Fatemeh Behroozfar, Dr Marjan Al Behbahani,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
Cancer, as one of the most prevalent chronic and life-threatening diseases, is accompanied by numerous physical and psychological challenges, including chronic pain that affects patients' quality of life. The present study aimed to predict pain tolerance based on spiritual well-being and self-control in cancer patients. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on a population of 260 cancer patients referred to Nemazi Hospital in Shiraz in 2024, with a sample of 150 individuals selected via convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan et al., 1995; for inverse measurement of pain tolerance), the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Paloutzian & Ellison, 1982), and the Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004), with reliability confirmed by Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.80 to 0.85. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression in SPSS-21 software. Pearson correlation results indicated significant positive relationships between spiritual well-being (r=0.285, p<0.001), self-control (r=0.328, p<0.001), and pain tolerance. Regression analysis revealed that spiritual well-being and self-control together explained 36% of the variance in pain tolerance (R²=0.360, F=56.993, p<0.001). Spiritual well-being and self-control are effective predictors of pain tolerance in cancer patients, and it is recommended to integrate interventions focused on enhancing these factors into clinical programs to improve patients' quality of life.
Ali Yousefi Rudpish, Roya Tavakoli, Fatemeh Mohammadifar, Ziba Poursadegh Gavgani,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of an integrated family therapy program (combining cognitive-behavioral and emotion-focused approaches) on reducing depression and improving metacognitive beliefs in spouses. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples who referred with symptoms of depression. A sample of 30 people (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) was selected using a convenient and purposive sampling method and randomly assigned. The research instruments included the Beck Depression Inventory and the Wells and Cartwright-Hatton Metacognitive Questionnaire. The experimental group received the treatment protocol during 10 sessions, and the data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed that integrated family therapy significantly and strongly reduced depression and significantly improved metacognitive beliefs in the experimental group compared to the control group. In addition, the results of the follow-up phase showed that the treatment effect remained stable in both dependent variables. Based on the findings, combining cognitive-behavioral and emotion-focused approaches in the form of family therapy can be used as an effective and sustainable intervention to promote mental health and correct dysfunctional cognitive-emotional processes in spouses.
Zahra Kavousian, Faezeh Ziaei, Parisa Pakari, Parisa Hosseinzadeh Yazdi, Zeinab Hassani Asl,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotional working memory in the relationship between attentional bias and depressive symptoms within the context of family interactions. Guided by contemporary cognitive–emotional models of depression, the study explored how negative attentional bias, as a core vulnerability factor, may influence depressive symptomatology through impairments in emotional working memory, and how these processes are embedded in the dynamics of family relationships. This research employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of adults aged 20–40 years living in active family systems in Tehran in 2025. A total of 350 participants were selected through purposive convenient sampling following eligibility screening. Research instruments included measures of depressive symptoms, attentional bias, emotional working memory performance, and family interaction patterns. The results demonstrated that negative attentional bias significantly predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly. Emotional working memory showed a significant mediating role, indicating that deficits in maintaining, updating, and regulating emotional information constitute a key mechanism linking attentional bias to depressive experiences. Furthermore, family interactions functioned as an amplifying contextual factor: maladaptive and conflictual family environments strengthened the indirect pathway by increasing cognitive–emotional load and reducing regulatory resources. The final structural model showed acceptable fit indices and supported the hypothesized mediational relationships. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of integrating cognitive, emotional, and contextual variables in understanding depressive symptoms. They also underscore the potential value of interventions targeting attentional processing biases and emotional working memory capacities, particularly within family-based therapeutic frameworks.
Shiva Kaveh Ahangari, Zohreh Ganbari, Fatemeh Ameneh Aghareb Parast, Elnaz Baniani, Zahra Sadat Hoseini,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
One of the fundamental indicators in explaining the quality of marital relationships is marital conflict, which, if managed ineffectively, becomes one of the main grounds for tension and the breakdown of family relationships. The present study compared the effectiveness of Gottman couple therapy with Glasser’s reality therapy-based couple therapy on cognitive flexibility and sense of coherence in couples experiencing conflict. The statistical population of the study consisted of couples referred to the Zehn Ara Psychology Clinic in Tehran in the year 1404 (2025–2026) due to marital conflict. The sampling method was convenience and purposeful. To collect data, the Dennis and Vander Wal (2010) Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire and Antonovsky (1993) Sense of Coherence Questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The findings showed that Gottman couple therapy was more effective than Glasser’s reality therapy on cognitive flexibility and sense of coherence in women experiencing conflict. It can be concluded that Gottman couple therapy is more effective in improving cognitive flexibility and sense of coherence in women with marital conflict. Therefore, based on the research findings, it can be utilized to reduce problems in individuals experiencing marital conflicts.
Masoomeh Hoseinian, Roya Tavokoli,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
| The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of self-compassion training on levels of self-criticism and sense of coherence in women with depressive symptoms. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all women with depressive symptoms referring to counseling centers in Qom. Among them, 30 participants were selected through purposeful sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (15 participants) or the control group (15 participants). The research instruments included the Beck Depression Inventory-II for screening, the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale by Thompson and Zuroff, and the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire by Flensborg-Madsen. The experimental group received group self-compassion training, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA and ANCOVA). The findings indicated that after controlling for the pretest effect, the difference between the experimental and control groups in the posttest phase was statistically significant for both levels of self-criticism and sense of coherence. The educational intervention accounted for 29.1% of the variance in self-criticism and 59.0% of the variance in sense of coherence. Furthermore, the results showed that this training significantly reduced internalized and comparative self-criticism while enhancing the components of sense of coherence, including comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. In conclusion, by weakening self-criticism mechanisms and strengthening the structure of the sense of coherence, self-compassion training serves as an effective approach for improving the mental health indices of depressed women, and its application in counseling centers is recommended. |
Fatemeh Ghasempour, Masoumeh Taheri, Sheyda Esmailzadeh, Seyede Fateme Esmaeilpour, Soheila Esgandani,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of integrated group-based acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion on distress tolerance and resilience against suicide in married women with experience of domestic violence. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest and one-month follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all married women with experience of domestic violence who referred to family counseling centers in Isfahan. From among them, 32 people were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (16 people) and control (16 people). One person from each group dropped out before the posttest, and finally, each group continued with 15 people. The experimental group received the integrated intervention over eight 90-minute sessions, and the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale and the Suicide Resilience Questionnaire and were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS version 28. The findings showed that the integrated intervention significantly increased distress tolerance with an effect size of 0.481. Also, this intervention significantly increased the 'internal protector' and 'emotional stability' components of resilience against suicide with an effect size of 0.456, but it had no significant effect on the 'external protector' component. The stability of the effects on the aforementioned components was confirmed up to one month after the intervention. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that integrated acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion is an effective approach for increasing distress tolerance and improving the internal dimensions of resilience against suicide in married women with experience of domestic violence, but the inability of this intervention to improve the external protector requires attention in future research.
Zahra Sadat Hoseini, Zabihollah Gharlipour,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The aim of this study is to predict marital commitment based on conflict resolution styles and communication patterns of couples in Qom city. This research is applied in nature and has a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population of the study includes all couples in Qom province, estimated at 382,590. The sampling method was non-random convenience sampling, and the sample size was determined to be 384 individuals using Cochran's formula. After distributing the questionnaires to 400 individuals, 393 questionnaires were collected. The research instruments included the 44-item Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (DCI) by Adams and Jones (1997), the 35-item Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ) by Christensen and Sullaway (1984), and the 28-item Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II (ROCI-II) by Rahim (1983). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression in SPSS version 26. The reliability of the instruments, measured by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.785 for the marital commitment questionnaire, 0.833 for the conflict resolution styles questionnaire, and 0.851 for the communication patterns questionnaire. The results showed that conflict resolution styles and communication patterns can significantly predict marital commitment. Furthermore, according to standardized beta coefficients, conflict resolution styles had a greater and more direct effect on predicting marital commitment among couples.
Fatemeh Derakhshan, Mahla Salajgheh, Dr Amine Jalali,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Choice Theory-based training on responsibility and disruptive behaviors among adolescents in Kerman. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population included all adolescent students in Kerman during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 30 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The research instruments included the Responsibility Questionnaire and the Disruptive Behavior Scale. The experimental group received eight 60-minute sessions of Choice Theory-based training. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
The findings indicated that Choice Theory-based training significantly increased responsibility and significantly reduced disruptive behaviors in the experimental group compared to the control group. Based on the results, Choice Theory, with an emphasis on personal responsibility and internal control, can be considered an effective intervention for improving social behaviors and enhancing responsibility in adolescents.
Mahla Salajgheh, Fatemeh Derakhshan, Amine Jalali,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Choice Theory-based training on responsibility and disruptive behaviors among adolescents in Kerman. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population included all adolescent students in Kerman during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 30 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The research instruments included the Responsibility Questionnaire and the Disruptive Behavior Scale. The experimental group received eight 60-minute sessions of Choice Theory-based training. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
The findings indicated that Choice Theory-based training significantly increased responsibility and significantly reduced disruptive behaviors in the experimental group compared to the control group. Based on the results, Choice Theory, with an emphasis on personal responsibility and internal control, can be considered an effective intervention for improving social behaviors and enhancing responsibility in adolescents.
Leyla Sadat Modarresi, Parisa Kolahi, Arsalan Barekat, Taiebe Delshad, Soheila Rahmani, Amineh Jalali,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of meaning in life in the effectiveness of existential-acceptance therapy on loneliness and death anxiety among older adults with chronic physical illnesses. This semi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population comprised all older adults with chronic physical illnesses who referred to the specialized clinics of Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex and the specialized clinic of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran in 2026. Among them, 30 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned into two groups: experimental (n=15) and control (n=15). The research instruments included Dhahiri’s Loneliness Scale, the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). The experimental group received 8 sessions of 90-minute existential-acceptance therapy intervention, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and path analysis. The results indicated that existential-acceptance therapy significantly reduced loneliness and death anxiety in the experimental group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the mediation analysis confirmed that meaning in life plays a positive and significant mediating role in the relationship between this therapeutic approach and the reduction of loneliness and death anxiety. Based on the findings, existential-acceptance therapy, through the reconstruction of the meaning system, enhancement of psychological flexibility, and acceptance of existential realities, serves as an effective strategy to alleviate psychological burnout and fundamental anxieties in older adults with chronic illnesses; therefore, utilizing this protocol in health psychology clinics and specialized geriatric clinics is recommended.
Zohreh Esmaaili, Sahar Shakour, Samira Ramazenkhani, Hosna Rostami, Fatemeh Ghasempour,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
This review study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in reducing social anxiety among adolescents. A systematic search was conducted across Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Magiran, and IranDoc using relevant keywords. Studies assessing MBCT’s impact on adolescent social anxiety with a PEDro score above 5 were included. From 43 identified articles, 6 met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated that MBCT significantly reduces social anxiety in adolescents, though variations in methodology, sample size, and assessment tools were observed. These results underscore MBCT’s potential as an effective intervention for social anxiety. It is recommended that MBCT be integrated into school-based counseling and mental health programs. Further research with standardized methodologies is needed to explore MBCT’s efficacy across diverse cultural contexts.
Saba Sedaghatzadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees with early maladaptive schemas in a rehabilitation center for children with autism spectrum disorder in Tehran. The research method was a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a follow-up phase. The statistical population included all employees of the autism center between October and November 2025, from which 30 eligible individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (15 individuals in each group). The experimental group underwent 10 90-minute schema therapy sessions based on the protocol of Yang et al. (2014) and Arentz et al., while the control group remained on the waiting list. The research instruments included Spector's Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (JSS), Allen and Meyer's Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ), and Young's Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire (YSQ-SF). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and post hoc tests. The results showed that schema therapy significantly increased job satisfaction and organizational commitment in the experimental group compared to the control group, and this effect remained largely stable at the follow-up stage (P<0.01). The findings indicate that modifying early maladaptive schemas can lead to improved job attitudes and strengthened psychological bonds between employees and the organization by improving emotion regulation, reducing cognitive distortions, and increasing healthy adult mindset. Overall, schema therapy as a foundational intervention can play an effective role in improving the occupational mental health of employees in rehabilitation centers.
Alireza Mojab Ghasrodashti, Ali Naseri,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of life skills training on internalized shame and perceived stress among university students. This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group and a two-month follow-up. The study population consisted of students at the Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, in 2024, from whom 72 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (36 in each group). The research instruments included the Internalized Shame Scale (Cook) and the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen). The experimental group received life skills training based on Kleinke’s protocol in 10 weekly sessions of 45 minutes, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results indicated that life skills training led to a significant reduction in internalized shame and perceived stress in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and these effects were maintained at follow-up. The findings suggest that life skills training is an effective educational and preventive intervention for improving mental health indicators among university students and can be incorporated into student mental health promotion programs.
Seyedeh Bita Mir Ghaffari, Dr Maryam Kalhornia Golkar , Dr Taher Tizdast,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
| The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a structured cardiac rehabilitation program on the self-care pattern of patients with coronary artery disease. This study was conducted as a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group with a three-month follow-up. The statistical population included men aged 40 to 65 years with coronary artery disease, from whom 30 were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program including self-care behavior education, lifestyle modification, physical activity, healthy nutrition, medication adherence, and stress management, while the control group received usual care. Data were collected using the Coronary Artery Disease Patients Self-Care Questionnaire, third edition, and analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed that the cardiac rehabilitation program resulted in significant and sustained improvement in the self-care behaviors of patients in the intervention group compared to the control group. Significant improvements were observed, especially in the self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management subscales, which were maintained at the three-month follow-up. This study showed that cardiac rehabilitation, as a multidimensional and education-based intervention, has a positive effect on self-care behaviors of patients with coronary artery disease and can be considered as an effective method for improving the quality of care for these patients. |
Parastoo Jeab, Dr Maryam Gahremani,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emotional self-efficacy therapy and time perspective therapy on self-concealment and post-traumatic growth in women with breast cancer. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test framework, including two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population consisted of all women with breast cancer referred to cancer diagnosis and treatment centers in Tehran during the first quarter of 2025. From this population, 45 individuals were selected through purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to three equal groups (n=15 each): emotional self-efficacy therapy, time perspective therapy, and a control group. The emotional self-efficacy intervention was conducted in eight 90-minute group sessions, and the time perspective therapy intervention was conducted in six 90-minute group sessions, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. Research instruments included the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS) by Larson and Chastain (1990) and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996).
Setare Hajili, Fatemeh Gholami, Akbar Mohammadi,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to predict empathy deficit based on childhood trauma, mediating by theory of mind deficits among female college students. The research design was descriptive-correlational utilizing structural equation modeling (path analysis). The statistical population consisted of all female college students at the Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, in June 2025, from whom a sample of 210 students was selected via convenience sampling method. The research instruments included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and the Empathy Quotient. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis via statistical software, and the bootstrapping method was applied to evaluate the significance of the indirect effect. The findings from path analysis indicated that the hypothesized model demonstrated a good fit with the empirical data. The results of the direct path coefficients revealed that childhood trauma had a significant positive direct effect on both theory of mind deficits and empathy deficit. Furthermore, the direct effect of theory of mind deficits on empathy deficit was positive and statistically significant. Additionally, the bootstrapping results indicated that theory of mind deficits played a significant positive mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and empathy deficit. In total, the predictor variables accounted for 40% of the variance in empathy deficit. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that traumatic childhood experiences not only directly impair empathy capacity but also exacerbate empathy deficit in adulthood by arresting social-cognitive development and causing deficits in the theory of mind. Therefore, it is essential to design psychological interventions focused on trauma-informed therapies and enhancing mentalization and social cognition skills within university counseling centers for female students with a history of trauma.
Mahrokh Ajorloo, Zohreh Mortezaei Karahrody,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Emergency and crisis-oriented occupations, such as firefighting, involve high levels of operational stress that can lead to performance anxiety under acute conditions, so the present study aimed to predict performance anxiety based on resilience and sleep quality in firefighters. The design of this study was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population consisted of all active firefighters in the Fire-Fighting and Safety Services Organization, from whom a sample was selected using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Performance Anxiety Questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis (Enter method). Pearson correlation results indicated a significant negative relationship between resilience and performance anxiety and a significant positive relationship between sleep quality and performance anxiety. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the predictor variables significantly predicted the variance in performance anxiety among firefighters, and within this model, both resilience and sleep quality made independent and significant contributions to predicting the criterion variable. Based on the findings, performance anxiety in firefighters is significantly influenced by psychological resources and biological-hygienic indicators, therefore planning interventions to enhance psychological coping mechanisms and optimizing work shift schedules to improve personnel sleep quality can serve as essential strategies for reducing performance anxiety and maintaining the operational efficiency of firefighters.
Hoda Jafarian, Maryam Nakhkoob,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on thought fusion and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder in Tehran. The present study method was a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all women with obsessive-compulsive disorder who visited clinics in Tehran between April and June 1404, from which a sample was selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The measurement tools included the Thought Fusion Questionnaire and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. The experimental group underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. The results showed that after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the variables of thought fusion and the severity of obsessive symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly reduced the rate of thought fusion and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients in the experimental group compared to the control group. Based on the research findings, cognitive-behavioral therapy, by correcting cognitive distortions and reducing thought-action fusion, is an effective approach in improving the clinical symptoms of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the use of this treatment protocol is recommended in rehabilitation centers and psychological clinics.
Zohreh Ahmadi,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on rumination and depressive symptoms in students with major depressive disorder. This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all students with major depressive disorder referred to the Tehran Health Center in 1404, from which 30 students with major depressive disorder were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent 8 90-minute sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data collection tools included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Rumination Scale (RRS). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. The results of data analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the mean pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group in rumination variables and depressive symptoms. In fact, participating in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy sessions led to a significant reduction in the repetition of unwanted thoughts and the alleviation of clinical symptoms of depression in students. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, by teaching the skills of being present in the moment and accepting without judgment, is an effective tool for managing repetitive thoughts and improving the mental state of students with major depression and can be used as a complementary intervention in university counseling centers.
Fatemeh Jafari Marbin, Dr Farhad Mohammadi Masiri,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (4-2026)
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze and compare the psychological profiles of two groups of traditional and industrial drug users, examining the differences in brain-behavioral systems, personality dimensions, and prosocial behavior tendencies. This causal-comparative study was conducted on 200 drug-dependent men (100 traditional drug users and 100 industrial drug users) who had referred to rehabilitation centers in Qom in 1404. The measurement tools included the Gray-Wilson Brain-Behavioral Systems Questionnaire, Cloninger Personality and Character Test, and the Revised Prosocial Behavior Scale. The findings from multivariate analysis of variance showed that industrial drug users scored significantly higher in the behavioral activation system and the approach and active avoidance subscales, while no significant differences were observed in the behavioral inhibition and conflict-avoidance systems. In terms of personality dimensions, the industrial group had higher scores in novelty seeking, harm avoidance, perseverance, self-direction, and self-transcendence, but traditional users showed superiority in the reward dependence dimension and indicators of social behavior (altruism and compliance). The results indicate that the industrial substance use pattern is associated with a more impulsive personality profile and a deeper breakdown in social functioning, while traditional users maintained social bonds and responsiveness to environmental rewards. These findings emphasize the need to review treatment protocols and design differentiated interventions based on the type of substance used and the neuro-personality underpinnings in the field of addiction psychology.
