Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

The Impact of Health-Oriented Lifestyle on Theft Crime Commission (Case Study: Incarcerated Males Aged 20–50 in Lorestan Province, Iran)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D. Student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Tehran Branch of Science and Research, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminolog, Faculty of Law, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran.
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between health-oriented lifestyle dimensions and theft criminality among incarcerated males in Lorestan Province, Iran. Recognizing that human capital deterioration through criminal behavior impedes societal development, we examine how multidimensional health factors influence property crime commission. The research employed a quantitative survey methodology with a sample of 200 males (20-50 years) imprisoned for theft offenses, selected through power-calculated convenience sampling. Utilizing the validated Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Lali et al., 2012), we measured ten health dimensions via 70 Likert-scale items (4-point scale). Rigorous validation included content validity, factor analysis, and convergent validity assessments, while reliability was established through Cronbach's alpha and test-retest consistency. Advanced statistical analyses (Pearson correlation, multiple regression, path analysis) were conducted using SPSS version 26. Key findings demonstrate significant inverse relationships between theft propensity and four health dimensions: physical health, spiritual health, social health, and disease prevention practices. These results support our central hypothesis that comprehensive health-oriented lifestyles significantly deter theft criminality. The study contributes to criminological literature by: (1) empirically validating the protective role of holistic health dimensions against property crimes, (2) demonstrating the particular efficacy of spiritual health factors in the given cultural context, and (3) providing evidence-based recommendations for correctional rehabilitation programs. Our findings suggest that interventions targeting physical conditioning, spiritual development, social skills training, and health education could effectively reduce recidivism while alleviating strain on Iran's criminal justice system.
 
Keywords

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