Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Health: The Predictive Role of the Individualism-Collectivism

Explanations of social problems due to its complexity and many angles, requires interdisciplinary and integrated view of knowledge. The cultural patterns, involves integrating psychological and sociological approaches. Individualism-collectivism cultural patterns that determine a person’s relationship with the community and participation in social activities, are the different levels of the social health. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of individualism- collectivism, horizontal and vertical in social health of students. In a correlational study, 300 students (including 159 females and 141 males) with a mean age of 28.83 and standard deviation 6.8 were selected by random cluster sampling and social health questionnaire collectivism (Keyses, & Shapiro, 2004) and the scale of individualism (Triandis et al, 1988) were assessed. In order to analyze the data by correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the vertical collectivism and horizontal individualism are predictors of social health. The implications of findings were discussed.