Monitoring Social Well-Being in Iran

Fariba Mirbaha Hashemi (), Farshad Pourmalek, Arash Tehrani, Kambiz Abachizadeh, Nadereh Memaryan, Narjes Hazar, Soheila Omidnia, Abbas Ziari and Maziar Moradi Lakeh
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Fariba Mirbaha Hashemi: University of Tehran
Farshad Pourmalek: University of British Columbia
Arash Tehrani: Iran University of Medical Sciences
Kambiz Abachizadeh: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Nadereh Memaryan: Iran University of Medical Sciences
Narjes Hazar: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Soheila Omidnia: Ministry of Health
Abbas Ziari: Semnan University of Medical Sciences
Maziar Moradi Lakeh: Iran University of Medical Sciences

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2016, vol. 129, issue 1, No 1, 12 pages

Abstract: Abstract The main aim of this study was to design a system for measuring and monitoring social well-being in Iran, utilizing a conceptual model and choosing contextually specific domains and indicators. A number of different approaches in defining and measuring social well-being exist. Some of these measuring systems use a descriptive approach and employ sets of indicators, which cover topics of concern but lack any explicit theoretical basis. To better capture the specific societal context of social well-being within Iran, we constructed a compound model from multiple pre-existing conceptual models, allowing us to group indicators and show relationships among contextually relevant areas and domains. Our framework proposes that there are societal and individual-level determinants that affect social health in a society and that social health has outcomes and impacts. To measure social health, variables of social integration, social contribution, social coherence, social actualization, social acceptance, social support, and social functioning are considered. The outcomes and impacts are to be measured and monitored by 37 variables. In many countries, social well-being measurements have been conducted on a regular basis for decades. Some of these systems of social health focus on individual (micro) measures, some on societal (macro) measures, and many on both. In this research, both individual level and societal level well-being measures were selected after being deemed contextually important for Iran. This system of social well-being measurement is to be used as a descriptive and monitoring tool but could potentially be utilized in goal setting, outcome-based accountability, and evaluations in order to promote social well-being and social policy research in Iran.

Keywords: Social health; Social well-being; Indicators; Monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-015-1087-2

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