Social Development & Welfare Planning

Abstract Ecotourism, as a key component of sustainable tourism development, plays a significant role in enhancing livelihoods and economically empowering local communities; however, employment quality in this sector is often overlooked. This study aimed to identify and analyze the dimensions and components of ecotourism business development based on the decent work approach. The research employed a qualitative design using thematic analysis. The study population consisted of experts and managers of ecotourism businesses in Iran, and purposive sampling was applied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to extract and categorize the main themes. The findings indicated that the key dimensions of ecotourism business development based on decent work approach include productive employment, fundamental labor rights, social protection, social dialogue, gender equality and equal opportunities, and occupational health and safety, which collectively enhance employment quality, workforce motivation, and active community participation. The results also emphasized the necessity of strengthening legal and social support, empowering employees, institutionalizing transparency and dialogue, and adhering to principles of justice and occupational safety to establish a solid foundation for sustainable and equitable ecotourism development. Accordingly, integrating the decent work approach into ecotourism business management can simultaneously improve the economic and social well-being of local communities and provide a practical pathway for responsible tourism development.

Abstract The amount of a system's costs, how these costs are financed, and the efficiency of a system are among the concerns of its policymakers. In this regard, we have examined the amount and method of financing the health sector and their efficiency. The method of this research is a secondary analysis of health system data from all member countries of the World Health Organization in 2019, with 25 countries selected as samples based on the Sping-Andersen model. To measure financing methods, three factors were used: the share of the government sector, the share of the insurance sector, and the share of patient out-of-pocket payments in health expenditures. To measure efficiency, two factors were used: life expectancy and the mortality rate of children under five years of age. There is a direct and significant relationship between the level of government health expenditure (and per capita health spending) and the efficiency of a country's health sector. Conversely, there is an inverse and significant relationship between direct out-of-pocket payments by patients and health sector efficiency; however, no significant relationship exists between the share of insurance in health expenditure and efficiency. Providing financial resources from the public budget and reducing patients' out-of-pocket payments ensure the efficiency of the health sector.

Abstract Given the intensification of risks and the proliferation of social tensions in contemporary societies, clarifying the concept of social resilience, advancing its theoretical development, and proposing new conceptual frameworks have become an important necessity for accurate planning and policymaking in this field. The central question of the present study is: what are the most significant theories and theoretical approaches proposed in the field of social resilience? Furthermore, which conceptual frameworks have been developed to explain the dimensions and indicators of this concept? This study is qualitative in nature and was conducted using a comparative research approach. For data collection, scholarly articles that reviewed and theoretically categorized the concepts of resilience and social resilience were selected. These classifications were then compared with one another and subsequently reclassified based on their similarities and differences. The findings indicate that in examining the theoretical evolution of resilience, four main categories can be identified: individual traits, process-oriented perspectives, systemic perspectives, and emerging trends. The most important theoretical approaches to the concept of social resilience include functionalist, systemic, social capital, empowerment, and transformative approaches. Within these theories, the trajectory of resilience has evolved from passive adaptation to crises toward leveraging tensions as opportunities for change and advancement. Developing a theoretical typology and reflecting on the evolutionary trajectory of these theories can facilitate their further advancement and deeper application.

Abstract Well-being, as a pivotal sociological construct, serves as a key indicator for assessing mental health, life satisfaction, and the quality of social relations, thereby shaping the overall quality of life among youth. In the context of profound and multifaceted transformations in social structures and value systems transformations that continually reconfigure individual and collective identities the meaning and determinants of well-being have themselves undergone significant change. This study adopts a cross-sectional survey design with stratified random sampling to examine the well-being of young people aged 18 to 35 in Yazd province, Iran, and to identify its principal socio-cultural and economic correlates. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires from 708 participants. Descriptive statistics indicate a moderate to high level of well-being among respondents. Bivariate analyses show positive and significant associations between well-being and variables such as social status, access to life resources, religiosity, individualism, collectivism, and relational agency. Multivariate regression analysis, however, reveals that engagement with virtual and social media spaces exerts a negative effect on well-being. No significant associations were found for gender or educational attainment. Overall, the findings highlight that the well-being of Iranian youth emerges from a complex interplay between individualistic and collectivistic orientations, embedded within the socio-economic and cultural challenges of contemporary Iran. Enhancing youth well-being requires integrated socio-economic and cultural policies that strengthen authentic agency and address both individual and collective needs,.

Abstract The present study aimed to examine the impact of social factors on life satisfaction. In terms of purpose, this research is applied, and in terms of methodology, it is descriptive-analytical. The statistical population consisted of all individuals aged 15 years and above living in ordinary urban and rural households across 27 counties of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Using a systematic random sampling method, ten households were selected from each statistical block for face-to-face interviews. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS-26 and LISREL software. The findings indicated that social support has a positive relationship with life satisfaction, with the strongest effect observed on overall life satisfaction. Social capital also showed a strong positive relationship with overall life satisfaction and the sense of effectiveness, while feelings of relative deprivation had the strongest negative impact on life satisfaction. The sense of freedom was positively and significantly associated with overall life satisfaction, and religiosity showed a positive but relatively weak effect on life satisfaction dimensions. Regression analysis revealed that social support and social capital had significant positive effects on life satisfaction, the sense of freedom had a positive effect, and relative deprivation had a significant negative effect. Religiosity also demonstrated a limited but significant positive effect. Path analysis further showed that social support

Abstract This article examines the emergence, evolution, and contentious politics of the “Yellow Hats” movement, a collective protest movement formed by high-voltage power substation operators in Iran. Drawing on the theoretical framework of contentious politics and Ruth Wodak’s Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA), the study investigates how these workers constructed a collective identity, mobilized organizational resources, and articulated their demands within Iran’s state-centered political and economic structure. The findings indicate that the movement emerged from a structural contradiction between the governmental and specialized nature of operators’ work and their insecure contractual employment status under outsourcing arrangements. Through the strategic use of legal discourse, institutional channels, professional associations, media platforms, and collective protests, the movement transformed occupational grievances into a broader struggle over labor rights, employment security, and administrative justice. Discourse analysis reveals that the movement’s claims were framed around the themes of legality, justice, expertise, and public service. The symbolic designation “Yellow Hats” played a crucial role in constructing a shared collective identity, while references to laws and administrative regulations enhanced the legitimacy of the movement’s demands. Although the movement achieved partial successes, many of its core demands remain unresolved. The article argues that the Yellow Hats movement represents a significant example of contemporary labor mobilization in Iran and state-centered labor governance.

Abstract Selfcare, as a fundamental component of health, plays a decisive role in preventing physical, psychological, and behavioral problems.Among university students living in dormitories it is of greater importance due to separation from family and changes in lifestyle.The study aimed to examine the level of selfcare among dormitory students at the University of Yazd. The present research was conducted in 2025 using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design.The study population consisted of all students residing in the dormitories of the Yazd University ,from whom a sample was selected through one stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a researcher developed selfcare questionnaire(Shiri& Afshani 2021)comprising 30 items rated on a 5point Likert scale, assessing physical,psychological/emotional, social, recreational, spiritual, and cognitive dimensions. The questionnaire’s validity was confirmed by expert review, and its reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha.Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.The findings indicated that the overall level of selfcare among dormitory students was above average.Among the dimensions, the spiritual dimension was in the most favorable condition,whereas the cognitive dimension showed the lowest level.Significant difference in selfcare was observed based on students’ employment status;however, Demographic variables were not associated with selfcare.The results suggest a relatively favorable status of selfcare among dormitory students.,Strengthening the cognitive and psychological dimensions through university based educational and supportive programs appears necessary and may contribute to improving students’ health and resilience.