Editorial
Evridiki Papastavrou
Research Article
Sanaz Soltani; Farah Naderi
Abstract
Background: Domestic violence profoundly compromises the mental well-being and life satisfaction of women, underscoring the critical need for effective therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy in boosting subjective vitality and overall life satisfaction ...
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Background: Domestic violence profoundly compromises the mental well-being and life satisfaction of women, underscoring the critical need for effective therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy in boosting subjective vitality and overall life satisfaction among women who have experienced domestic violence.Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group. A convenience sample comprising 30 women who had experienced domestic violence and were seeking assistance at family counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran, was recruited during 2024. The study participants were selected based on established inclusion criteria and subsequently allocated randomly to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of positive psychotherapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention throughout the study period. All participants completed the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) during both the pre-intervention and postintervention assessment phases. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS version 27 to assess the treatment effects.Results: The study results indicated that positive psychotherapy led to a statistically significant enhancement in both subjective vitality and life satisfaction at the post-intervention assessment. In the positive psychotherapy group, the mean subjective vitality score rose from 15.62±5.08 at pre-test to 26.35±7.16 at post-test. Similarly, life satisfaction in this group increased from a mean of 14.41±3.72 at pre-test to 26.55±6.15 at post-test (P<0.001). Conversely, the control group exhibited only a minor increase in subjective vitality, from 14.26±4.91 at pre-test to 15.83±5.34 at post-test, and a slight decrease in life satisfaction, from 13.11±2.27 at pre-test to 12.06±2.94 at post-test. Post-test comparisons between the groups revealed significant differences in both subjective vitality and life satisfaction (P<0.001).Conclusions: The present study confirmed that positive psychotherapy helps women experiencing domestic violence feel more energetic and satisfied with their lives. This highlights the importance of making positive psychotherapy available as a valuable tool in programs designed to support these women.
Research Article
Yuli Suryanti; Ika Murtiyarini; Pauline Kusmaryati; Zakiah Zakiah; Tengku Sri Wahyuni; Agus Fitri Sianturi
Abstract
Background: Uncontrolled hypertension in pregnant women increases the risk of serious complications, including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal health issues. The present study explored the potential of unripened coconut water as a natural intervention to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive pregnant ...
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Background: Uncontrolled hypertension in pregnant women increases the risk of serious complications, including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal health issues. The present study explored the potential of unripened coconut water as a natural intervention to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive pregnant women.Methods: A pretest-posttest experimental design was used among 91 pregnant women with systolic blood pressure ≥135 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥85 mmHg. The study took place in the coverage area of Kuala Tungkal I Health Center, Indonesia from November 2022 to June 2023. The study participants consumed young coconut water daily over 7 days. Blood pressure was measured before and after the intervention using a digital sphygmomanometer. Data analysis was conducted using paired t-tests to evaluate changes in systolic and diastolic pressures.Results: A statistically significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures was observed. The average systolic reading declined from 134.98 mmHg (SD±24.97) to 125.24 mmHg (SD±22.42), with a mean difference of 9.74 mmHg (95% CI: 6.42–13.05; P<0.001). Diastolic pressure decreased from 86.84 mmHg (SD±14.43) to 82.16 mmHg (SD±13.31), showing a mean reduction of 4.68 mmHg (95% CI: 2.69–6.67; P<0.001).Conclusions: The results of this study showed that daily consumption of young coconut water for seven days can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in pregnant women with hypertension. The average systolic pressure decreased from 134.98 mmHg to 125.24 mmHg, and the diastolic pressure dropped from 86.84 mmHg to 82.16 mmHg.
Research Article
Sana Mehdizadeh; Ali Naseri
Abstract
Background: The feeling of isolation is a negative emotion that arises from a lack of quantity or quality in social and behavioral connections, often resulting in actions like avoiding interaction with others. This study aimed to assess the impact of acceptance and commitment education on enhancing psychological ...
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Background: The feeling of isolation is a negative emotion that arises from a lack of quantity or quality in social and behavioral connections, often resulting in actions like avoiding interaction with others. This study aimed to assess the impact of acceptance and commitment education on enhancing psychological resilience and reducing loneliness among housewives in Shiraz, Iran.Methods: The present quasi-experimental study applied a pre-test-post-test design, including a two-month follow-up and a control group. The statistical population consisted of married women who were housewives, aged between 30–40 years, residing in the 1st district of Shiraz, Iran in 2023. Thirty-five married women in the experimental group and another thirty-five married women in the control group were selected through a convenience sampling method. Subsequently, they were assigned randomly to either the experimental or control group. The participants in the study were allocated to either the experimental group or the control group through a random number table. The experimental groups received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for 8 sessions, with one session per week lasting 90 minutes each, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The participants completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Loneliness Scale (UCLA). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 28.Results: The study results indicated that the acceptance and commitment intervention significantly improved resilience and reduced loneliness (P<0.001). After adjusting for differences, the average resilience score in the intervention group was 55.56±0.675, which was 8.16 points higher than the average of 47.40±0.664 in the control group (P<0.001). Additionally, the average follow-up resilience score in the intervention group was 7.58 points higher than the control group, demonstrating the sustained impact (P=0.001). On the loneliness measure, the post-test average for the intervention group was 45.17±0.549, which was 5.53 points lower than the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, the follow-up loneliness score in the intervention group was 5.29 points lower than the control group, indicating the long-lasting impact of the acceptance and commitment intervention (P=0.001).Conclusion: Training programs focusing on acceptance and commitment have six main elements: acceptance, non-interference, being present, taking action, self-awareness, and values. These processes, along with therapeutic techniques, help housewives attain psychological flexibility which is the goal of the intervention.
Research Article
Sara Bagheri; Abdollah HemayatTalab; Amineh Sahranavard; Saeed Ghorbani
Abstract
Background: Finding educational program for correcting skeletal abnormalities and improving quality of life among obese adolescents is of great importance. Therefore, the present study employed a protocol centered on physical activity and exercise to assess its effectiveness in rectifying upper body ...
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Background: Finding educational program for correcting skeletal abnormalities and improving quality of life among obese adolescents is of great importance. Therefore, the present study employed a protocol centered on physical activity and exercise to assess its effectiveness in rectifying upper body abnormalities (forward head posture and kyphosis), BMI, and the quality of life of female obese middle-school students.Methods: This was a quasi-experimental investigation. The study participants were 42 female obese middle-school students in Tehran, Iran, during the 2023-2024 academic year, aged between 12 and 15 years, who were randomly assigned into the experimental or control groups. The intervention consisted of a 60 minutes program over a period of 12 weeks, including a structured corrective exercise regimen followed by a Pilates training. Upper-body abnormalities (forward head and kyphosis), BMI, and quality of life were measured using standard tools. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA.Results: In the baseline, the results showed no significant differences between the groups concerning forward head posture (51.57 vs. 51.09, P=0.623), kyphosis (51.33 vs. 51.42, P=0.920), BMI (32.46 vs. 32.87, P=0.559), and quality of life (47.47 vs. 48.28, P=0.854). However, the results showed that the intervention had a significant impact on forward head posture (39.80 vs. 51.28, P<0.001), kyphosis (38.42 vs. 51.52, P<0.001), BMI (29.57 vs. 32.95, P<0.001), and quality of life (57.14 vs. 48.71, P<0.001).Conclusions: Given the favorable impacts of corrective and Pilates exercise modality on physical well-being and life quality, it is plausible that such exercises could serve as a viable intervention for ameliorating obesity-related deformities in affected individuals.
Research Article
Monir Rostamabadi; Sedigheh Khajeh Aflatoon Mofrad; Amineh Sahranavard; Ali Sadeghian; Valiollah Shahedi
Abstract
Background: It appears that the exacerbation of psychological symptoms associated with the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) necessitates the implementation of early and effective interventions. This study aimed to explore the impact of engaging in a physical activity intervention, specifically ...
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Background: It appears that the exacerbation of psychological symptoms associated with the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) necessitates the implementation of early and effective interventions. This study aimed to explore the impact of engaging in a physical activity intervention, specifically focusing on aerobic exercises, on the resilience and self-esteem of primary school girls diagnosed with ADHD.Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. The target population included female primary school students diagnosed with ADHD in Tehran, Iran, during the academic year 2023-2024. The purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 40 participants, who were then randomly allocated to either the experimental group (Aerobic) or the control group through a simple randomization method, with each group consisting of 20 individuals. The aerobic training program was conducted over a period of eight weeks, featuring three sessions per week. For data collection, the Davidson & Conner Resilience Questionnaire (CD-RISC) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) were used. Data analysis was carried out using paired and independent t-tests via SPSS version 27.Results: Based on the findings, the participants demonstrated a moderate body mass index (BMI), with an average of 16.8±0.48. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in resilience scores observed between the aerobic group (54.20±11.82) and the control group (44.45±14.06) during the posttest (P=0.023). Furthermore, self-esteem scores also exhibited a significant difference between the aerobic group (16.80±3.07) and the control group (13.75±3.65) in the posttest (P=0.007).Conclusions: The results of the present study suggested that policymakers in special education should formulate strategic initiatives aimed at promoting the active participation of children with ADHD in physical activities, which could subsequently improve psychological factors such as resilience and self-esteem.
Research Article
Nazila Pouraghaali; Ebrahim Mohammad Ali Nasab Firouzjah; Hadi Abbaszadeh Ghanati
Abstract
Background: Non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent health issue, particularly among women. This study examined the effects of pain neuroscience education (PNE) combined with motor control exercise (MCE) and core stability exercises (CSE) on pain, function, and quality of life of women ...
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Background: Non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent health issue, particularly among women. This study examined the effects of pain neuroscience education (PNE) combined with motor control exercise (MCE) and core stability exercises (CSE) on pain, function, and quality of life of women with non-specific CLBP.Methods: The present study used a pre-post intervention design with three parallel comparison groups. From the target population, 45 women with non-specific CLBP were selected using convenience sampling technique. Then, they were randomly assigned to three groups of 15 including PNE with MCE, CSE, and control group. In the pre-test phase, pain intensity was measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), muscle function was measured using the McGill tests, and women’s quality of life was measured using the SF-36 Quality of Life questionnaire. The study was conducted in Urmia, Iran, in 2024. Subsequently, the experimental groups performed the exercises for eight weeks. Then, in the post-test phase, the factors measured in the pre-test phase were remeasured. Also, to analyze the data, paired sample t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to examine within and between group effects, respectively.Results: Both the PNE+MCE and CSE groups showed significant reductions in pain (Mean Difference (MD=) -2.93, P=0.001; MD=-1.08, P=0.005) and disability (MD=-7.25, P=0.001; MD=-3.93, P=0.001), along with improvements in trunk flexor endurance (MD=+11.31, P=0.001; MD=+5.44, P=0.001), trunk extensor endurance (MD=+14.68, P=0.001 MD=+4.41, P=0.001), quality of life (MD=+20.43, P=0.001; MD=+9.99, P=0.001), side plank (MD=10.41, P=0.001; MD=4.86, P=0.001), and elbow plank (MD=8.75, P=0.001 MD=5.13, P=0.001). Significant between-group differences were observed for all outcomes, with the PNE+MCE group demonstrating superior improvements over both CSE and control groups in pain (2.93 vs 1.08 vs -0.31), disability (7.25 vs 3.93 vs -0.40), trunk endurance (flexors: 11.31 vs 5.44 vs -1.27; extensors: 14.68 vs 4.41 vs -0.12), quality of life (20.43 vs 9.99 vs -3.23), side plank (10.41 vs 4.86 vs -0.85) and elbow plank (8.75 vs 5.13 vs -0.11), respectively.Conclusions: This study showed that PNE along with MCE plays an important role in managing pain and functional disability in women with non-specific CLBP. In addition, these findings suggested that this combined approach can help improve muscle function and quality of life for patients.
Research Article
Akram Ashrafi; Zohreh Latifi; Abbas Haghayegh; Parinaz Sadat Sajjadian
Abstract
Background: The stability of marital relationships is fundamental to the family system. Also, attachment styles are key variables in preventing emotional stagnation within the family. This study aimed to assess and compare the efficacy of Compassion- Focused Therapy (CFT) and Mentalization-Based Therapy ...
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Background: The stability of marital relationships is fundamental to the family system. Also, attachment styles are key variables in preventing emotional stagnation within the family. This study aimed to assess and compare the efficacy of Compassion- Focused Therapy (CFT) and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) in modifying attachment styles among married women experiencing marital boredom.Methods: This quasi-experimental study incorporated pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up stages with a control group. A total of 60 women meeting the inclusion criteria were selected through convenience sampling method and were then randomly assigned to either the CFT group, the MBT group, or a control group. The participants in the intervention groups engaged in weekly sessions—eight for CFT and twelve for MBT—each lasting 90 minutes. Data were collected using the Marital Boredom Questionnaire and the Short Form of Hazen and Shaver’s Attachment Style Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS version 24.Results: Both CFT and MBT significantly improved secure attachment scores while reducing insecure-avoidant and anxiousambivalent styles (P=0.01). The MBT group demonstrated the greatest improvement in secure attachment scores (M=27.55, SD=2.43), while the CFT group also showed a notable increase (M=26.60, SD=2.13), though slightly lower than that of the MBT group. No statistically significant differences were found between the two therapies (P>0.05); however, both therapies showed superiority over the control group.Conclusion: The study findings indicated that both CFT and MBT are effective approaches to enhancing attachment security and reducing relational dysfunction among women facing marital boredom. These interventions may serve as valuable tools in family-focused educational and therapeutic programs.
