Fatemeh Masoudizadeh; Fariba Hafezi; Sahar Safarzadeh; Zahra Dasht Bozorgi
Abstract
Background: Adolescent girls often struggle with negative body image, leading to rumination and distress. The objective of this investigation was to examine the potential of self-compassion therapy (SCT) to mitigate rumination and bolster distress tolerance in adolescent girls experiencing body image ...
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Background: Adolescent girls often struggle with negative body image, leading to rumination and distress. The objective of this investigation was to examine the potential of self-compassion therapy (SCT) to mitigate rumination and bolster distress tolerance in adolescent girls experiencing body image concerns.Methods: This experimental study comprised all adolescent girls in Ahvaz, Iran, who reported body image concerns in 2023. A sample of 30 adolescent girls was drawn using multi-stage cluster sampling and then randomly allocated to either an experimental (n=15) or a control (n=15) group. Data collection was facilitated using the Ruminative Response Scale and Distress Tolerance Scale. The experimental group participated in a ten-week structured self-compassion training (SCT) program, with one 60-minute session per week. The control group received no intervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to assess the impact of SCT on the dependent variables, using SPSS version 25.Results: At pre-test, both groups reported similar levels of rumination (SCT group: M=64.53, SD=7.59; control group: M=68.26, SD=9.46) and distress tolerance (SCT group: M=31.06, SD=6.86; control group: M=32.06, SD=5.23). After the 10-week SCT intervention, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in rumination (M=36.26, SD=5.57) and a significant increase in distress tolerance (M=66.60, SD=5.02) compared with the control group (P<0.001). SCT was found to be effective in significantly reducing rumination and increasing distress tolerance in adolescent girls with body image concerns (P<0.001).Conclusion: SCT has demonstrated its efficacy in mitigating rumination and enhancing distress tolerance among adolescent girls confronting body image challenges. The study findings underscored the potential of SCT as a promising intervention for this vulnerable population.
Seyede Fazileh Alboushoke; Sahar Safarzadeh; Fariba Hafezi; Parvin Ehteshamzadeh
Abstract
Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly prevalent among adolescent girls and significantly interferes with their social and emotional development. It can lead to impaired coping mechanisms and maladaptive behaviors, such as anxiety sensitivity and body checking. This study aimed to evaluate ...
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Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly prevalent among adolescent girls and significantly interferes with their social and emotional development. It can lead to impaired coping mechanisms and maladaptive behaviors, such as anxiety sensitivity and body checking. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Emotional Schema Therapy (EST) in mitigating anxiety sensitivity and body checking behaviors among adolescent girls with SAD.Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest-two months follow-up assessment was employed. The study participants were 25 adolescent girls aged 15 to 18 years with a diagnosis of SAD in the city of Ramshir, Iran, in 2023. Adolescent girls in the experimental group participated in ten weekly, 90-minute Emotional Schema Therapy sessions. The participants were selected using a multi-stage cluster random sampling technique and completed standardized measures of social phobia, anxiety sensitivity, and body checking behaviors at the beginning, end, and follow-up of the intervention. To analyze the data, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted using SPSS version 27.Results: Participants in the EST group exhibited a significant reduction in anxiety sensitivity (pretest: 53.80±2.85; posttest: 34.67±3.01; follow-up: 35.00±3.35) and body checking behaviors (pretest: 85.67±3.63; posttest: 50.87±4.24; follow-up: 49.47±3.50) over time (P<0.001). The positive effects of EST on anxiety sensitivity and body checking behaviors were maintained at follow-up (P<0.001).Conclusions: The findings suggested that EST can be an effective intervention for reducing anxiety sensitivity and body checking behaviors in adolescent girls with SAD.
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.
Negin Khoshvaght; Farah Naderi; Sahar Safarzadeh; Marjan Alizadeh
Abstract
Background: Raising a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) is a major challenge for parents and may greatly change the family’s lifestyle. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of metacognitive therapy (MCT) and compassion-focused therapy (CFT) on anxiety in the mothers of children ...
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Background: Raising a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) is a major challenge for parents and may greatly change the family’s lifestyle. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of metacognitive therapy (MCT) and compassion-focused therapy (CFT) on anxiety in the mothers of children with cerebral palsy.Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design and a control group. Selected by convenience sampling, the sample consisted of 45 mothers of children with cerebral palsy who referred to Bahar Rehabilitation Center, Shiraz, Iran, in 2020. We randomly divided the participants into two experimental groups (metacognitive therapy and compassion-focused therapy) and a control group (n=15 per group). The research instrument included the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The first experimental group underwent 12 sessions (60-minute sessions per week) of metacognitive therapy and the second experimental group underwent eight sessions of compassion-focused therapy (60-minute sessions per week).Results: The mean±SD of the anxiety for metacognitive therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and control groups in the posttest stage were 24.30±6.21, 25.10±2.44, and 42.70±4.46, respectively. Based on the results, both metacognitive therapy (MTC) and compassion-focused therapy (CFT) were effective in reducing anxiety in the mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) (P=0.0001); also, there was no significant difference between the effects of MCT and CFT on anxiety in this group of mothers.Conclusion: Metacognitive therapy and compassion-focused therapy can be employed to reduce anxiety in mothers of children with cerebral palsy.
