Saeide Hasani Rad; Sasan Bavi; Alireza Heidari
Abstract
Background: Given the widespread occurrence of aggression among female students and its associated detrimental effects, investigating effective intervention strategies is crucial. This study examined the impact of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on distress tolerance and resilience in female students exhibiting ...
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Background: Given the widespread occurrence of aggression among female students and its associated detrimental effects, investigating effective intervention strategies is crucial. This study examined the impact of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on distress tolerance and resilience in female students exhibiting aggressive tendencies.Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and a one-month follow-up design. The population consisted of female students with aggression symptoms who referred to educational counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2023. Fifty female students exhibiting aggressive symptoms were recruited via convenience sampling and subsequently randomized into either an experimental group or a control group (n=25 per group). The study participants in the experimental group underwent eight weekly 90-minute sessions of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). The Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were employed for data collection. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using SPSS version 25 to analyze the data.Results: Our results showed that EFT significantly increased distress tolerance and resilience in female students with aggression symptoms. At pre-test, both groups had similar mean scores on the distress tolerance (34.16±4.03 for EFT, 33.80±4.15 for control) and the resilience (38.00±6.70 for EFT, 38.04±6.70 for control). After the EFT intervention, the experimental group showed a significant increase in distress tolerance (M=62.40, SD=2.00) and resilience (M=72.80, SD=2.06) as compared with the control group (M=32.32, SD=4.33; M=37.76, SD=6.86, respectively) (P<0.001). The observed effects persisted at the onemonth follow-up assessment (P<0.001).Conclusions: The study demonstrated that EFT is a highly effective intervention for helping female students with aggression issues. It improves their ability to manage distressing emotions and build resilience. Schools and mental health professionals should consider using EFT as part of their programs to address aggression and promote positive mental health in female students.
Seyyed Gholamali Jafari; Alireza Heidari; Parviz Asgari; Somayeh Esmaeili
Abstract
Background: Given the profound effects of children’s behavioral disorders, particularly in children with autism, on families, the present study aimed to explore the association between mothers’ distress tolerance and marital adjustment and behavioral disorders (BD) in children with autism ...
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Background: Given the profound effects of children’s behavioral disorders, particularly in children with autism, on families, the present study aimed to explore the association between mothers’ distress tolerance and marital adjustment and behavioral disorders (BD) in children with autism in Ahvaz, Iran.Methods: This descriptive-correlational study included all children with autism and their mothers registered at the Autism Association of Ahvaz, Iran in 2023. A total of 262 participants were recruited using a convenience sampling approach. Data were collected using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Data were subjected to Pearson’s correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis using SPSS version 27.Results: The mean scores for child behavioral disorders, tolerance of distress, and marital adjustment were 34.95 (±8.14), 45.29 (±9.86), and 80.23 (±19.15), respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a significant inverse relationship between children’s BD and mothers’ tolerance of distress (r=-0.36, P<0.001) and marital adjustment (r=-0.60, P<0.001). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between mothers’ tolerance of distress and marital adjustment (r=0.39, P<0.001).Conclusions: The results indicated that mothers’ tolerance of distress and marital adjustment are crucial in alleviating BD in children with autism. Interventions aimed at enhancing mothers’ coping skills and marital satisfaction may be beneficial in improving children’s behavioral outcomes.
Sara Mousavi; Alireza Heidari; Sahar Safarzadeh; Parviz Asgari; Marzieh Talebzadeh Shoushtari
Abstract
Background: Exam anxiety in female students, a significant emotional response and emotional issue that negatively impacts learning, is perceived as a threat by many students. The present study investigated the efficacy of emotional schema therapy (EST) on self-regulation and frustration tolerance in ...
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Background: Exam anxiety in female students, a significant emotional response and emotional issue that negatively impacts learning, is perceived as a threat by many students. The present study investigated the efficacy of emotional schema therapy (EST) on self-regulation and frustration tolerance in female students with exam anxiety during the academic year 2022-2023.Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest was employed. A total of 36 female students with exam anxiety were recruited from Ahvaz, Iran. Convenience sampling technique was employed to select the study participants who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=18) or the control group (n=18) using a random number table. The experimental group received ten, 60-minute sessions of EST. Self-regulation and frustration tolerance were assessed using questionnaires before and after the intervention. Group differences were assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).Results: At pretest, both groups showed similar levels of self-regulation (P=0.694). Following the intervention, the experimental group showed significantly higher self-regulation (Mean=49.72, SD=5.74) as compared with the control group (Mean=36.39, SD=4.17) (P=0.001). No significant difference in frustration tolerance was observed between groups at pretest (P=0.927). However, the experimental group (Mean=71.28, SD=5.88) demonstrated significantly greater frustration tolerance as compared with the control group (Mean=117.67, SD=18.10) after the intervention (P=0.001). The findings indicated that EST effectively improved self-regulation and frustration tolerance in female students with exam anxiety (P<0.001).Conclusions: The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in self-regulation and frustration tolerance after administering EST sessions. These findings suggested that EST may be a promising intervention for addressing the psychological challenges associated with exam anxiety in female students.
Elham Raeisi; Sahar Safarzadeh; Saeed Bakhtiarpour; Alireza Heidari
Abstract
Background: Stress and mental pressure in challenging situations, particularly those involving deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) children, can profoundly impact mothers. This research investigated the mediating role of maternal chronic fatigue (CF) in the relationship between reactive aggression in DHH children ...
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Background: Stress and mental pressure in challenging situations, particularly those involving deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) children, can profoundly impact mothers. This research investigated the mediating role of maternal chronic fatigue (CF) in the relationship between reactive aggression in DHH children and maternal self-handicapping.Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational research design. The statistical population of this research included all mothers and their DHH elementary school children studying at special education centers in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran, during the academic year 2022–2023. The convenience sampling method was used to select a sample of 202 mothers with DHH children. Data collection involved the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Scale, Self-Handicapping Questionnaire, and Chalder Fatigue Scale. Data analysis was conducted using the Pearson correlation test and structural equation modeling with AMOS version 24 and SPSS version 27.Results: The mean and standard deviation of DHH children’s reactive aggression, maternal self-handicapping, and chronic fatigue were 20.37±4.84, 54.55±11.16, and 21.47±6.12, respectively. The results revealed a significant correlation between selfhandicapping and CF in mothers and between CF in mothers and reactive aggression in children (P=0.001). Reactive aggression in DHH children was significantly correlated with their mothers’ self-handicapping, mediated by maternal CF (P=0.010). The analysis did not yield statistically significant evidence supporting the correlation between maternal self-handicapping tendencies and their children’s reactive aggression. Based on the results, the model’s fit indices, including NFI, CFI, TLI, RFI, and RMSEA, were 0.98, 0.99, 0.99, 0.97, and 0.022, respectively.Conclusion: Consequently, the final modified model exhibited a good fit based on the research findings. Analyzing these correlations presents an opportunity to discern the factors contributing to reactive aggression in DHH children, thereby facilitating the development of appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Iman Nazari; Behnam Makvandi; Naser Saraj Khorrami; Alireza Heidari
Abstract
Background: Considered as a major health concern worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer among women. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestalt group therapy and reality therapy on perceived self-efficacy in women with BC.Methods: This quasi-experimental research ...
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Background: Considered as a major health concern worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer among women. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestalt group therapy and reality therapy on perceived self-efficacy in women with BC.Methods: This quasi-experimental research adopted a pretest and posttest with a control group and follow-up period. The statistical population included all the women with BC visiting the subspecialty clinic of cancer in Yasuj, Iran, in 2021. We selected 60 patients via convenience sampling method. Afterwards, using a random number table, we placed them in two experimental groups and a control group (n=20 women in each group). The first experimental group received gestalt therapy (10 sessions of 60 minutes; once a week) while the second experimental group received reality therapy (based on choice theory) (10 sessions of 60 minutes; once a week). The control group was placed on the waiting list. We used the general self-efficacy scale for data collection. The data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS version 25.Results: Mean and standard deviation of the perceived self-efficacy for gestalt therapy, reality therapy, and control groups in the posttest were 52.06±8.83, 55.93±8.66, and 39.33±7.56, respectively. The results indicated that the gestalt group therapy and the reality therapy affected the perceived self-efficacy of women with BC (P<0.001). Moreover, the findings depicted no significant differences between the gestalt group therapy and the reality theory. The effects persisted in the follow-up (P<0.001).Conclusions: According to the results, the gestalt group therapy and the reality therapy could improve the psychological capacity and adaptability of women with BC in different personal and social aspects. Hence, psychotherapists are advised to employ gestalt group therapy and reality therapy in counseling centers in order to enhance perceived self-efficacy in women with BC.
Parichehr Sadr Nafisi; zahra Eftekhar Saadi; Fariba Hafezi; Alireza Heidari
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are psychiatric illnesses that are most common in developing countries. Obesity is thought to be a risk factor for anxiety and intimate relationship disorders. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the effect of compassion-focused therapy on social anxiety and ...
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Background: Anxiety disorders are psychiatric illnesses that are most common in developing countries. Obesity is thought to be a risk factor for anxiety and intimate relationship disorders. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the effect of compassion-focused therapy on social anxiety and interpersonal relationships among women on an overweight diet 2019-2020.Methods: The study research design was quasi-experimental with a control group, pre-test, and post-test. We narrowed down 100 women according to the inclusion criteria; among them, we randomly selected 30 women on an overweight diet referring to the diet therapy clinics in Tehran province from December 2019 to April 2020. Afterwards, they were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group (n=15) was treated with compassion-focused therapy for ten weekly 90-minute sessions while the control group (n=15) did not receive any treatment. At the start of the study, after 10 weeks, all participants were tested using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the Revised Communication Skills Questionnaire (RCSQ) methods. In addition to descriptive statistics, we used Chi-squared, independent, and dependent t tests to interpret the results; we employed the SPSS-25 program for all the analyses.Results: According to Mean±SD, there was a significant difference between the experimental (1.41±0.03) and control (2.01±0.43) groups regarding social anxiety and regarding interpersonal relationships there was a significant difference between the experimental (2.50±0.21) and control (1.83±0.21) groups, respectively. The experimental group had significantly lower post-test scores in terms of social anxiety (P=0.04) and interpersonal relationships (P=0.001). Moreover, there was a significant change in the experimental group from the pre-test to the post-test concerning all components of social anxiety (P=0.001) and interpersonal relationships (P=0.001).Conclusion: The findings showed that compassion-focused therapy could help with overweightness. Therefore, this intervention program is recommended for preventing social anxiety and interpersonal relationships among women on an overweight diet.
