Psychological Security and Social Well‐Being Among Women Attending Comprehensive Health Centers in East Guilan, Iran: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Fatemeh Mansouri, Azar Darvishpour, Somayah Rabieepour SalimiABSTRACT
Background and Aims
Previous studies have suggested that psychological security is positively associated with social well‐being in the general population. However, evidence regarding this relationship among women attending primary health care services remains limited. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the association between psychological security and social well‐being among women attending comprehensive health centers. It was hypothesized that psychological security would be positively associated with social well‐being.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling on 285 women attending comprehensive health centers in eastern Guilan, northern Iran, in 2024. Data were collected using Maslow's Psychological Security Scale and Keyes' Social Well‐Being Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean (SD), median (IQR), and percentage), Spearman correlation analysis, and multivariable linear regression were performed using SPSS software version 24.
Results
The findings indicated moderate levels for both psychological security (mean ± SD: 11.06 ± 2.36; median (IQR): 11.00(2)) and social well‐being (mean ± SD: 65.22 ± 6.58; median (IQR): 65.00(7)). A significant relationship was observed between three of the five dimensions of social well‐being (social coherence, social integration, and social contribution) and three dimensions of psychological security (self‐confidence, life satisfaction, and people's view of the individual). These associations were generally weak. Additionally, weak positive correlations were observed between the environmental adjustment dimension of psychological security and the social acceptance dimension of social well‐being ( r s = 0.119, p = 0.046), as well as between overall psychological security and social acceptance ( r s = 0.117, p = 0.048). However, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, psychological security was not independently associated with social well‐being in the multivariable regression model ( β = −0.010, p = 0.868).
Conclusion
Psychological security showed weak positive associations with selected dimensions of social well‐being but was not independently associated with overall social well‐being after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. Psychological support may be considered alongside broader community‐based interventions within primary health care to promote women's well‐being.