this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms
aliakbar tajmazinani; Negar Seraj
Abstract
With the spread of neoliberalism as the dominant discourse in public policy-making in recent decades, health policy-making systems have also undergone fundamental changes. This article examines the progress of neoliberal approaches in health policy-making in post-war Iran and analyzes the impact of these ...
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With the spread of neoliberalism as the dominant discourse in public policy-making in recent decades, health policy-making systems have also undergone fundamental changes. This article examines the progress of neoliberal approaches in health policy-making in post-war Iran and analyzes the impact of these developments on the principles of social justice, access to services, quality of care, and health costs. Policies such as privatization, service competition, reduced government intervention, and increased market role, although in some areas have led to improved productivity and innovation in certain circumstances, have also had consequences such as increased inequality, reduced service inclusion, and economic pressure on vulnerable groups. This research is designed within the framework of a descriptive-analytical methodological strategy with a qualitative and interpretive approach and is organized based on the interpretive-critical paradigm. The unit of analysis in this research is document-oriented and system-oriented. The research data were extracted through the method of directional content analysis and using conceptual coding inspired by the fundamental concepts of neoliberalism. The findings of the research were categorized in the form of codes and subcategories under the titles of redefining health as a consumer good in the neoliberal ideological system, transforming the human body into a field of value addition, transforming the hospital into a quasi-entrepreneurial enterprise, marketization of health, and performance-oriented logic.
this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms
FATEMEH BIDI; Hossein Yahyazadeh Pirsaraee; Mansour Fathi
Abstract
Marital satisfaction is one of the main components of family health, indicating the quality of emotional and communication interactions between couples and plays a fundamental role in the stability of married life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of social work interventions ...
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Marital satisfaction is one of the main components of family health, indicating the quality of emotional and communication interactions between couples and plays a fundamental role in the stability of married life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of social work interventions with a psychosocial approach on improving marital satisfaction in infertile couples. This study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test and intervention and control groups. The statistical population of the present study was all women referring to Mahdieh Hospital in Tehran, of which 100 infertile women and 100 of their spouses completed the marital life quality questionnaire. 30 infertile couples who had the lowest marital satisfaction score according to the questionnaire were selected and then randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups of 15 people. The Graham B. Spanier Marital Quality of Life Standard Questionnaire (RDAS) was used to measure before and after the interventions. The results of the analysis of covariance showed that social work interventions with a psychosocial approach were significant in improving marital satisfaction between couples in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results of this study are applicable in the field of infertility social work with an emphasis on family social work.
this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms
fatemeh Jaafari
Abstract
Childhood cancer, as a chronic and complex disease, affects not only the affected child but also all family members, especially mothers. Mothers, in their role as primary caregivers, face numerous psychological, emotional, social, and economic pressures that severely impact their quality of life and ...
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Childhood cancer, as a chronic and complex disease, affects not only the affected child but also all family members, especially mothers. Mothers, in their role as primary caregivers, face numerous psychological, emotional, social, and economic pressures that severely impact their quality of life and mental health. This qualitative study, employing thematic analysis, explores the lived experiences of mothers of children with cancer. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a three-stage coding process. The data analysis resulted in the extraction of six main themes: initial psychological reactions (such as disbelief and shock), conflicting emotional processes (hope and despair), distressing experiences and multifaceted pressures (financial, physical, social), spiritual and meaning-giving resources (trust, religious beliefs), interaction with the healthcare and service system, and social and emotional support networks. Mothers, in the course of confronting the disease, rely on strategies such as trust in God, hope, social support, and gradual acceptance of the situation to achieve psychological adaptation. The findings emphasize the necessity of designing and implementing multidimensional supportive interventions (psychological, social, spiritual, and economic) to improve mothers' mental health and empowerment. These findings can also serve as a basis for policymaking and specialized services in the fields of psychotherapy and pediatric oncology.
this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms
Hossein MIRZAEI; Faezeh Naderi
Abstract
Abstract:This ethnographic study examines the phenomenon of women’s mostouri (seclusion/withdrawal) in Tehran’s Shahid Harandi neighborhood, analyzing it within the framework of the area’s physical, social, and cultural transformations. Findings reveal that mostouri is not merely an ...
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Abstract:This ethnographic study examines the phenomenon of women’s mostouri (seclusion/withdrawal) in Tehran’s Shahid Harandi neighborhood, analyzing it within the framework of the area’s physical, social, and cultural transformations. Findings reveal that mostouri is not merely an individual choice or cultural constraint but the outcome of a complex structural process. In this process, power dynamics, social stigma, market mafias, spatial rezoning, and the pathologizing gaze of media/institutions collectively exclude "ordinary, healthy women" from public space. Women—particularly educated and successful ones—self-isolate at home, fearing identity erosion and social judgment, while disavowing their neighborhood identity. In contrast, "damaged" women (e.g., addicts) are hyper-visible and receive disproportionate institutional support, whereas ordinary or civically active women remain invisible in urban policies.However, the study documents women’s everyday resistance: through home-based rowzehs (religious gatherings), digital networks, cultural hubs like the Hosseinieh-ye Montazeran-e Abassaleh, and small-scale economic activities, women are reconstructing safe spaces and collective identity. Integrating theories of gender, space, and power (Lefebvre, Foucault, Goffman, Massey), the research argues that women’s urban freedom depends not only on physical safety but on spatial justice, identity recognition, and access to symbolic resources. Ultimately, it reinterprets mostouri not as weakness but as a survival strategy—and at times, a prelude to re-emergence and activism in the social sphere.
this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms
Bita Bagherifam; Ahmad Sadeghi; Masoud ImanianArdebili
Abstract
The present study is a mixed method and sequential explanatory. In the qualitative part, the statistical population includes couples with and without children with ten years of cohabitation who remained stable in their marriage despite dissatisfaction with their marital life. Using purposive sampling ...
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The present study is a mixed method and sequential explanatory. In the qualitative part, the statistical population includes couples with and without children with ten years of cohabitation who remained stable in their marriage despite dissatisfaction with their marital life. Using purposive sampling and based on the saturation principle, 33 people were selected. In the quantitative part, 300 dissatisfied couples with a history of at least ten years of cohabitation who had referred to family counseling centers in areas (5, 9, 11) of Mashhad were selected through cluster sampling. With this measure, relative coverage of cultural diversity in Mashhad was achieved. Data were collected in the qualitative part with in-depth interviews and open-ended questionnaires and in the quantitative part with closed-ended questionnaires. Thematic analysis method was used in the qualitative part with the help of MAXQDA software and in the quantitative part with PLS software.Findings: Common variables between the two groups include preference for collective interests over individual interests, value crisis, reciprocity, economic power, forgiveness, commitment, and social exchanges. The main difference between the two groups is influenced by the role of childbearing or the social structure resulting from the absence of children. Also, in childless families, the stability of marital life is more dependent on the style of interactions and life skills.
this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms
Tahereh Solimannejad; Hoosein Heidari; Tahmineh shaverdi
Abstract
Aging, as a critical stage of the life cycle, is associated with multidimensional challenges in physical, psychological, social, and economic domains that significantly affect the quality of life of older adults. Identifying and analyzing these challenges is essential for formulating effective policies ...
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Aging, as a critical stage of the life cycle, is associated with multidimensional challenges in physical, psychological, social, and economic domains that significantly affect the quality of life of older adults. Identifying and analyzing these challenges is essential for formulating effective policies and supportive programs. The purpose of this study is to identify and design a comprehensive model of aging challenges in Iran using a meta-synthesis approach. This qualitative study reviewed scientific research articles on aging in Iran published between 2009 and 2024. Data were collected from reputable databases, including SID, the Iranian Humanities Portal, Noormags, and MagIran. A total of 283 articles were examined, of which 22 qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for final analysis. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA24, resulting in the extraction of 153 conceptual codes, which were organized into nine core categories. These categories include: physical illnesses, elderly care, psychological and cognitive problems, family-related challenges, healthcare challenges, cultural challenges, economic challenges, urban access issues, and legal abuse. The findings indicate that through comprehensive and innovative policymaking, aging can be transformed from a critical stage into an opportunity for active social participation and the transfer of valuable experiences to future generations, thereby effectively managing the challenges ahead.
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