Factors Affecting Social Health from Young Adults’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Factors affecting social health, especially in young adults, are among the most important research priorities. Knowledge of social factors affecting young adults’ health will lead to understand them in the social context. The present study is aimed to explain the perspective of young adults on social factors affecting health.

Methods: In the present qualitative content analysis study, semi‑structured open interviews were conducted through targeted sampling of young volunteers
aged 18–30 who were selected from Tehran Province. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The inclusion criteria for participants were willingness to participate in the study and ability to express their personal experiences. Twenty‑one data were collected through collection was done with individual in‑depth interviews.

Results: Using this qualitative approach, the present study was conducted to identify factors affecting social health from the perspective of young adults.
The analysis led to the extraction of three main categories, each with two or three subcategories: expectations regarding the community, expectations regarding the family, and expectations regarding infrastructures.

Conclusions: Our fndings shown that social support considered as effective elements in providing social health of young adults. The evidence on controlling factors should be considered in promoting the social health of specifc target groups. The results of the present study could be used for better planning of interventions in youth social health domains.

Keywords: Iran, qualitative study, social health, young adults