Research in psychological health

Examining the executive functions of the frontal lobe in patients with cancer, MS and normal individuals

Zahra Ghanbari Zarandi

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Psychometric investigation of the Persian Version of the Cognitive, Affective, and Somatic Empathy Scale (CASES) for Adults

Touraj Hashemi Nosrat Abadi

The Cognitive, Affective, and Somatic Empathy Scale (CASES) proposes a new three-component structure of empathy. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Cognitive, Affective, and Somatic Empathy Scale, the statistical population consisted of all students aged 18 to 50 years studying at Tabriz University in the academic year 2022-2023, selected through convenience sampling. The instruments used in the study included the CASES, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ), and the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale. Data were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Cronbach's alpha, and Pearson's coefficient with SPSS 24 and Lisrel 8 software. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using internal consistency methods. For convergent validity, the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (2018), Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index (1983), and Gard’s Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (2006) were used. The results of reliability calculation using Cronbach's alpha showed coefficients above 0.70. Confirmatory Factor Analysis also indicated that the three-factor solution had a better fit. The correlation analysis results support the validity of this scale. Based on the results of this research, it can be concluded that the Cognitive, Affective, and Somatic Empathy Scale has appropriate reliability and validity.

Determining the pattern of academic procrastination based on grounded theory

Narges Babakhani

The aim of this study is to identify and model the academic procrastination pattern based on the grounded theory. This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and a sequential-exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, the grounded theory method was used for data analysis. The participants of the study were undergraduate students at the University of Tehran who, based on their self-reports, were experiencing academic procrastination. Participants were selected using theoretical sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews.The results of the data analysis indicated that psychological factors, perfectionism, experiential avoidance, internet addiction, and cultural-social factors were identified as the main causes of academic procrastination according to the interviewees. Additionally, the most important core and peripheral factors affecting academic procrastination included delay, indifference, laziness, impulsivity, and lack of concentration. Regarding coping strategies, self-actualization and time management were identified as the main strategies for reducing academic procrastination by the interviewees. Contextual factors influencing the application of these strategies included emotion management and behavior modification. Furthermore, strategic and macro-level interventions were identified as significant intervening factors in the process of coping with academic procrastination. Ultimately, the outcomes of these coping strategies included increased academic self-efficacy and improved students’ mental health

Modeling the relationship between relational mindfulness and couple intimacy with the mediation of empathy

Roya Rasouli

The aim of the present study was to examine the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between relational mindfulness and marital intimacy. Given the fundamental impact of marital relationships on individual and social mental health, identifying factors that enhance the quality and intimacy of these relationships is of paramount importance. This descriptive-correlational study targeted the entire population of married students at the University of Tehran during the academic year 2022-2023. A sample of 300 married students (both male and female) was selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using three validated questionnaires: the Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (Vandenbroek & Werten, 1995), the Empathy Scale (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006), and the Relational Mindfulness Scale (Kims et al., 2018). The data were analyzed using SPSS26 and AMOS24 through structural equation modeling. The results indicated a significant and positive relationship between relational mindfulness and empathy (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). Additionally, empathy was significantly and positively related to marital intimacy (β = 0.36, p < 0.001), and a positive and significant relationship was found between relational mindfulness and marital intimacy (β = 0.17, p < 0.002). Comparing the direct and full models revealed that empathy plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between relational mindfulness and marital intimacy. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the role of empathy and mindfulness in enhancing marital intimacy and can serve as a foundation for designing psychological interventions aimed at improving marital relationships.

The efficacy of emotion-focused therapy on impulsivity, social adjustment, and social media addiction in adolescents attempting suicide.

reyhane sheykhan

This study aimed to investigate efficacy of emotion-focused therapy on impulsivity, social adjustment, and social networking addiction in adolescents who attempted suicide. The present study design was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a control group. statistical sample of this study was 30 people who were selected through purposive sampling and then randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (15 people). The measurement tools included Barat's Impulsivity Questionnaire, Sinha and Singh's Social Adjustment Questionnaire, and Mobile-Based Social Networking Addiction Questionnaire. Emotion-focused therapy was implemented by a psychologist for experimental group. In order to analyze the data in this study, multivariate analysis of covariance test was used to examine hypotheses. results showed that after removing effects of pretest, there was a significant difference in the linear combination of dependent variables between the two groups studied (Wilks' Lambda = 0.780, F = 3.23, 90.432, p = 0.001, and eta squared = 0.922). Univariate analysis of covariance tests also showed that adolescents in the experimental group showed significant improvement in posttest scores of impulsivity, social adjustment, and social media addiction compared to adolescents in control group. Therefore, it can be concluded that emotion-focused therapy can be an effective treatment for adolescents who attempt suicide

The mediating roles of anxiety sensitivity and body dissatisfaction in the relationship between childhood trauma and eating attitudes in college students

Vahid Sadeghi-Firoozabadi

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating roles of anxiety sensitivity and body dissatisfaction in the relationship between childhood trauma and eating attitudes in college students. This correlational and path analysis research included students aged 18 to 25 years from Kharazmi University of Tehran, studying in the second semester of the 1402 academic year. A total of 422 students were selected by convenience sampling. The research instruments included the 26-item version of Garner et al.'s eating attitude test (1982), the revised anxiety sensitivity index of Taylor and Cox (1998), the body shape questionnaire of Cooper et al. (1987), and the childhood trauma questionnaire of Bernstein et al. (2003). The findings indicated a good fit between the data and the model. The results showed that there is a direct and significant relationship between childhood trauma, anxiety sensitivity and body dissatisfaction with eating attitudes. Also, childhood trauma have a direct and significant relationship with anxiety sensitivity and body dissatisfaction. In addition, anxiety sensitivity has a direct and significant relationship with body dissatisfaction. Also, body dissatisfaction and anxiety sensitivity play a mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and eating attitudes.

Prediction of Eating Behaviors Based on Object Relations and Attachment Styles:The Mediating Role of Defense Mechanisms.

Valiollah ramezani

The aim of the present study was to predict unhealthy eating behaviors based on object relations and attachment styles, with the mediating role of defense mechanisms. This study is a descriptive-correlational research. The statistical population consisted of students from the University of Science and Research in Tehran during the 2023-2024 academic year. Data were collected using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), Object Relations Inventory, Adult Attachment Styles, and Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DSQ-40) and were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that object relations had a significant positive impact on unhealthy eating behaviors. Developed defense mechanisms directly influenced unhealthy eating behaviors. Secure attachment had a significant effect on eating behaviors through developed defense mechanisms, while insecure attachment styles did not show a significant impact. The model fit indices indicated that the theoretical model of the study had good fit, demonstrating that object relations, attachment styles, and defense mechanisms influence unhealthy eating behaviors, and strengthening positive factors could help prevent and reduce the prevalence of these behaviors.

A Qualitative study of Narrative analysis of the experiences and perceptions of informal caregivers of an elderly person

Zeinab Mihandoost

Informal caregivers play an important role in meeting the communication, nutrition and health needs of the elderly. Understanding the experiences and perspectives of informal caregivers in caring for the elderly is important. This study aims to identify and organize the experiences of informal caregivers. The purpose of this research is to analyze the physical, cognitive and psychological problems of an elderly person with a stroke with a qualitative approach. The research method in this study is qualitative and based on unstructured interviews. The sampling method is purposeful. Interviews were conducted with the caregivers of an elderly person who had a stroke. The interview was conducted in an elderly person’s home located in Ilam city. Data analysis was done by using NVIVO software. Therefore, the interview were reviewed and initially coded, and at this stage, 570 initial codes were extracted. The initial codes were reviewed and revised several times and finally the number of five main classes with the titles of cognitive, physical, economic, care, and environmental conditions were achieved with 13 sub stage. In this study, it was found that the care provided was based on rotin actions and according to psychological, physical, health, nutrition and medicinal aspects.

The effectiveness of positive-focus therapy on self-care and glycosylated hemoglobin in female patients with type 2 diabetes.

fariborz dortaj

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of positive psychology intervention on self-care and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in women with type 2 diabetes. This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group. A total of 30 women with type 2 diabetes who visited the endocrinology department of Shahid Dr. Labbafi Nejad Hospital between June and July 2024 were randomly selected. Participants were then randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups using Microsoft Excel. The experimental group received positive psychology intervention for eight weekly sessions (90 minutes each), while the control group received routine hospital care. Data were collected using the Diabetes Self-Care Scale and HbA1c measurements at three time points: baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). The results indicated a significant increase in self-care scores in the intervention group compared to the control group. Additionally, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to the control group. These findings suggest that positive psychology intervention can be an effective approach to improving self-care behaviors and reducing HbA1c levels in women with type 2 diabetes.