Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Original Articles

The Role of Time Preferences in Compliance With COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors in Iran: A Quasi-hyperbolic Discounting Approach: Moslem Soofi, Ali Kazemi Karyani, Shahin Soltani, Zahra Alipoor, Behzad Karamimatin; J Prev Med Public Health. 2025;58(3):326-335. Published online February 13, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.24.453

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Abstract Summary PDF: Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the role of time preferences in compliance with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive behaviors in an adult population of Iran.
Methods
A web-based questionnaire was utilized to conduct a cross-sectional survey of 672 Iranian adults. The parameters of time preferences were estimated using a quasi-hyperbolic discounting model, and the relationship between COVID-19 preventive behaviors and time preferences was examined using a probit regression model.
Results
A significant association was observed between the preventive behaviors of COVID-19 and the levels of patience and present-biased preferences among the study participants. Individuals who exhibited low levels of patience were found to be 12.8 percentage points less inclined to follow preventive behaviors compared to those with high levels of patience. The likelihood of having good preventive behaviors of COVID-19 was found to decrease by 14.3 percentage points among individuals with a present bias as opposed to those with a bias toward future.
Conclusions
Patience and present-biased preferences are important determinants of adopting preventive behaviors against COVID-19. These behavioral characteristics should be considered in the design of control and prevention programs. Considering people’s discounting behavior and time (in)consistency in their preferences in the design of COVID-19 policy interventions can provide valuable insights for developing tailored public health policy interventions.; Summary

Key Message
This study explored how time preferences—patience and present bias—affect compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviors among Iranian adults. Using a web-based survey and quasi-hyperbolic discounting model, it found that those with low patience or present-biased preferences were less likely to follow preventive measures than those with high patience or future-oriented preferences. The findings highlight the need to consider time preferences in designing effective public health interventions to improve adherence to preventive measures.

Measurement and Decomposition of Socioeconomic Inequality in Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Analysis of the RaNCD Cohort Study in the West of Iran: Moslem Soofi, Farid Najafi, Shahin Soltani, Behzad Karamimatin; J Prev Med Public Health. 2023;56(1):50-58. Published online January 6, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.373

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Objectives
Socioeconomic inequality in metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains poorly understood in Iran. The present study examined the extent of the socioeconomic inequalities in MetS and quantified the contribution of its determinants to explain the observed inequality, with a focus on middle-aged adults in Iran.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used data from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort study. A sample of 9975 middle-aged adults aged 35-65 years was analyzed. MetS was assessed based on the International Diabetes Federation definition. Principal component analysis was used to construct socioeconomic status (SES). The Wagstaff normalized concentration index (CI_n) was employed to measure the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in MetS. Decomposition analysis was performed to identify and calculate the contribution of the MetS inequality determinants.
Results
The proportion of MetS in the sample was 41.1%. The CI_n of having MetS was 0.043 (95% confidence interval, 0.020 to 0.066), indicating that MetS was more concentrated among individuals with high SES. The main contributors to the observed inequality in MetS were SES (72.0%), residence (rural or urban, 46.9%), and physical activity (31.5%).
Conclusions
Our findings indicated a pro-poor inequality in MetS among Iranian middle-aged adults. These results highlight the importance of persuading middle-aged adults to be physically active, particularly those in an urban setting. In addition to targeting physically inactive individuals and those with low levels of education, policy interventions aimed at mitigating socioeconomic inequality in MetS should increase the focus on high-SES individuals and the urban population.

Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in Iran: an updated meta-analysis
Asra Moradkhani, Pardis Mohammadzadeh, Srwa Assadi, Lotfolah Saed, Hamid Reza Baradaran, Yousef Moradi
BMC Endocrine Disorders.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Sleep Quality, Nutrient Intake, and Social Development Index Predict Metabolic Syndrome in the Tlalpan 2020 Cohort: A Machine Learning and Synthetic Data Study
Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Esparza, Mireya Martinez-Garcia, Tania Ramírez-delReal, Lucero Elizabeth Groves-Miralrio, Manlio F. Marquez, Tomás Pulido, Luis M. Amezcua-Guerra, Enrique Hernández-Lemus
Nutrients.2024; 16(5): 612. CrossRef
Socioeconomic inequalities in metabolic syndrome and its components in a sample of Iranian Kurdish adults
Pardis Mohammadzadeh, Farhad Moradpour, Bijan Nouri, Farideh Mostafavi, Farid Najafi, Ghobad Moradi
Epidemiology and Health.2023; 45: e2023083. CrossRef

Measuring and Decomposing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Adult Obesity in Western Iran: Farid Najafi, Yahya Pasdar, Behrooz Hamzeh, Satar Rezaei, Mehdi Moradi Nazar, Moslem Soofi; J Prev Med Public Health. 2018;51(6):289-297. Published online October 29, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.18.062

8,210 View
184 Download
18 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Objectives
Obesity is a considerable and growing public health concern worldwide. The present study aimed to quantify socioeconomic inequalities in adult obesity in western Iran.
Methods
A total of 10 086 participants, aged 35-65 years, from the Ravansar Non-communicable Disease Cohort Study (2014-2016) were included in the study to examine socioeconomic inequalities in obesity. We defined obesity as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 . The concentration index and concentration curve were used to illustrate and measure wealth-related inequality in obesity. Additionally, we decomposed the concentration index to identify factors that explained wealth-related inequality in obesity.
Results
Overall, the prevalence of obesity in the total sample was 26.7%. The concentration index of obesity was 0.04; indicating that obesity was more concentrated among the rich (p<0.001). Decomposition analysis indicated that wealth, place of residence, and marital status were the main contributors to the observed inequality in obesity.
Conclusions
Socioeconomic-related inequalities in obesity among adults warrant more attention. Policies should be designed to reduce both the prevalence of obesity and inequalities in obesity by focusing on those with higher socioeconomic status, urban residents, and married individuals.

Summary

Citations

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