نشریه تداوم و تغییر اجتماعی
سال دوم شماره 1 (پیاپی 3، بهار 1402)

Emotional divorce can disrupt the continuity of relationships between couples and untimately lead to legal divorce. It can also affect the functions of families, such as the socialization of children, which is essential for a healthy society. This study aims to examine the role of mass media in the relationship between social comparison and emotional divorce among married women. The theoretical framework is based on Collins' perspective and objective self-awareness. 

Methods and Data:

 The study used a survey method and a multi-stage cluster sampling method to select 800 married women from 11 districts of Shiraz. Emotional divorce was measured by the Gutman scale. 

The results showed that more than 39% of the respondents had a medium or high level of emotional divorce. The multivariate regression model revealed that husband's presence in the family, husband's comparison with others, husband's comparison of the respondent with others, and husband's level of education could explain about 33% of the variance in emotional divorce. 

The study suggests that social comparison is a factor that influences emotional divorce among couples. Mass media, such as television, satellite, and social networks, can affect the way couples compare themselves with others and their spouses. Key Message: Emotional divorce is a serious threat to families and society. It can be influenced by social comparison and mass media. Reducing this phenomenon can help maintain the continuity and well-being of families.

This study has two complementary goals: first, to introduce and critique the conventional methods of estimating divorce indices in Iran and propose a new index. It also applied this new index for the last 15 years; second, to analyze the changes in marriage patterns using appropriate indicators. 

The study used secondary data from the national civil registration and the general population and housing census of the country. Different indicators were used to estimate and compare the trends of marriage and divorce. 

An alternative method of estimating divorce, which takes into account the divorce ratio as a subset of the actual married population, shows that divorce is not a major concern in Iran, contrary to popular belief. However, it also shows that divorce rates are likely to increase as the population of married women grows. Moreover, indicators such as the mean age at first marriage, the singleness ratio in age groups, the absolute singleness ratio and their relative changes suggest that delaying marriage and reducing its universality is a more serious issue than divorce in Iranian society. 

The crude measures are exaggerated the situation and trends of divorce. This may lead to the fear of marriage or condemnation of marriage in older age and, as a result, absolute celibacy. Therefore, social categories like divorce and marriage, which are related to one of the main institutions of society (family), should be approached with sensitivity and scientific rigor. Key Message: This research acknowledges that the stagnation of marriage is more problematic than the increase in divorce, without normalizing the latter. Therefore, it recommends to formulate practical policies aimed at removing obstacles to young people's marriage.

The increasing number and changing profile of the elderly population in Iran require identifying the factors that influence their health status. This paper aims to study the social, demographic and economic characteristics that affect the physical and mental health of the elderly living in Khorramabad city, Iran. 

Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 379 elderly people aged 60 and over living in Khorramabad. A survey questionnaire and a standard quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-SF36, 26) were used to collect the required information. 

The mean index of physical health was 29.27 and the mean index of mental health was 22.12. The most common diseases among elderly people were arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Education, age, number of children, and gender were factors that could affect the health status of the elderly. Findings show that with the increase in the number of children, the level of physical health of the elderly decreases, but their mental health increases. In fact, children are still considered as one of the sources of familial support in old age. Physical and mental health also affect each other. Having a better health level in either dimension improves the health status in the other dimension. 

The experiences of aging are different for different social groups due to various factors affecting the health status of the elderly. From a policy-making perspective, it is necessary to adopt an individual-centered approach to understand the situation of the elderly and maximize opportunities throughout the life cycle to achieve healthy aging. Key Message: Population projections show that following the age-structural transition of Iran's population, the share of elderly people in the population will increase in the coming years. The elderly people differ from the rest of society in various socio-economic and health aspects (including their economic status, marital status, disease patterns, and the need for health care). Therefore, it is necessary to ensure a good quality of life for the elderly with a special focus on their health status and social care in the long-term social policies of the country.

Religion has played an important role in people's daily life and culture. Religion teaches the way of life to its followers, and the followers define their identity and group boundaries from other groups by following its instructions. This paper aims to examine the significance and role of religious values in the everyday life of Iranians since the constitutional revolution in Iran. 

Methods and Data: 

This research adopts a cultural history approach to explore the influence of religion on people's daily practices and behaviors. It relies on primary sources such as travelogues, logbooks, diaries, and historical documents from the constitutional revolution to the present day. 

The results indicate that religion was a prominent aspect of people's daily life during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras. Religious teachings affected various domains of life such as clothing, food, drink, and health. However, since the 1980s, the role of religion in some areas of people's everyday life has declined. 

The society has witnessed a decrease in the adherence to some religious rules and beliefs among people, especially the youth. Nevertheless, the religious foundations of the society remain strong and influential. Religious values and symbols are still respected by most people, who participate in Muharram mourning ceremonies, religious festivals, and pilgrimages to holy shrines. Key Message: Religious faith and reverence for sacred things and values remain widespread among Iranians, despite the decline of religion in some aspects of their lifestyle in recent decades. Many people participate in Muharram mourning ceremonies, religious festivals, and pilgrimages to holy shrines. Religion plays a vital role in society by fostering social cohesion among different groups and individuals. Therefore, it is important to uphold common religious values in the society.

Tribalism, the strong loyalty to one's own tribe, is a characteristic of traditional and tribal structures that still exist in some regions of Iran and can affect formal elections. This research aimed to investigate the factors related to the tendency towards tribalism in Parsabad's parliamentary elections of the Islamic Parliament of Iran. 

Methods and Data: 

This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 people over 18 years of age (who were eligible to participate in the elections) in Parsabad. They were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling technique. The data was collected by a questionnaire with content validity and Cronbach's alpha reliability. 

The research findings showed that legalism, the feeling of relative deprivation and the embodied dimension of cultural capital were related to tribalism in elections. 

Tribalism in the elections has led to the exclusion of people who could have provided many services at the local and national level. Key Message: A competent electoral system plays an important role in the formation of an efficient parliament and government as well as political and social stability. This aim is achieved when the mechanisms and cultural and social contexts of the elections are well-established. The election of worthy people from all tribes enables public participation in the administration of the country's affairs. Tribalism can be reduced by developing political parties.

Literature, particularly poetry, has always been a platform for social representations. This study aims to explore the social representations of judges in Iran’s literary history, specifically in poetry. Through a sociological analysis of literature, it is possible to understand how attitudes and social issues are formed as well as it is possible to investigate its historical record and how it has changed over time. Literature is at the core of Iran's social history, provides a rich source of information on various aspects of past social life. The social history of governors and judges are such phenomena that can be explored in ancient texts and literature and help to explore how the formation of attitudes towards them can be represented in the poetry.

The main goal of this research was to discover and represent historical attitudes towards judges in the literary history of Iran. In line with this goal, the research method was adapted to use is Mimesis. Mimesis is a technique of imitating or reproducing reality in literature and art.

The findings show that the status and power of judges have always been reflected in poems due to the poets’ connection with various social fields and people's everyday lives. The lack of consistent law and arbitrary judgments have been the source of criticism from people and experts. Judges have been portrayed as agents of social control rather than social justice. 

The representation of the poems reveals that people have continuously criticized and reflected the dignity and status of judges, and that there are hidden conflicts behind the scenes of social interactions. Factors such as autocratic rule, foreign invasion, judicial dependence to rulers, nomadic and ethnic dominance, etc. have influenced these representations.

Key Message:

 Judges' judgments have always been criticized by poets, and their status and dignity have always been problematic for poets. Evaluations and judgments of the public opinion of the society towards the judges have made the position of judging a difficult job for judges. The smallest feeling about their deviation from the customary and religious norms of the society has put them under suspicion.

This article aims to describe the historical role of Reeves in Iranian villages from an anthropological perspective. The term Reeve in Persian refers to a person who is wise and talented and manages the social affairs of the village. Reeves have been elected by villagers for a long time in Iran, dating back to the pre-Islamic era. However, Reeve's management has declined and vanished completely since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, due to political and social changes that undermined their authority and legitimacy.

Methods and Data: 

The method of this paper is descriptive-analytical. It uses historical evidence as well as documentary and library sources to examine the role of Reeves in Iranian villages.

The findings reveal the position and importance of Reeve in the social structure of rural management in Iran. It also analyzes the sources of their managerial power and how changed over time. The findings show how the Reeve system declined and was eventually eliminated due to factors such as land reform, modernization, and revolution.

Reeve's role was intertwined with the social context of rural society in Iranian villages. He was a respected and influential figure who managed the social affairs of the village. However, his power were challenged by the land reform program in Iran during the Pahlavi regime. Reeve was removed from the administration of the village, and his role was taken over by the village association and revolutionary organizations such as Education Corps, Health Corps and Agricultural Development Corps. These organizations aimed to modernize and develop the rural areas and promote the ideology of the Islamic Revolution. Thus, in 1976 the term Reeve was erased from village literature, and a village guard (Dehban) was appointed instead.

Key Message: Iranian rural society had given Reeves a considerable authority throughout history. However, their authority varied from one period to another. This paper argues that an anthropological and historical approach to these social realities can shed light on the past history of Iranian society and help to better understand the contemporary social changes.

This study aims to examine the spatial differences in the quality of life of citizens in three urban tissues (old, middle and modern) of Nowshahr a city in Mazandaran Province, Iran. It also examines the impact of artificial environment conditions, such as infrastructure, services, and facilities, on the quality of life of citizens in different urban tissues. Considering the differences in the physical, social, cultural and economic conditions of these tissues, assessing the quality of life indicators can provide better and more efficient thematic and local programs to enhance the quality of life of the citizens.

Methods and Data: 

The study employed a survey method to gather data from individuals aged 20 and above residing in Nowshahr's three urban areas (old, middle, and modern). A sample size of 380 was determined using Cochran's formula.

The results indicate that the quality of life for citizens is unsatisfactory in both objective and subjective dimensions, regardless of whether they reside in old or new urban areas in Nowshahr. However, the situation is slightly different in the middle urban area. Analysis of the impact of background variables on quality of life reveals that these variables can have varying influences depending on the type of urban tissue and residents' location.

This research highlights the importance of considering both the characteristics of the built environment and living place, as well as the individual and social characteristics of people, in urban planning, especially in social planning. It is crucial to take a holistic approach to ensure that urban environments are designed to meet the needs of all individuals and communities. This can help us to build more livable and sustainable cities for everyone.

Key Message: 

Urban environments are complex systems that need diverse and context-specific approaches and methods to improve the quality of life and urban environments. Understanding these complexities is crucial for comprehending the city and developing strategies that promote social harmony and continuity, ultimately leading to cohesive urban communities.

Fashion and the tendency to follow fashion are important forces for cultural and lifestyle changes in contemporary societies. These phenomena have significant consequences for youth and families in their everyday interactions. This research investigates the relations between family factors and the tendency to follow fashion among young girls in Yazd, Iran.

Methods and Data:

 A quantitative survey design was used to collect data through a questionnaire from 300 girls aged 15-29 in the city of Yazd. The research sample was selected using a multistage cluster random sampling technique. Data analysis was performed at descriptive and inferential levels.

The results showed that the variables of parents' education, family income, father's job, family consumerism, family tendency to follow fashion, parents' religiosity, and generation gap showed significant correlations with the tendency to follow fashion. The strongest predictors of fashion tendency were family consumerism and generation gap.

The study concludes that effective parent-youth interactions and parents' consumer behavior have a significant impact on youth's lifestyle and behavioral norms in both family and social life. 

Key Message: 

Parent’s consumption orientation, family interactions and family-children’s relationships are crucial factors for youth tendency to dramaturgical actions and consumption.

Parents greatly influence their children lives, as children imitate their parents’ behaviors and attitudes. Improving parents' interactions and behaviors can lead to positive changes in their children's social skills and maturity. This study examines the relationship between social maturity and social skills of teenagers in Yazd city and their parents' social adequacy and acceptance. 

Methods and Data: 

The method is a correlational study with a sample of 150 mothers with teenage children in Yazd. The instruments used are Matson's Social Skills Questionnaire (1983), Rao's Social Maturity Scale (1986), Fellner's Social Adequacy Scale (1990), and Marlowe and Crowne's Social Desirability Scale (1960). 

Data analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between adolescents' social maturity and social skills and their parents' social adequacy and acceptance. Adolescents who have higher levels of social maturity and skills tend to have parents who have higher levels of social adequacy and acceptance, and vice versa. This implies that mothers who have high levels of thinking, problem-solving and cognitive recognition abilities can facilitate their children's emotional and skill development. 

According to the results, increasing parents' social adequacy and acceptance can predict their adolescents' social maturity and skills. This implies that parents can enhance their children's social development by improving their own self-esteem, modeling positive social behaviors, providing constructive feedback, and support. 

Key Message: 

The coping strategies of teenagers in confronting with physical, mental, and social changes is an important social skill which can play a role in the process of their communication and adaptation. Parents, especially mothers, play a significant role in this process. The attitude of parents and especially mothers towards themselves and the realistic view of different aspects of life shapes the skills and ability of teenagers in relation to different issues.

Modern societies are undergoing various changes, and one of the important areas of change is educational equity and justice. This study aims to explore the state of educational justice and its relationship with violence among secondary school students in Shahrekord, Iran.

Methods and Data: 

The study used survey method. The statistical population consisted of all upper secondary school students in district 1 in Shahrekord (N=5075). The sample was selected based on Cochran's formula. 360 people were randomly selected using cluster sampling technique. A standard violence questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire for educational justice were used for data collection.

The correlation coefficient between conflict, verbal-psychological and physical tactics with distributive, procedural and interactional justice was significant. (p > 0.05). The final model showed that educational justice had a negative effect on violence (-0.460), which was significant at the 0.01 level.

There is a significant inverse relationship between conflict, verbal-psychological and physical tactics and distributive, procedural and interactional justice. That is, as educational justice increases, the rate of violence in each of the above three dimensions decreases. This research shows that reducing educational justice leads to an increase in violence among students.

One of the most important aspects of global family changes in modern times is the increasing divorce rates. Divorce has various determinants at both the micro and macro levels. This study aims to examine how demographic, economic, and social factors affect marital status (i.e. married versus divorced) in Iran, and to estimate the probability of divorce at the individual and provincial levels using multilevel models. 

Methods and Data:

 Census data from 1976 to 2016, Labor Force Survey, Household Income and Expenditure Survey, Time Use Survey, and Civil Registration data were used for the analysis. For individual-level analysis, 25,163 women and 18,633 men were selected using systematic random sampling from the 2% file of the 2016 Census. At provincial-level, analysis was conducted for 31 provinces in the country were included.

The findings show that age, illiteracy, inactiveness and living in a residential unit of other types increase the probability of divorce for men; however, being the head of household and having a higher education decrease divorce for men. Moreover, residing in a city, illiteracy, education and having children increase the probability of divorce for women. At the provincial level, the sex ratio increases the probability of divorce for men and the ratio of urbanization increases the probability of divorce for women. 

The results suggest that micro and macro level variables have a combined effect on divorce outcomes. Although most of the studies on divorce are done at the individual level, more attention should be paid to the influence of people's living environment on their decision to divorce.

Key Message:

 Most of the studies in the field of divorce are done at the individual level. Few of them have been investigated only at the level of macro-provincial variables. In this study, we showed that in order to better understand the factors of divorce, individual factors and the macro variables should be studied together.