https://jas.ui.ac.ir/ Journal of Applied Sociology en daily 1 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_29886.html IntroductionNational solidarity transcends mere elite consensus, legislation, or political mechanisms; it is deeply embedded in the collective unconscious, culture, and social experiences of citizens. It embodies a shared commitment to social cohesion, evolving into an ethical-political ideal. This concept is crucial for governance as it promotes acceptance of ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity, along with varying perspectives and preferences. Such acceptance enhances a nation’s political and social capital. According to Kaplan, national unity and a sense of belonging among individuals are cultivated through the unconscious alignment of shared habits, such as enjoying symbolic foods or participating in specific rituals. These collective practices and emotional experiences bolstered by governmental institutions and symbols create connections among individuals, often strengthening national identity in the process. Given the importance of national solidarity in Iran’s ethnically diverse society and the vital role of women as key contributors, this study sought to explore and analyze the lived experiences and perceptions of educated Baloch women regarding national solidarity.  Materials & MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in the city of Zahedan in 2025, involving 28 Baloch women as participants. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, which were subsequently analyzed using thematic analysis. The interviews aimed to explore the participants’ perceptions of national solidarity within the framework of their understanding of homeland. Discussion of Results & ConclusionThe findings revealed that participants demonstrated a deep attachment to the concept of homeland. However, their experiences with social injustice led them to primarily define national solidarity and unity in terms of justice. National solidarity can be metaphorically envisioned as a “Baloch carpet”. From the analysis, 4 key themes emerged: Iranian interwovenness, inclusive justice, responsible governance, and loyal agency. These findings suggested that the structural phenomenon of national solidarity was rooted in a cultural-historical context centered on inclusive justice, providing a vision for enhancing social cohesion and reforming governance practices. Furthermore, national solidarity was grounded in human interactions, perceptions, intentions, and loyal agency. This conceptual framework offered a practical foundation for policymaking aimed at promoting social justice, fostering public trust, and ultimately enhancing social capital. The study constructed the concept of national solidarity in a gender-transcendent manner. Although it focused on educated women, the results were interpreted in a way that transcended gender boundaries. The thematic analysis indicated that national solidarity held significance and sustainability for participants when shaped within the framework of Iranian interwovenness—a context built on shared values and concepts that transcended ethnic and cultural differences. In its tangible expression, national solidarity recognized Iranian identity, drawing inspiration from the cultural and social ecosystems of all Iranian ethnic groups, including Kurds, Lors, Baloch, and others, along with all religious denominations rather than solely focusing on Tehran and centralized power. Participants advocated for responsible governance at the structural level—a government that embodied justice, transparency, and anti-corruption in both its structures and actions. Loyal agency, at the micro level, was not merely an emotional or historical necessity, but a collective practice reflected in wealth generation, education for future generations, and informed selection of responsible leaders. The study’s findings, emphasizing lived experiences and themes, such as inclusive justice and loyal agency, enriched the conceptual discourse on national solidarity. The metaphor of the “Baloch Carpet” and the theme of Iranian interwovenness as a conceptual framework offer an innovative approach to deepening the understanding of national solidarity in multicultural contexts and warrant further exploration in future research. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30028.html Introduction Delayed marriage and the resulting increase in the celibacy ratio are significant changes affecting the family institution in recent years. These shifts have prompted research across various fields to identify and examine the different dimensions of this phenomenon. Beyond its numerous individual and social consequences, this trend contributes to declining fertility rates as fewer individuals are engaged in childbearing. Consequently, studying and analyzing the factors influencing the celibacy ratio has become a focal interest for demographers. Research indicates that structural factors, such as migration and unemployment, significantly impact the celibacy ratio within populations. In recent years, Iran has seen a notable rise in the number of individuals who remain single. Census data from recent decades further highlight substantial internal migration flows within the country. This article aimed to investigate the effects of migration and unemployment on the celibacy ratio among individuals over the age of 30, along with a spatial analysis of these factors.     Materials & Methods This research employed a quantitative methodology utilizing secondary data analysis. Three key indicators—celibacy ratio, net migration, and unemployment rate—were derived from census data and the statistical yearbook of the Statistics Center of Iran. The celibacy ratio was calculated for the populations of the counties divided into two groups: men and women aged 30-39, 40-49, and 50 years and older. The analysis was conducted using ArcGIS and GeoDa software. Data analysis methods included least squares regression, geographically weighted regression, and Moran's spatial autocorrelation.   Discussion of Results & Conclusion The findings indicated that the celibacy ratio among individuals over 30 years of age was higher in the western, southwestern, and northwestern regions of Iran compared to other areas. Analysis revealed that net migration had a negative impact on the celibacy ratio for this demographic. Specifically, migration had led to an increase in the celibacy ratio in immigrant-sending counties, while it had decreased in immigrant-receiving counties. Conversely, the unemployment rate positively correlated with the celibacy ratio; counties with higher unemployment rates exhibited higher celibacy ratios, whereas those with lower unemployment had lower rates of singleness. There were notable gender differences in how migration and unemployment affected the celibacy ratio. The influence of these variables on the celibacy rate was more pronounced among women, particularly in the western regions of the country. High unemployment rates had contributed to increased celibacy rates for both females and males in certain counties. In some areas, male migration had further elevated the celibacy ratio among women. Application of bivariate Moran's I analysis revealed that counties in western Iran formed a significant low-high cluster characterized by low net migration (immigrant-sending) and high celibacy ratios. In contrast, many counties in the western half of Iran belonged to a high-high cluster marked by high unemployment rates and elevated celibacy ratios. Improving job creation could provide a foundation for marriage in some counties in the west and northwest of Iran by reducing migration and fostering the necessary conditions for family formation. Future research can focus on analyzing regional differences in population celibacy and exploring additional factors, apart from unemployment and migration that influence the celibacy ratio. Qualitative studies in this area could also provide valuable insights. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_29930.html Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the between body culture and the active body, using a qualitative approach based on grounded theory methodology Methods: This applied and exploratory research was conducted through purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. The study population included 20 professors, experts, managers, and specialists in physical education, health, and sports sociology with at least five years of relevant experience. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using MAXQDA 2022 software. Findings: In the grounded theory analysis process, 792 initial codes were identified, which were subsequently reduced to 171 codes, 24 concepts, ultimately 15 main categories via open, axial, selective coding. The core phenomenon of the study “the interactions between body culture and the active body” was identified, relating to causal conditions (individual motivations, socio-professional factors, educational influences), contextual conditions (cultural backgrounds, social interactions, physical environment), and intervening conditions (psychosocial pressures and external constraints). Action strategies included personal planning, social interaction and dynamism, physical enhancement activities, leading to outcomes such as improved physical and mental health and personal and social development. Conclusion: The findings revealed that the interactions between body culture and the active body results from the dynamic and complex interplay of individual, social, and cultural factors. This model provides a robust framework for policy-making and strategic planning in sports sociology, public health, and sports management, emphasizing the promotion of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The results are valuable for policymakers, coaches, and professionals in physical education and community health. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_29999.html Quiet quitting, as one of the emerging challenges in human resource management, is a negative organizational phenomenon that can significantly hinder the attainment of sustainable competitive advantage. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the affecting factors contributing to employees’ quiet quitting. Employing a systematic review and meta-synthesis approach, this research analyzed the findings of previous studies. Given the novelty of the topic, it has remained largely unexplored in the context of domestic research, making this study the first systematic inquiry into the phenomenon within Iran. Initially, 202 peer-reviewed English-language academic texts were identified, from which 70 relevant studies were selected for in-depth analysis. The PRISMA framework was used to guide the systematic screening process, while the CASP checklist was applied to assess the quality and eligibility of the sources. Primary codes were extracted using MAXQDA 2024, followed by a thematic analysis to validate the conceptual model. As a result, 485 initial codes were synthesized into 72 basic themes, 20 organizing themes, and 4 overarching global themes. The reliability of the thematic structure was confirmed using the Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, and the content validity of the model was supported by 20 academic experts, applying CVR and CVI indices https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30000.html In the field of health and treatment, services are diverse and the needs of health and treatment centers are expanding day by day. Considering that the Ministry of Health and Treatment alone is not able to meet the needs, one of the important mechanisms to compensate for the deficiencies in the health system is to benefit from the capacity of philanthropists' participation. Therefore, the present study aims to explain the role of managers in attracting philanthropist support in the health field. The present study uses a combined analytical approach of qualitative and quantitative methods, and from the perspective of the objective, the data collection method and the degree of control of variables are applied, survey, and descriptive, respectively. The statistical population of the study includes all hospital managers and experts active in the health system of Yazd province, as well as philanthropists active in the health field, who were selected using judgmental sampling. In order to conduct the study, in the first step, in order to identify all the roles of managers, the content analysis method was used. Then, considering the roles extracted from the first step, in the second step, the DEMATEL questionnaire was designed and the questionnaire was distributed among the sample members. After analyzing the collected data based on the DEMATEL approach in the intuitive fuzzy space, the level of influence of each role was determined. In order to design a model explaining the role of hospital managers in attracting the support of benefactors, the level of influence and influence was transferred to the third step and using the structural-interpretive modeling method, the level of each role in the aforementioned model was explained. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30044.html Risk-taking among university students is recognized as one of the important social and psychological issues in various societies. These behaviors can have significant negative effects on physical and mental health, the healthy lifestyle of this crucial group, and on society as a whole. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between social and cultural capital and behavioral risk-taking among university students in Qazvin. The research used in this study is a survey and its statistical population includes all university students in Qazvin, with a total of 39,533 people. The sample size was calculated based on the Cochran formula as 380 people. The sampling method was a stratified sampling method proportional to the volume, and the data collection tool was a questionnaire. The data analysis software was SPSS. The results of the correlation test showed that the linear relationship between the variables of social capital (including social trust, social participation, social cohesion and social support), cultural capital (including objectified, institutionalized and embodied capital) and the components of the behavioral risk-taking variable was significant, and the type of relationship was negative and inverse. According to the findings of the multivariate regression analysis, the variables present in the regression model were able to explain 35.2 percent of the changes in the dependent variable of students' behavioral risk-taking. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30175.html The present study aims to present a social work model for the social reintegration of immigrant youth involved in crime. The methodology of this research is a qualitative study. A multi-stage research process was used to achieve the main goal of the research. The research samples included immigrant youth and key informants (26) in the first group and 10 in the second group. In the first stage, the understanding of the process of recidivism in immigrant youth was analyzed, and in the continuation and in response to the main research question, the key informants' points of view on the obstacles, challenges, and considerations related to the social reintegration of the target group were explored. The case management model was the result of integrating the qualitative findings of the research in order to achieve the main research question. Based on this model and by carefully examining the findings of the first part and taking into account various considerations, 46 concepts were identified under the risk factors and strengths of different client groups. The findings of the second part were also used in designing interventions and considerations related to the target group. Based on the case management model, the process of social reintegration of the target group includes 7 main stages including case finding (1) psychosocial assessment (2) goal setting and planning (3), intervention and action (4) monitoring and evaluation (5) follow-up (6) and (7) community-based care interventions. It can be concluded that the case management model can improve and promote their situation not only in working with clients convicted of theft and drugs but also in working with clients from different groups who are in need of social work interventions in some way and can be an important step towards their empowerment and social reintegration. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30218.html Teaching and learning the concepts and belief, ritual and paractical principles of any religion is inevitable and necessary for its reproduction and continuation. Islam is no exception to this rule so the principles and rituals of transmitting and acquiring religious knowledge and practices have a special place in it. One of the most important institutional ways for such transfering is the existence of informal Quranic classes in all parts of the country. Although the effects of such classes can be examined from different perspectives, describing and identifying the lived experience of participants in such classes from a qualitative perspective is one of the most important ways to understand the importance and effects of theses classes. So the present study of women participating in organized and semi-organized Quran classes in Lar city. The used approach was qualitative based on a phenomenological methodology. The participants were 15 women participating in Quran classes from the old and new areas of Lar city, who were selected using purposive sampling. Thematic analysis of the interviews showed that the elements and nature of these women's lived experience could be described and analyzed under 6 main categories and 39 subcategories. The main categories included living within the Quranic boundaries; expanding the scope and deepening the quality of social interaction with women's groups; giving meaning to life and a sense of self-fulfillment; engaging in charitable economic activities; believing in sacred symbols and their power (effectiveness); and feeling of coercion in secular places. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30280.html Abstract: The transition to independence, or the transition to adulthood, is a significant phase in the lives of young people. Employment is a key indicator of this transition, particularly for young men, as it is influenced by social structures and various forms of capital. This article explores the lived experiences of emancipated youth from the welfare system regarding employment. The study employs a phenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews with nine emancipated young men.The findings reveal that employment becomes inevitable for them after gaining independence. However, they often find themselves marginalized in the labor market, leading to a process of objectification. In this process, individuals lose their social agency and become subjects of management, surveillance, or control. This situation is particularly evident among marginalized groups or those lacking necessary capital, manifesting as repeated cycles of passivity, dependency, and an inability to alter their fate. Consequently, this hinders their successful transition to adulthood. The failure in this transition can be attributed to factors at three levels: individual, institutional, and structural. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30305.html Urban sustainability, as a fundamental pillar of urban development, requires that citizens feel a sense of belonging to their living environment. Accordingly, the present research was conducted with the aim of examining the level and factors affecting the sense of belonging to the city among the citizens of Rezvanshahr as a multicultural city. Methodologically, the research falls within the realm of quantitative studies. The research data were collected using a questionnaire and through cluster random sampling from among 400 residents of different areas and neighborhoods of Rezvanshahr. The theoretical framework of the research is Antonich's theory, based on which the sense of place attachment among the citizens of Rezvanshahr has been analyzed. The findings of the research indicate that the level of urban belonging among the citizens of Rezvanshahr is relatively high, and they have a significant emotional and cognitive bond with their city. The results show that by increasing social vitality, strengthening the spirit of participation in urban management, and enhancing trust in urban management institutions, the sense of belonging to the city increases. Conversely, an increase in violence and urban disorder reduces this feeling among citizens. Furthermore, the examination of demographic variables revealed that the sense of belonging to the city varies significantly among different age groups, education levels, and ethnicities, while no significant difference was observed regarding the variable of religion. The results of the multiple regression analysis also indicate that the independent variables of the research collectively explain close to 45% of the variance in the sense of belonging to the city. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30314.html Social tolerance, as a basis for the cohesion and sustainable development of societies, requires acceptance of differences and peaceful coexistence. This study examined the effect of economic capital on social tolerance and the mediating role of social and cultural capital in Isfahan province. Given the cultural, ethnic, and economic diversity of this province, understanding the factors affecting social tolerance is important for reducing conflicts and strengthening social solidarity. The study was conducted with a quantitative approach and descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population included citizens over 18 years of age, and a sample of 384 people was selected using the Cochran formula using a multi-stage cluster method. The data were analyzed with SPSS and AMOS software, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that economic capital has a positive and significant effect (0.46) on social tolerance. Social and cultural capital also play an important role as mediators. Economic capital indirectly affects social tolerance by strengthening social (0.47) and cultural (0.51) capital. The coefficients of the indirect effect through social and cultural capital were 0.23 and 0.24, respectively, which confirmed the importance of mediation of these variables. The fit indices of the model showed its good fit. Increasing economic capital strengthens social tolerance by improving living conditions, reducing inequalities, and creating opportunities for social interaction and access to cultural resources. To promote social tolerance in Isfahan, inclusive economic development policies, strengthening social networks, and increasing access to cultural resources are essential. https://jas.ui.ac.ir/article_30335.html Social hope arises from the shared knowledge and experience of people, rooted in cultural, historical, and political contexts. This study begins with the paradox of declining socio-political hope among social science students, despite their immersion in a meaning-making academic environment, and aims to understand this lived experience using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Data were collected through twelve semi-structured interviews with social science students at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and analyzed step-by-step. Findings reveal that hope in students' lifeworld is a fluid and multilayered phenomenon, shaped by the tension between critical awareness, structural constraints, and everyday meaning-making practices. The experience of hope emerges through three main pathways: confronting injustice and instability, where gender discrimination, relative deprivation, and socio-political uncertainty lead to a "closure of future horizons"; paradoxical hope, in which awareness of inequalities coexists with a sense of powerlessness to change; and multi-source meaning-making, through which students rebuild hope by drawing on family, selective religiosity, digital media, and informal online spaces. Additionally, three patterns of political attachment—traditional, conditional, and disengaged—reflect experiences of acceptance or rejection within the political structure. Finally, social participation in the form of micro-activism serves as a compensatory strategy to maintain a sense of agency.