Objectives Social participation is a determining factor for promoting health and well-being. This study aims to investigate the factors facilitating and inhibiting the social participation of the elderly in Kerman, Iran based on their health-promoting behaviors. Methods & Materials This cross-sectional study was conducted on 276 elderly people over 60 years old in Kerman city in 2020. They completed a demographic from, the questionnaire of social participation based on the Canadian Community Health Survey, and the questionnaire of health- promoting behaviors. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests including univariate and multivariate regression were used for data analysis. Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 26, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The Mean±SD score of social participation was 6.71±4.01. Illness and health problems (50.3%), costs (39.1%), commuting problems (31.1%), low mood (29.3%), and COVID-19 pandemic (28.2%) were the most common barriers to social participation. The elderly who were single (P<0.001), younger (P<0.001), with academic degree (P<0.001), and low number of children (P<0.001) had significantly higher social participation. Multivariable analysis showed that physical activity (P=0.033), disease prevention (P=0.002), and physical and social health (P<0.001) were the factors affecting social participation of the elderly. Conclusion The social participation of the elderly in Kerman is affected by multiple factors. Therefore, planning to manage diseases, increase income, and solve the transportation problems of the elderly are recommended to improve their social participation.

ObjectivesLiveability is a multi-dimensional and hierarchical concept which consists of various criteria and sub-criteria and may be evaluated in different ways. The aim of this study was to systematically review indicators and methods used for the evaluation of urban liveability in literature.ContentThe five-stage methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley was used to conduct this scoping review. A systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science and EBSCO was done until May 29, 2019. Web searching, searching reference lists and hand searching was also conducted to retrieve more relevant articles. Two reviewers screened the papers for eligibility based on the inclusion criteria and extracted their key data and reported them descriptively.SummarySixty seven (67) out of 3,599 papers met the selection criteria. This review showed five distinct domains considered to be important components of liveability. These were Economical, Environmental, Institutional, Social, and Governance (Political) domains. The most important subdomains (indices) which were frequently applied in various studies were Environmental friendliness and Sustainability, Socio-Cultural Conditions and Economic Vibrancy and Competitiveness. We also identified seven different methodologies and six ranking tools used for assessing urban liveability. Among the quantitative methods, three methods accounted for 89.6% of the articles. These methods were the Analytical hierarchy process and entropy (AHP; n=24; 50%), Factor analysis & Principle Component Analysis (FA & PCA; n=12; 25%) and Spatial Multi-criteria Decision-making Method (Spatial; n=7; 14.6%). Among the ranking tools used, three ranking tools accounted for 65.4% of the articles. These tools were the Livable City Scientific Evaluation Standards (LCSES; n=9; 34.6%), The Global Liveable Cities Index (GLCI; n=4; 15.4%) and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU; n=4; 15.4%).OutlookThis paper discusses and summarizes the latest indicators and methods used for determining urban liveability. The information offered in the review can help future investigators to decide which method suits their purpose and situation better and measure urban liveability more systematically than before.

Purpose Livability is a multi-dimensional and hierarchical concept which consists of various criteria and sub-criteria and may be evaluated in different ways. The aim of this study was to systematically review indicators and methods used for the evaluation of urban liveability in literature. Methods The five-stage methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley was used to conduct this scoping review. A systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science and Ebsco was done until May 29, 2019. Web searching, searching reference lists and hand searching was also conducted to retrieve more relevant articles. Two reviewers screened the papers for eligibility based on the inclusion criteria and extracted their key data and reported them descriptively. Results Sixty seven (67) out of 3599 papers met the selection criteria. This review showed 5 distinct domains considered to be important components of liveability. The domains were Economical, Environmental, Institutional, Social, and Governance (Political). The most important indices which were frequently applied in various studies were Environmental friendliness and Sustainability, Socio-Cultural Conditions and Economic Vibrancy and Competitiveness. We also identified 10 different methodologies used for assessing urban liveability. Conclusion This paper discusses and summarizes the latest indicators and methods used for determining urban liveability. The information offered in the review can help future investigators measure urban liveabilty more systematically than before.

Background Explaining the risk and protective factors of substance use (SU) is the most important principle while designing preventive interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate and determinants of SU in adolescents based on the social development model (SDM). Method In 2018, applying a cross-sectional design, cluster multistage random sampling was employed to recruit 600 adolescents in Bam County, Iran, to participate in the study. A valid and reliable SDM-based instrument was used to collect data.Results The prevalence rate of using at least one substance was 42% (in girls 33.6% and in boys 50.3%). Having close friends with SU was found as the riskiest factor. A score increase in involvement in prosocial activities and interactions, attachment and commitment to prosocial others (family and school), and skills for interaction/involvement among adolescents reduced the probability of ever use of SU by 53%, 37% and 49%, respectively. Also, one score increase in perceived rewards for antisocial interaction/involvement, belief in antisocial values and situational perception among the participants increased the probability of ever use SU by 2.22, 2.24 and 1.22 times. Conclusion The SDM was helpful in determining the predictors of SU among Iranian adolescents. In community-based interventions to prevent SU among adolescents, a great focus should be firstly on identifying the probability of SU in close friends. Moreover, the involvement of adolescents in prosocial activities and interactions, attachment and commitment to prosocial others (family and school), and skills for interaction/involvement should be core categories while designing community-based interventional studies.

Background: Urban liveability and its relationship with health indices is now an emerging topic in health research. In order to conduct liveability research, initially, the liveability index should be calculated according to a comprehensive, transparent, and standardized methodology. Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to apply the global liveable cities index (GLCI), to assess and rank liveability in 31 Iranian cities. Methods: The GLCI is based on 114 indicators in five domains, which include economic, environmental, security and stability, socio-cultural, and political factors. This study was based on two scenarios. The first scenario was to assign equal weights to each indicator. The second scenario was the Shapley weighing method and allocated different weights to indices. City rankings were calculated and compared in both scenarios. Results: The cities of Tehran, Sari, and Tabriz generally performed well in the overall liveability ranking. Tehran ranked first based on the economic vibrancy and competitiveness domain, while Sari, Karaj, and Tabriz held the second to fourth ranks in both methods, respectively. Tabriz ranked first in the environmental friendliness and sustainability and domestic security and stability domains, and Sari ranked first in the socio-cultural conditions domain. Tehran and Semnan had the first rank in the political governance domain. Conclusions: The findings of this research show that different cities of Iran are very different in regard to liveability. These rankings can help policymakers find out what domains need more attention to improving the liveability of cities.