affect the lack of variety of food consumed. This research aims to see the relationship between socio-economic status, quality of food consumption and body image on the incidence of CED among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Menes District, Pandeglang Regency. This research is quantitative research with a cross sectional design, and analyzed using the Chi Square test. The sample was determined using purposive sampling and obtained 123 respondents. Data collection was carried out by measuring MUAC, 2x24 hour recall and interviews using socioeconomic status questionnaires, women dietary diversity score (WDDS) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-16). The results of the study showed that 29.3% of respondents experienced CED, which shows that there is a relationship between recent education (p = 0.036), income (p = 0.009), and body image (p = 0.005) with the incidence of CED among WRA in Menes District, Pandeglang Regency. The research results also show that there is no relationship between nutritional knowledge (p = 0.106), employment (p = 0.364), and quality of food consumption (p = 0.392) with the incidence of CED among WRA in Menes District, Pandeglang Regency. The conclusion of this research is that the incidence of KCED in WRA can be influenced by education, income and body image.

Investigating the Job Burnout Levels and Related Factors in Medical Interns of Guilan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Job burnout is a state of mental fatigue resulting from a person's professional life and consists of three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased personal accomplishment. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the levels of job burnout and its related factors in medical internship students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study involved 71 medical interns of Guilan University of Medical Sciences participating by census in 2022. The Maslach Burnout Inventory and a socio-economic status questionnaire were completed by the students. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests (percentage, frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics tests (Chi-square and Fisher's exact test) through SPSS (version 25). The P-value &lt; 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: Out of 71 medical interns, 47.9% of medical students were female, while 52.1% were male. The findings showed that 44.1% of female (15 individuals) and 51.4% of male (19 individuals) experienced severe burnout, and 55.9% of female (19 people) and 48.6% of male (18 people) had moderate burnout. Participants earned high scores in emotional exhaustion (76.1%), depersonalization (67.6%), and decreased personal accomplishment (26.8%). There was a significant relationship between the internship level (P=0.00), the medical school GPA (P=0.011), the pre-internship test score (P=0.003), and the father's education rate (P=0.023) and the emotional exhaustion score. There was also a significant relationship between the depersonalization score and the internship level (P=0.003). Results indicated a significant statistical relationship between variables of maternal education (P=0.026), economic status (as assessed by the student or family regarding housing prices) (P=0.047), and medical school GPA (P=0.004) and the decreased personal accomplishment dimension score. ConclusionThe results of this study showed a high level of burnout among interns, with students scoring high in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization components. Therefore, according to the results of the present study, further research on preventive interventions and strategies to mitigate exposure to burnout factors would be beneficial.

Perceived Social Mobility and Smartphone Dependence in University Students: The Roles of Hope and Family Socioeconomic Status.

Drawing upon the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use (PIU) and tunnel effect, this study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model from the perspective of social ecology. Specifically, the model investigated the relationship between perceived social mobility and smartphone dependence, with a focus on the mediating role of hope and the moderating effect of family socioeconomic status (SES) underlying this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 718 Chinese university students (Mage = 19.19, 70.2% female) from Beijing, Henan, and Tianjin, who anonymously filled out the Perceptions of Socioeconomic Mobility Scale, Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Openness to the Future Scale, and family socioeconomic status questionnaire. Preliminary data analysis was executed using SPSS 22.0, and the moderated mediation effect was tested using the latent moderated structural equations approach in Mplus 8.3. The results showed that (a) less perceived social mobility was linked with greater smartphone dependence; (b) hope mediated the aforementioned relationship; and (c) family SES moderated the first-stage path of the indirect effect through hope. For university students with low (rather than high) family SES, their level of hope increased with the improvement of perceived social mobility, and in turn, that of smartphone dependence decreased. These findings suggest that positive perceptions of upward social class mobility and hopeful attitudes toward future opportunities and personal development among disadvantaged university students may alleviate their reliance on smartphones. Researchers and policymakers should pay attention to the role of individuals' perceptions of the macro environment in motivating specific risky behaviors among university students. Future interventions are essential to mitigate pessimistic environmental perceptions and foster a sense of hope among university students.

The Role of Socioeconomic and Cognitive Status in Determining Traffic Behaviour of Elderly Pedestrians in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Elderly pedestrians are among the most vulnerable groups in terms of traffic-related injuries. This study aimed to investigate traffic behaviour and its determinants among elderly pedestrians in Iran. This cross-sectional study examined the traffic behaviour of 600 elderly pedestrians in Zanjan, Northwestern Iran. The participants were selected using the multistage random sampling method. Pedestrians’ traffic behaviour, socioeconomic status (SES), and cognitive function were assessed using the Pedestrian Behaviour Questionnaire (PBQ), SES questionnaire, and Abbreviated Mental Test score (AMTS), respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association of total score of pedestrian traffic behaviour with socioeconomic and cognitive status while adjusting for potential confounding roles of demographic variables. More than 90 percent of elderly pedestrians showed unsafe traffic behaviour. This included traffic violations and failure to adhere to traffic rules. Almost half the elders were aggressive and distracted when walking and crossing the street. A higher total score of PBQ was associated with a higher cognitive status, higher SES, higher levels of education, and walking more than 1 hour a day. The majority of the elders showed unsafe traffic behaviour and elderly pedestrians with high SES and normal cognitive function were more likely to exhibit safe behaviour than those with low SES and cognitive dysfunction. Interventions are needed to improve the traffic behaviour of elderly pedestrians especially those with low SES levels.

The Factor Structure and Generalizability of the Iranian Socioeconomic Status (SES) Questionnaire Administered in a Nationally Divergent Population.

Measuring socioeconomic status (SES) as an independent variable is challenging, especially in epidemiological and social studies. This issue is more critical in large-scale studies on the national level. The present study aimed to extensively evaluate the validity and reliability of the Iranian SES questionnaire. This psychometric, cross-sectional study was conducted on 3000 households, selected via random cluster sampling from various areas in East Azerbaijan province and Tehran, Iran. Moreover, 250 students from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were selected as interviewers to collect data from 40 districts in Iran. The construct validity and internal consistency of the SES questionnaire were assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and the Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was performed in SPSS and AMOS. The complete Iranian version of the SES questionnaire consists of 5 factors. The Cronbach's alpha was calculated to be 0.79, 0.94, 0.66, 0.69, and 0.48 for the occupation, self-evaluation of economic capacity, house and furniture, wealth, and health expenditure, respectively. In addition, the confirmatory factor analysis results indicated the data's compatibility with the 5-factor model (comparative fit index = 0.96; goodness of fit index = 0.95; incremental fit index = 0.96; root mean square error of approximation = 0.05). According to the results, the confirmed validity and reliability of the tool indicated that the Iranian version of the SES questionnaire could be utilized with the same structure on an extensive level and could be applicable for measuring the SES in a broader range of populations.

Social Determinants of Health for Positive Mental Health of Iranian Adults

Objectives Considering the importance of positive mental health promotion for preventing psychosocial disorders and increasing physical health and productivity, it is necessary to identify the social determinants of health (SDH) to implement the necessary interventions to improve community health. The present study aims to identify the SDH of positive mental health in Iranian adults. Methods This is a quantitative and correlational study that was conducted on adults aged 30-60 years living in Tehran, Iran. The sample size was estimated to be 547 people using G*Power software. The samples were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. After reviewing the literature and meeting with a panel of experts, the SDH list was extracted, and the conceptual model was plotted. The criteria for entering the model was a significance level (P≥0.2). At the end, the structural equation modeling method was applied. The tools used included the mental health continuum–short form, the socioeconomic status questionnaire, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, perceived stress scale-10 items, international physical activity questionnaire-short form, Neissi’s job security questionnaire, Ten Horn’s job security questionnaire, the visual analogue scale for occupational stress assessment, the neighborhood status checklist, Internet use checklist, and social security insurance checklist. The data was analyzed in SPSS software, version 21 and LISREL version 8.8. Results The data of 607 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean age of participants was 44.04±9.4 years. The mean score of positive mental health was 45.96±8.65. Among structural determinants, the social class (B=0.181), socio-economic status (B=0.114), job position (B=0.08), building volume per capita (B=0.092) had positive effect on positive mental health, while education (B=-0.071) had negative effect. Among intermediary determinants, job satisfaction (B=0.16), social support (B=0.23) and insurance (B=0.14) had positive effect on positive mental health, while perceived stress (B=-0.62) had negative effect. Conclusion Improving socioeconomic status by increasing social support and job satisfaction can increase Iranian adults' positive mental health. On the other hand, the reduction of perceived stress can determine the positive mental health of Iranian adults both directly and indirectly.

The association between socioeconomic status and Chinese secondary students’ English achievement: mediation of self-efficacy and moderation of gender

Abstract This research explored the mediation of self-efficacy and moderation of gender between socioeconomic status (SES) and foreign language (FL) achievement. A total of 8,906 Chinese secondary students (50.7 % males) completed socioeconomic status (SES) questionnaire, English self-efficacy scale, English achievement test, and demographic questionnaire. Multilevel regression model showed that SES was positively associated with English achievement both at student and school levels. The multilevel mediation model demonstrated that English self-efficacy partially mediated the link between SES and English achievement only at student level, and the mediation effect accounted for 30 % of the total effect. Moreover, the link between SES and English achievement was moderately influenced by gender. Specifically, boys’ English achievement was more significantly impacted by SES compared to that of girls. These findings underscore a gender disparity in the impact of SES on FL achievement, advocating for targeted interventions specifically aimed at students from low-SES backgrounds, particularly males.

The relationships of spiritual health, pregnancy worries and stress and perceived social support with childbirth fear and experience: A path analysis

Background Given maternal health is a major health indicator, the present research aimed at determining the causal relationships of spiritual health, worries, stress and perceived social support with the fear and experience of childbirth in pregnant women. Methods The present longitudinal prospective research recruited 352 pregnant women presenting to selected health centers in Qazvin, Iran in 2021. The data were collected using the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire-2 (CEQ-2), the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Persian version of the Pregnancy Worries and Stress Questionnaire (PWSQ), the Spiritual Health Questionnaire, the Socioeconomic Status (SES) questionnaire and a sociodemographic checklist, and were analyzed in SPSS-25 and Lisrel-8.8. Results The mean age of the participants was 28.1±6.8 years. According to the results of the path analysis, among the variables related to fear of childbirth, childbirth experience (B = -0.37, CI:-0.44;-0.22) in the direct path and perceived social support (B = -0.51, CI:-0.58;-0.43) in both direct and indirect paths demonstrated the most significant negative relationship. Among the variables related to childbirth experience, pregnancy worries and stress had a negative causal relationship (B = -0.06, CI:-0.079;-0.043) in the direct path, spiritual health showed the highest significant positive relationship (B = 0.01, CI: 0.008; 0.012) in the indirect path, and perceived social support (B = 0.112, CI: 0.092; 0.131) and the number of children (B = 0.32,CI: 0.30; 0.34) demonstrated the highest significant positive relationship in both direct and indirect paths. In other words, childbirth experience becomes more desirable as spiritual health, social support, and the number of children increases, and it becomes less desirable as pregnancy worries and stress rise. Conclusion According to the present findings, various psychological, social, and spiritual factors are associated with childbirth fear and experience. It is thus necessary to utilize appropriate methods and promote training and support to reduce the adverse outcomes of childbirth.

Food Insecurity after Cash Transfer Program in Rural Areas of Tehran: A Mixed Method Study

Background: Cash transfer (CT) is one of the strategies used by many developing countries to improve food security and nutritional status of lower socio-economic groups. This study aims to assessing household food insecurity (HFI) and viewpoints of women after CT program in rural population of Tehran province by both quantitative and qualitative methods. Methods: After making arrangements with rural health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 250 households were selected from five rural of Iran with different socio-economic status (SES) by cluster sampling. Locally adapted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), food frequency, and SES questionnaires were completed, and height, weight, and waist circumference of adult females were measured. .Data on families' coping strategies were collected through 7 focus-group discussions. Results: The frequency of mild, moderate, and severe HFI was 22.3, 22.3, and 16.0%, respectively. SES negatively affected HFI (P&lt;0.001), and HFI negatively influenced food-group consumption (P&lt;0.001). Most of the women reported strategies like borrowing from family and friends, skipping meals, and eating less food by mothers. Conclusions: It seems that in spite of CT program, the prevalence of HFI among Iranians in rural areas was relatively high and consumption of food groups in FI households was low.

Food Security of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 ushered in a new era of devastating economic and social conditions and sustainable food chains around the world. One of the most vulnerable groups in this situation was the elderly. This study aims to investigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security of the elderly living in Isfahan, Iran.&#x0D; Methods: Written informed consent was obtained from 350 old people before entering the study. Data were collected using socioeconomic status and FaCPS-FSSM food security questionnaires; there were eight items which measured food security among the elderly.&#x0D; Results: 41.7% (n=146) of the elderly had complete food security. In addition, 29.4% (n=103), 20% (n=70), and 8.9% (n=31) of participants suffered from food insecurity without hunger, food insecurity with moderate hunger, and food insecurity with severe hunger, respectively. There was a significant association between socioeconomic factors, such as age, education level, family size, the number of children and food security (P&lt;0.001). Meanwhile, variables of gender, ethnicity, the total number of children, and marital status were not significantly associated with food security (P&gt;0.001). In addition, there was a significant association between economic factors such as employment status, homeownership, having health insurance, receiving food aid, being supported by philanthropic organizations, and food security (P&lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of food insecurity among the elderly, special attention should be paid to factors contributing to this issue; they should be translated into improved food security for the elderly by removing risk factors and strengthening protective factors.&#x0D;

The relationship between social determinants of health and fear of contracting infectious diseases in pregnant women presenting to health centers in Kashan, Iran: a path analysis study

IntroductionPregnancy is one of the most critical times in a woman’s life that is accompanied by a lot of worry, fear, and stress for the mother, and fear of contracting diseases and losing the children are among the most important of them. The present study investigated the relationship between the social determinants of health and fear of contracting infectious diseases in pregnant women using path analysis.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 pregnant Iranian women in Kashan from September 21th, 2021, to May 25th, 2022, using a multi-stage method. Data were collected through demographic and obstetric details, fear of COVID-19, perceived social support, socioeconomic status, and pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaires. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS-21 and Lisrel-8 software.ResultsAccording to the path analysis results, among the variables that have a causal relationship with fear of contracting infectious diseases through only one path, pregnancy anxiety (B = 0.21) had the highest positive relationship and social support had the highest negative relationship (B=-0.18) in the direct path. Among the variables that have a causal relationship with fear of contracting infectious diseases in both paths, socioeconomic status (B=-0.42) had the highest negative causal relationship with fear of contracting infectious diseases.ConclusionAccording to the path analysis results, the fear of contracting infectious diseases in pregnant women in Kashan is moderate and prevalent, which indicates the necessity of screening pregnant women for such problems during epidemics. Moreover, to prevent this fear and its adverse consequences, the following strategies are recommended: helping promote mothers’ and women’s awareness, offering social support through healthcare providers, and taking measures to mitigate pregnancy-related anxiety in high-risk individuals and groups.

Socio-Economic Status, Truancy, Learning Styles, Peer Pressure and Gender as Correlates of Undergraduate Students’ Academic Performance in Taraba State University Jalingo, Nigeria

The study investigated socio-economic status, truancy, learning styles, peer pressure and gender as correlates of undergraduate students’ academic performance in Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, Nigeria. The study adopted correlational research design. The sample of this study was made up 150 undergraduate students of faculty of Education TSU was selected using multistage sampling techniques. The instruments used for data collection were socio-economic status, truancy, learning styles, peer pressure and gender questionnaire (STLPGQ) and CGPA of undergraduate school in faculty of education, TSU for 2018/2019 session. STLPGQ was validated by three experts in education related disciplines and one expert in measurement and evaluation. STLPGQ was trial tested which yielded the reliability coefficient of 0.89 using Cronbach Alpha. Five research questions raised in the study were answered using multiple regression analysis while the five null hypotheses formulated in the study were tested using ANOVA of regression analysis. The study revealed among other that there is no significant relationship between socio-economic status and undergraduate students academic performance in TSU, Jalingo [F1, 133 = 6.331; p&gt;0.05]. There is significant relationship between truancy and undergraduate students academic performance [F1, 133 = 18.090; p&lt;0.05]. There is no significant relationship between learning styles and undergraduate students academic performance [F1, 133 = 17.009; p&gt;0.05]. There is significant relationship between peer pressure and undergraduate students academic performance [F1, 133= 19.119; p&lt;0.05]. There is no significant relationship between gender and undergraduate students academic performance [F1, 133 = 10.319; p&gt;0.05]. It was recommended among that, educational administrators and lecturers should set up disciplinary measures to reduce truancy and peer pressure. Parents should help in proper monitoring of undergraduate student activities curb truancy and peer pressure in order to enhance academic performance of students in TSU, Jalingo.