BackgroundMarital conflicts and divorce are among the most crucial problems of society. Therefore, it is important to maintain family stability at the optimal level in order to prevent divorce and its consequences in the family and community.ObjectiveThis study was conducted to design and validate the Family Stability Questionnaire (FSQ) in married couples.MethodsThis study was the second stage of a large study. The FSQ was constructed based on a qualitative research in our previous study in 2016. It was developed through interviews by family therapists, psychiatrists, and couples on 10 dimensions (areas) and was based on McMaster’s Family Assessment Device (FAD). Then, in the present study, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on 270 males and females (135 couples) of Yazd City (Iran) from January to May 2017. The construct validity and reliability of the scales were examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, respectively. Test-retest reliability was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for the agreement between the individual items and domains. SPSS 21 and AMOS 21 were used for statistical analyses (p≤0.05).ResultsAt first, the results of the CFA on 70 items of FSQ could not confirm (RMSEA=0.06, CFI=0.91, GFI=0.72), but FSQ with 56 questions indicated that it had sufficiently high validity and reliability to measure family stability (RMSEA=0.04, CFI=0.95, GFI=0.96) with an acceptable fit index. A positive significant correlation was observed between the FSQ and FAD (r=0.45, p<0.001) indicating that FSQ has convergent validity. The Cronbach’s alpha and ICC of more than 0.7 in 10 domains of this tool indicated a good internal consistency among the items and their high relevance (0.90 and 0.84, respectively).ConclusionFSQ, as a multi-dimensional questionnaire, is a useful and reliable instrument to assess family stability. It consists of ten factors, which were constructed for the first time in Iran. Given the proper features, this instrument can be utilized to carry out more research regarding family stability in Iranian populations.

Objective: Family function is one of the main effective factors on stability of the family. Family therapy can promote family function and performances. This study aimed to assess the effects of family therapy on family function among couples in Yazd province (Iran) based on the McMaster model. Method: The research population was selected from volunteer couples in Yazd in 2017 who were invited by publicity announcement to participate in this research. Finally, 40 couples were selected and randomly divided into 2 intervention and control groups. Participants responded to the demographic and Family Assessment Device (FAD) questionnaires. The obtained information was investigated using inferential and descriptive statistics and SPSS 21 software. Results: The results showed significant differences between the intervention and control groups in problem-solving (p = 0.01), communication (p < 0.0001), emotional responsiveness (p = 0.01), emotional involvement (p < 0.0001), and general function (p = 0.04). The roles and behavior control domains were improved after the intervention in 2 groups, but the differences were not significant. Conclusion: Family therapy based on McMaster model can promote the skills of problem- solving, family communication, emotional responsiveness, emotional involvement, and general function in couples. Healthy family functioning is an important domain of interest for mental health professionals who provide family interventions. Our findings add substantially to family professionals’ knowledge about patterns of family function in Iranian families.

Background: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers that is mostly caused by ultraviolet radiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting skin cancer preventive behaviors in medical sciences students based on the extended parallel process model that is responsible for the future health of the community. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 150 students who were selected by the simple random sampling method in Yazd in 2017. The data were collected by translating the questionnaire based on the extended parallel process model. The data were analyzed by SPSS-18 software and descriptive tests and non-parametric Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman correlation and linear regression at a significance level of 0.05.  Results: The mean age of participants was 22.01 ± 5.24, more than half of whom (57.3%) used sunscreen as a self-protective behavior against the sunlight. The perceived severity construct had the highest score among the constructs (79.53) and preventive behaviors score (61.7). Among the demographic variables, gender had a significant statistical difference with the constructs of fear and behavioral intention, and preventive behaviors and economic status variable in the perceived response efficacy construct. Among the model constructs, the behavioral intention was the strongest behavioral predictor of skin cancer prevention (p< 0.000,β =0.589). Conclusion: In view of the findings, it seems necessary to increase protective behaviors against sunlight and skin cancer prevention by removing existing barriers including cultural issues. Also, recurrent training can be effective in promoting behavioral intention of student in preventing skin cancer.

Purpose To reduce physical inactivity at work, today's work environments require the design of interventions that can effectively enhance the level of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of interventions based on a comprehensive model for promoting physical activity behaviors and improving health-related and physiological physical fitness indices in administrative employees of the industrial sector.Methods In this randomized, controlled trial study that included 170 administrative employees. The intervention group was subjected to a series of interventions based on a comprehensive model for practical and physical activities for 6 months. Data collection instruments used were a demographic checklist, Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, health-related and physiological physical fitness testing and a researcher-developed questionnaire based on the comprehensive model constructs.Data analysis was conducted by the SPSS 21 using chi-square, independent and paired t-test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test, and repeated measures ANOVA. The significance level was considered 95%. The mean age of the subjects was 36.99(±7.69 SD) years old and all of them were male.Results The mean total physical activity index in the intervention group at 3 and 6 months after the intervention significantly increased compared to control group. The mean values of health-related and physiological physical indices, i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, flexibility and physical composition, in intervention group significantly increased compared to control group. Conclusion Designing interventions based on a comprehensive model to examine the broader and multi-level approaches between environmental, biological and psychological factors can affect physical activity behaviors and promote health behaviors.