Prediction of Somatization on the Basis of Self-steem, Insomnia and Paranoid Thoughts in University Students

Background and Objectives: Somatization is a somatoform disorder, which medical examinations are not able to explain its reason. In the present research, the role of self-esteem, insomnia, and paranoid thoughts was investigated in somatization disorder. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted on all students studying at University of Tabriz in the academic year 2014-2015. A total of 270 subjects were selected using stratified random sampling method. In this research, Eysenck Self-Esteem Inventory, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Somatization Questionnaire (PHQ-15), and Green et al. Paranoid Thought Scales (GPTS) were used. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis tests. Results: Correlation results indicated that somatization disorder has a significant positive relationship with paranoid thoughts and insomnia and a significant negative relationship with self-esteem. Also, based on the results of multiple regression analysis, Insomnia Index had the greatest ability to predict somatization disorder. Conclusion: The findings of this research revealed that factors, such as insomnia, paranoid thoughts, and low self-esteem should be considered in the treatment of somatization disorder

The prevalence and correlates of physical activity/inactivity and sedentary behaviour among high-school adolescents in Iran : a cross-sectional study

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases in all stages of life. However, there is a lack of reliable data regarding the recommended level of physical activity and its correlates related to physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour among school students in Iran. The aim of the present study was to report the prevalence and correlates of physical activity/inactivity and sedentary behaviour among Iranian high school adolescents. Methods: The Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was used for data collection. Related data comprising socio-demographics, health risk behaviour and protective factors were obtained from 1517 high school students. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between relevant independent variables (e.g. gender) and the dependent outcome variable (physical inactivity/sedentary behaviour). Results: The prevalence of recommended physical activity by WHO was 27.8%, physical inactivity 72.2% and sedentary behaviour 71.4%. Being female, being overweight or obese, walking/cycling to or from school on 1–4 days, sitting 3 or more hours/day (sedentary behaviour), insufficient vegetable intake, being bullied and lack of parental support, peer support and parental connectivity (protective factors) were positively associated with physical inactivity. On the other hand, walking/cycling to or from school on 5–7 days and inadequate fruit intake were negatively associated with physical inactivity. Walking/cycling to or from school on 1–4 days, being physically inactive, inadequate fruit intake and being bullied were positively associated with sedentary behaviour. Conclusion: The prevalence of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour was high in our studied sample. Interventions that address the issue of active school transport, sedentary behaviour, fruit and vegetable intake, family and peer support and bullying should be given more priority by the public health authorities.

Reliability and validity of the Persian version of Global School-based Student Health Survey adapted for Iranian school students

Purpose: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) is a project supported by the World Health Organization to assess adolescent health-risk behaviours and protective factors. The present study reports test-retest and internal consistency reliability as well as Content Validity Index (CVI) for the Persian version of GSHS and Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) adapted for Iranian students. Methods: The original English GSHS, GYTS and Optional Shisha modules were translated and back-translated, pilot-tested, reformed and corrected for clarity. The back-translated and English versions were compared and the Persian version was then edited to reach consistency for two versions. In order to evaluate the performance of this measure for our study sample (n= 47), we examined its test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and correlation between total test and re-test scales score as well as CVI. Results: The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) for the whole GSHS Core modules was 0.69, and for Core-Expanded GSHS, GYTS and Optional Modules for Shisha was 0.90. Test-retest reliability varied between 0.51 and 1.00 for Core and 0.23 to 1.00 for Core-Expanded GYTS and Optional Modules of Shisha. Total test and re-test scales score for GSHS Core varied from 0.64 to 1.00, and for Core-Expanded GSHS, GYTS and Optional Modules of Shisha varied 0.67 to 0.91. Conclusion: The Persian version of GSHS Core, Core-Expanded and GYTS has acceptable reliability and validity, and can serve as a reliable instrument for Persian-speaking communities.Global School Based Student Health Surve

The Prevalence, Attitudes, and Correlates of Waterpipe Smoking Among High School Students in Iran : a Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to determine the correlates of waterpipe (WP) smoking among 15–17-year-old high school students in Iran. Method Data were collected using the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), a self-administrated questionnaire distributed to a representative sample of high school students aged 15–17 in the city of Tabriz. Current WP smoking was defined as past 30-day use, and ever WP smoking was defined as at least one or two lifetime puffs. Differences in WP use, knowledge, and attitudes were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Binary logistic regression estimated the association between relevant independent variables (e.g., age) and the dependent variables (current/ever WP smoking). Results Of 1517 students, 21.6 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 19.5, 23.8) were ever WP smokers, and 9.7 % (95 % CI = 8.2, 11.2) were current WP smokers. Of current WP smokers, 40.3 % have stated that they want to stop smoking now. Moreover, 14.1 % of non-WP smokers reported that they might enjoy smoking WP. Of current WP smokers, 49.0 % have smoked at cafés. Additionally, 95.3 % of current WP smokers reported that their age did not prevent them from being served a WP. Studying in high school third grade (adjusted odds ratios (AORs) = 1.70; 95 % CI [1.10, 2.63]), experience of cigarette smoking (AORs = 1.57; 95 % CI [1.12, 2.20]), and being prepared to accept a WP offered by close friends (AORs = 3.31; 95 % CI [2.17, 5.04]) were independently associated with ever WP smoking, and accepting a WP offered by close friends (AORs = 4.36; 95 % CI [2.69, 7.07]) and gender (female) (AORs = 0.45; 95 % CI [0.30, 0.70] were independently associated with current WP smoking. Conclusion Prevalence of current and ever WP smoking is high in Tabriz. There is an urgent need to design interventions in order to increase students’ and their parents’ awareness regarding the harmfulness of WP, and to establish legal measures to restrict adolescents’ access to WPs and tobacco in society.First online: 03 March 2016Erratum to: The Prevalence, Attitudes, and Correlates of Waterpipe Smoking Among High School Students in Iran: a Cross-Sectional StudyZiaei, R., Mohammadi, R., Dastgiri, S. et al. Int.J. Behav. Med. (2017) 24: 480. doi:10.1007/s12529-017-9631-xWOS: 000400775600008Scopus: 2-s2.0-85009895029GSH