Social health needs of Iranian male adolescents

Background: Adequate attention to adolescents’ health is considered an investment for the future of any country. Adolescents face many social and cultural challenges when they enter a new stage of social life. The advancement of adolescent social health depends on the recognition of their needs. This study aimed to explain the concept of social health needs from the perspectives of male adolescents to improve the health of both adolescents and the society.Method: In this qualitative study with a content analysis approach, ۵۲ male adolescents aged ۱۳-۱۸ years participated in ۱۰ semi-structured individual interviews and ۷ focus group discussions. They expressed their experiences and opinions regarding social health needs. Purposive sampling was performed to recruit the adolescents in different areas of Tehran in ۲۰۲۰. Collected data was analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.Results: The findings were divided into four main themes and eight sub-themes including ‘need to a healthy family (healthy family relationships and family responsibility)’, ‘need to a healthy society (favorable social status and favorable economic situation)’, ‘need to educational facilities (promoting productivity in schools and public education facilities’, ‘need to communication with peers (healthy communication with peers and setting up for communication with peers in the opposite gender)’.Conclusion: To promote social health in adolescents, it is necessary to plan for the empowerment of community, family, schools and mass media by health authorities and devise appropriate health policies.