Association of Socioeconomic Status and Life-style Factors with Coping Strategies in Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, Iran

Aim To investigate the association between life-style and socioeconomic factors and coping strategies in a community sample in Iran. Method As part of a community-based study called Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, we studied 17 593 individuals older than 19 living in the central part of Iran. Demographic and socioeconomic factors (age, sex, occupation status, marital status, and educational level) and lifestyle variables (smoking status, leisure time physical activity, and psychological distress), and coping strategy were recorded. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. Results Not smoking (women β = -11.293, P < 0.001; men β = -3.418, P = 0.007), having leisure time physical activity (women β = 0.017, P = 0.046; men β = 0.005, P = 0.043), and higher educational level (women β = 0.344, P = 0.015; men β = 0.406, P = 0.008) were predictors of adaptive coping strategies, while smoking (women β = 11.849, P < 0.001; men β = 9.336, P < 0.001), high stress level (women β = 1.588, P = 0.000; men β = 1.358, P < 0.001), and lower educational level (women β = -0.443, P = 0.013; men β = - 0.427, P = 0.013) were predictors of maladaptive coping strategies in both sexes. Non-manual work was a positive predictor of adaptive (β = 4.983, P < 0.001) and negative predictor of maladaptive (β = -3.355, P = 0.023) coping skills in men. Conclusion Coping strategies of the population in central Iran were highly influenced by socioeconomic status and life-style factors. Programs aimed at improving healthy life-styles and increasing the socioeconomic status could increase adaptive coping skills and decrease maladaptive ones and consequently lead to a more healthy society

Effects of 5-Year Interventions on Cardiovascular Risk Factors of Factories and Offies Employees of Isfahan and Najafabad: Worksite Intervention Project-Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Effects of 5-year interventions of Worksite Intervention Project from Isfahan Healthy Heart Program on cardiovascular risk factors of factories and offices employees were studied in Isfahan and Najafabad (intervention area) compared to Arak (control area).</p> <p><strong>METHODS:</strong> We had especial interventions for nutrition, physical activity and smoking as well as hypertension and obesity screening systems in all offices and factories, and other risk factors screening systems whenever possible.</p> <p>Before and after the interventions, questionnaires containing demographic and other required data were completed for the two populations; height, weight and blood pressure (BP) were measured and a fasting and 2h blood sample was taken for the measurement of blood sugar (BS) and lipid levels..</p> <p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The prevalence of<strong> </strong>Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and central obesity decreased, but low HDL increased in office staff (P &lt; 0.01). Waist circumference, HDL and total cholesterol mean values decreased, and diastolic BP and fasting and 2h BS increased among the intervention group. In factory workers, the prevalence of &nbsp;hypertriglyceridemia and central obesity decreased, while low HDL prevalence &nbsp;increased in intervention group (P &lt; 0.001). Mean values of waist circumference, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglyceride decreased significantly (P &lt; 0.001), while diastolic BP and fasting BS increased.</p> <p><strong>CONCLUSION</strong>: It seems that Worksite Intervention Project has a protective effect on CVD risk factors in factories and offices employees. So, the modifiable project can be used as an applicable tool for health improvement in worksites which creates tangible changes in employees&rsquo; lifestyle.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Key words</strong>: Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Disease, Workplace, Intervention</p

Association of stressful life events and psychological problems profile

Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the major domains of stressful life events and their association with psychological problems profile in a large sample of Iranian industrial manufacturing employees. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 3,063 participants were randomly selected from 16,000 employees working in a big industrial company in Isfahan, Iran. Three common psychological problems i.e. depression, anxiety and psychological distress were evaluated using Persian validated version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), respectively. Self-perceived frequency and intensity of stressful life events were measured by stressful life event (SLE) questionnaire. Bayesian quantile structural equation model in R free statistical software (version 3.4) was used for evaluating the association of stressful life events and levels of psychological problems profile. Results: Using factor analysis, two major domains i.e. socioeconomic and personal stressors were derived from 11 life stressors and a unified measure i.e. psychological problem profile was extracted from three common psychological problems. Financial and daily life stressors had the highest and sexual problems showed lowest intensity. Quantile structural equation model revealed that the psychological problems profile scores had stronger association with personal (β: ranging from 0.45, 1.87) than socioeconomics stressors (β: ranging from 0.11, 0.27). The association of socioeconomic stressors was fairly uniform across quantiles of psychological problems scores, while personal stressors showed stronger association in higher quantiles, meaning that employees with higher mental health problems more experienced personal stressors. Conclusions: Life stressors particularly personal showed direct association with intensity of psychological problems in manufacturing employees. Life stressors are more perceived by employees with higher intensity of psychological problems. The results of current study can be useful in planning occupational health programs in order to improve psychological health and job productivity

Association of Socioeconomic Status and Life-style Factors with Coping Strategies in Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, Iran

Aim To investigate the association between life-style and socioeconomic factors and coping strategies in a community sample in Iran. Method As part of a community-based study called Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, we studied 17 593 individuals older than 19 living in the central part of Iran. Demographic and socioeconomic factors (age, sex, occupation status, marital status, and educational level) and lifestyle variables (smoking status, leisure time physical activity, and psychological distress), and coping strategy were recorded. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. Results Not smoking (women β = -11.293, P < 0.001; men β = -3.418, P = 0.007), having leisure time physical activity (women β = 0.017, P = 0.046; men β = 0.005, P = 0.043), and higher educational level (women β = 0.344, P = 0.015; men β = 0.406, P = 0.008) were predictors of adaptive coping strategies, while smoking (women β = 11.849, P < 0.001; men β = 9.336, P < 0.001), high stress level (women β = 1.588, P = 0.000; men β = 1.358, P < 0.001), and lower educational level (women β = -0.443, P = 0.013; men β = - 0.427, P = 0.013) were predictors of maladaptive coping strategies in both sexes. Non-manual work was a positive predictor of adaptive (β = 4.983, P < 0.001) and negative predictor of maladaptive (β = -3.355, P = 0.023) coping skills in men. Conclusion Coping strategies of the population in central Iran were highly influenced by socioeconomic status and life-style factors. Programs aimed at improving healthy life-styles and increasing the socioeconomic status could increase adaptive coping skills and decrease maladaptive ones and consequently lead to a more healthy society

ARE COMMUNITY –BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE IN THE YOUTH POPULATION? RESULTS FROM ISFAHAN HEALTHY HEART PROGRAM

Abstract &nbsp;&nbsp; BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between unhealthy lifestyle and development of non-communicable diseases in the youth has been understood but intervention studies to improve lifestyle behaviors in this age group are low. Consequently, this study was performed to highlight important intervention activity of a NCD prevention and health promotion program for young people and to present its main results in Iran. &nbsp;&nbsp; METHODS: The Youth Intervention Project (YIP) as a part of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) was carried out on all the youth aged 19-25 years in Isfahan and Najafabad counties as intervention areas and Arak as control area. The target groups could be reached in Red Crescent Society, universities, and garrisons. Multifactorial interventions included healthy nutrition, physical activity, coping with stress, and tobacco cessation by more emphasis on hookah smoking. Also, enforcing no-smoking regulations in teahouses and coffee shops was considered. &nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS: After performing multifactorial interventions, the change of fast food consumption frequency was statistically significant in comparison between intervention and control areas (P for trend&lt;0.05). Percentage of individuals with high stress level were more significant in intervention area compared with control area (P for trend&lt;0.05). Smoking was increased among men and women in both areas whereas the increase was higher in control area (P for trend&lt;0.05). Although daily physical activity frequency was increased in intervention areas but it wasn&rsquo;t significant compared with control area. Also, decreased trend of carbonated drink consumption were not significant in intervention area compared with control area.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; CONCLUSION: The lifestyle modification program in the youth was successfully implemented and was shown to have improved some of the youth&rsquo;s lifestyle behaviors related to healthy lifestyle. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: Intervention,The youth, Non-communicable disease, Lifestyle.</p