Qur’an and Social Sciences

Qur’an and Social Sciences

The Role of Counselors and Educational Mentors in the Prevention and Reduction of Student Addiction: A Mixed‑Methods Study in Khuzestan Province Schools[1] [1] This scientific article is derived from the master’s thesis of Mr. Mobin Shah Vali, supervised by Dr. Shahla Bagheri. The thesis was conducted in a demand‑driven format with the support of the Research Institute for Education Studies.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mobin shahvali 1
shahla bagheri 2
1 M.A. in Social Sciences Research, Ministry of Education, Abadan, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)
10.22034/arq.2025.242442
Abstract
Addiction is among the most significant social harms, posing a serious threat to adolescents’ psychosocial well‑being as well as the stability of families and society. School‑based prevention therefore holds strategic importance. The present study, conducted in Khuzestan Province, aimed to elucidate the role of school counselors and educational mentors in preventing and reducing students’ inclination toward addiction, employing a sequential mixed‑methods design (qualitative-quantitative). In the qualitative phase, 19 counselors and educational mentors were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected via semi‑structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out using the grounded theory approach through open, axial, and selective coding. In the quantitative phase, 363 male upper‑secondary students from five cities of Khuzestan Province were selected through simple random sampling and completed a researcher‑designed questionnaire developed based on the qualitative findings; the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that students’ inclination toward addiction is shaped by three categories of factors: individual factors (such as weak life skills, low self‑esteem, and poor emotion regulation), family factors (including conflict, parental addiction, and inadequate supervision), and socio‑cultural factors (such as peer pressure, availability of substances, and the influence of virtual spaces). Moreover, the role of counselors and educational mentors was confirmed at three levels—prevention, identification, and support—encompassing life‑skills training, early detection, and the provision of counseling services. The results underscore the necessity of strengthening the professional status of these groups and designing integrated interventions grounded in scientific knowledge and cultural‑religious values to reduce students’ tendency toward addiction and enhance their psychosocial well‑being.
Keywords
School counselor
Educational mentor
Student addiction trauma
Multifaceted addiction epidemic
Grounded theory
Islamic foundations

Subjects

The Holy Qur’ān
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Qur’an and Social Sciences
Volume 5, Issue 4 - Serial Number 20
Winter 2026
Pages 160-197

  • Receive Date 07 December 2025
  • Revise Date 02 February 2026
  • Accept Date 19 April 2026