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:: Volume 30, Issue 2 (Bimothly 2026) ::
Feyz Med Sci J 2026, 30(2): 11-11 Back to browse issues page
Mental Health, Sleep Disorders, Substance Use, and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Homeless Men in Isfahan Province
Freshteh Haerifar , Ehsan Sharifi , Zahra Esteki Moghaddam , Manijeh Davari Dolatabadi , Mohammad Javad Azadchehr , Peyman Esmaeili Shahzadeh-Ali-Akbari , Amir Ghaderi *
Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran , gaderiam@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (591 Views)
Background and Aim: Homelessness, as one of the growing public health challenges, is associated with a high prevalence of psychological problems, sleep disturbances, substance use, and high-risk sexual behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate mental health status, sleep quality, high-risk sexual behaviors, and their associated factors among homeless men.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 239 homeless men residing in two shelter and rehabilitation centers for homeless individuals in the counties of Mobarakeh and Isfahan. Data were collected using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and a High-Risk Sexual Behavior Questionnaire. In addition, demographic information and substance use patterns were obtained through semi-structured interviews.
Results: The mean age of participants was approximately 40 years, with the majority falling within the 30–50-year age range. The results showed that 18.4% of participants had moderate to severe mental health impairment, while 63.6% reported poor sleep quality. The mean score of high-risk sexual behaviors was 4.30 ± 2.48. Poor mental health was significantly associated with housing instability, high-risk livelihood strategies, a history of injection drug use, and repeated attempts to quit substance use (p < 0.05). Poor sleep quality also demonstrated significant correlations with housing status and substance use patterns. High-risk sexual behaviors were more prevalent among younger, single individuals and those with unstable housing. Furthermore, early initiation of substance use and cigarette smoking was associated with poorer mental health and increased high-risk sexual behaviors.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that psychological problems, sleep disturbances, substance use, and high-risk sexual behaviors are highly prevalent and co-occur among homeless men, with multiple social and behavioral determinants.
Keywords: Homelessness, Mental health, Sleep disorders, High-risk sexual behaviors, Substance use
     
Type of Study: Research | Subject: medicine, paraclinic
Received: 2026/01/26 | Revised: 2026/07/1 | Accepted: 2026/02/16 | Published: 2026/07/1
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Haerifar F, Sharifi E, Esteki Moghaddam Z, Davari Dolatabadi M, Azadchehr M J, Esmaeili Shahzadeh-Ali-Akbari P et al . Mental Health, Sleep Disorders, Substance Use, and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Homeless Men in Isfahan Province. Feyz Med Sci J 2026; 30 (2) :11-11
URL: http://feyz.kaums.ac.ir/article-1-5490-en.html


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Volume 30, Issue 2 (Bimothly 2026) Back to browse issues page
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