درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Objective: Psychological factors play a decisive role in the occurrence and experience of pain disorders. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on alexithymia and difficulty in emotion regulation in patients with pain disorder. Method : The method of the present study was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population of the study included all women who were referred to Manoushan and Behsa counseling centers in Tehran with psychosomatic problems and pain. Sixty people from this population were selected and randomly divided into three groups (20 people in each group). Research instruments included the Toronto Emotional Dysfunction Scale (Bugby et al., 1994) and the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) (Gertz & Roemer, 2004). One group received 12 one-hour sessions of emotion-focused therapy, and another group received 10 one-hour sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy. However, the control group did not receive any intervention during the study. In addition to descriptive statistics, mixed variance analysis and Ben Foroni post hoc test were used to analyze the research data.   Results : The results for alexithymia showed that the emotionally focused therapy group had a significantly lower mean than the cognitive behavioral group (P= 0.02) and the control group (P 0.001), and the cognitive-behavioral group had a significantly higher mean compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Also, the results for the difficulty in emotion regulation showed that the emotionally focused group and the cognitive-behavioral group have significantly lower means compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Conclusions : The results of the present study, in addition to confirming the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy, indicated that emotion-focused therapy is a more effective treatment for alexithymia. As a result, emotion-focused therapy can be considered an effective treatment that can be used by health professionals to treat pain disorders.

Objective: Family dynamics play a significant role in establishing emotional relationships among its members and fostering psychological well-being, which extends to individual and collective members' peace of mind. This study aimed to investigate the impact of parenting styles and sexual education styles of parents, with anxiety as a mediating variable, on the sexual performance of married women. Method: The study population consisted of married women who presented with sexual dysfunction at psychiatric and women's clinics in Tehran. Since the minimum number of samples in structural equation modeling is 200 individuals, 200 individuals were selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included Baumrind's Parenting Styles Scale (1972), Parental Sexual Education Styles Scale (2010), Beck Anxiety Scale (1990), and Rosen et al.'s Sexual Performance Scale (2000). Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. Results: The findings of the present study showed that anxiety does not have a mediating effect on the effect of parents' strict sexual education style on the sexual performance of married women, but it has a complete mediating effect on the sexual performance of married women in the authoritative sexual education style of parents. Also, anxiety has a partial mediating effect on the impact of parents' authoritarian parenting style on married women's sexual performance, and it does not have a mediating effect on the parents' authoritarian parenting style on married women's sexual performance (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study concludes that the sexual performance of married women is significantly influenced by the styles of parenting and sexual education they received, with anxiety playing varied mediating roles. An authoritative approach to sexual education, coupled with parenting styles that manage to reduce anxiety, tends to enhance sexual performance in women.

Objective: When individuals encounter stressful and potentially life-threatening situations, they often experience significant tension that can be challenging to manage without adequate emotional regulation and effective coping mechanisms. This study seeks to explore the function of coping strategies as a mediating factor in the connection between stressful experiences and resilience in university students. Method: The research population consists of all university students enrolled in the academic year 2017-2018, characterized by a basic correlation approach. A total of 373 students were chosen using Morgan’s table and a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data collection was done utilizing the resilience questionnaire (CD-RSC), the coping strategies questionnaire (CISS), and the stressful events questionnaire (LEQ-12). Research hypotheses were tested using correlation analysis, path analysis, and simultaneous multiple regression techniques. Results: The findings indicate a significant negative correlation between stressful events and resilience (p < 0.01), while a positive correlation exists between problem-oriented strategies and resilience (p < 0.01). Additionally, there is a negative association between emotion-oriented strategies and resilience (p < 0.01), as well as between avoidance strategies and resilience (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a negative relationship is observed between problem-oriented strategies and stressful events (p < 0.01), alongside a positive correlation between emotion-oriented strategies and stressful events (p < 0.01), and a positive relationship between avoidance strategies and stressful events (p < 0.01). Conclusions: According to the results, teaching coping strategies can lead to increased resilience.

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on pain beliefs and dimensions of anger in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Method : The research design was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of women with rheumatoid arthritis referred to medical centers in Tabriz City in 2022. The sample included 25 women with rheumatoid arthritis selected through convenience sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were then randomly assigned to two groups. The research instruments used were Williams and Thorne's Belief in Pain Questionnaire and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Questionnaire, which were provided to both groups to collect the required data. The control group remained on the waiting list, while the experimental group underwent MBSR training over eight weekly sessions (90 minutes per week) following Jon Kabat-Zinn's approach. The research data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results : The results indicated significant differences between the MBSR and control groups in pain beliefs and anger. Specifically, MBSR treatment led to a reduction in pain-related beliefs and anger in the experimental group ( P <0.001). Eta-squared values showed that 76.3%, 71.8%, 74.4%, and 69.6% of the variance in pain beliefs and anger could be attributed to the effects of MBSR, respectively. Conclusion : Based on the findings, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training can be considered as a complementary and protective treatment technique for patients with chronic and painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the structural model describing the connection between sexual function and psychosocial factors with life satisfaction based on the mediator role of cognitive emotion regulation in women with endometriosis. Method: This present study was a descriptive correlational research based on structural equations. The statistical population of the study included all women with endometriosis, referring to Arash Hospital as a referral Women's Center and Gynecological office in Tehran, Iran, in 2023-2024. According to Morgan's formula, a sample of 357 participants was chosen through convenience sampling. The tools employed in this study for data collection were the Women’s Sexual Function Index (Isidori et al., 2010), Short Form Symptom Checklist-25-Revised (Derogatis et al., 1973), Social Health Questionnaire (Keyes, 2004), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diner, 1985). Data analysis was done using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and path analysis, and AMOS22 software was utilized to assess the proposed model, and the mediating relationships within it were also calculated using the bootstrap method. Results: The findings from structural equation modeling supported the model's goodness of fit and indicated that psychological factors negatively affect life satisfaction through the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in women with endometriosis (β= -0.114, p<0.001). In addition, the relationship between biological and social factors and life satisfaction through the mediating variable was not found to be significant. Nevertheless, the overall effect of psychological, social, and biological factors (including the sum of direct and indirect pathways) in connection with life satisfaction was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: According to the findings, the model has a good fit, and cognitive emotion regulation has a mediating role in the relationship between sexual function and psychosocial factors with life satisfaction. This study offers a valuable framework for recognizing key factors influencing life satisfaction in women with endometriosis, which should be taken into account in psychological treatment programs.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotional information processing in the relationship between attachment styles and positive feelings towards the spouse in infertile couples. Method: The method of the present research was a correlational description based on the practical purpose . The statistical population included infertile couples in Tehran, among whom 200 were selected by convenience sampling. The data were collected by the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) Scale (Brennan et al., 1998), Positive Feelings toward Spouse Questionnaire (The State University of New York., 1975), and Emotional Processing Scale (Baker et al., 2010) and analyzed by Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling using SPSS25 and AMOS24. The results of structural equation modeling demonstrated that avoidant and anxious attachments had a significant indirect effect, with effect sizes of -0.10 and -0.20, respectively, on positive feelings toward the spouse mediated by emotional information processing (p<0.01). Conclusion: The obtained results showed that avoidant attachment has a positive and significant relationship with the components of avoidance and emotional control, and anxious attachment has a positive and significant relationship with the components of suppression, unpleasant emotional experience and unprocessed emotional symptoms.The result highlighted the importance of designing and evaluating interventions based on attachment and improving emotional processing to foster and repair the relationships of infertile couples.

Objective : Despite significant antiemetic advances, almost 50 % of treated cancer patients still experience nausea and vomiting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of avoidant coping in the relationships between psychological well-being and chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea in women with breast cancer in Shiraz. Method : The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of this study consists of women with breast cancer in Shiraz with an average age of 51 to 56 years. In this research, a non-random and voluntary sampling method was used; thus, 211 female patients with breast cancer treated by chemotherapy voluntarily completed the relevant questionnaires, which included psychological well-being questionnaire (Ryff, 1989), chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea questionnaire (Rhodes & McDaniel, 1999), and coping style questionnaire (Endler & Parker, 1990). The data were analyzed by AMOS software. Results : Research findings showed a negative and significant relationship between psychological well-being and avoidant coping style, and a positive and significant relationship between avoidant coping style and delayed nausea. The Sobel test confirmed the mediating role of avoidant coping style in the relationship between psychological well-being and delayed nausea. Therefore, it can be concluded that there was a relationship between psychological well-being and delayed nausea, with the mediation of avoidant coping style. Also, psychological well-being had an indirect effect on delayed nausea. Conclusion : Chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea can be reduced by improving coping skills and strategies and the psychological well-being of women with breast cancer.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases. The disease is clinically defined by the involvement of different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) at various times. Its peak incidence is between the ages of 20 and 40. The experience of pain plays an important role in the mental health and quality of life of MS patients. Research also shows that if MS patients have high levels of self-compassion, they can more easily manage negative situations. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training programs on the perception of pain experience and self-compassion in MS patients. Method: >The current research is an experiment with available sampling methods. The sample includes 40 MS patients, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. Mindfulness training programs (Kabat—Zinn), the McGill Pain Experience Scale (MPQ), and the NF Self-Compassion Questionnaire (SCS-LF) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed through the statistical test of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: >The results showed that the average difference between the groups regarding pain experience (F=49.270) and self-compassion (F=51.249) is significant. Therefore, it can be said that increasing self-compassion leads to higher efficiency in facing stressful situations. Conclusion >: Enhancing cognitive processes, particularly self-compassion, through mindfulness training can significantly influence individuals’ perception of pain. It is recommended that families receive appropriate training to develop strategies aimed at strengthening mindfulness skills in individuals.  

Objective: Some factors, such as personality type, coping styles, and psychological capital, have an effect on the resilience of women with breast cancer. The purpose of the study is to investigate the structural relationship of these factors with each other. Method : The subjects of this study were 231 women (20-55 years old) diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at the breast cancer department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in 2022-2023. The Tebachnik and Fidel's formula (2007) was used to estimate the sample size. Psychological resilience (Connor & Davidson, 2003), NEO-PI personality questionnaire (Costa & McCrae, 1992), and coping strategies questionnaire (Endler & Parker, 1990) were used to measure the research variables. Results Therefore, five personality factors can lead to an increase in resilience through coping strategies and psychological capital. In addition, the path coefficients of the two-way relationship of the variables showed that 44% of the changes in resilience were influenced by personality, 97% of the changes in coping strategies were influenced by personality, 91% of the changes in psychological capital were influenced by personality and 20% of the changes in resilience were influenced by personality. The effect of coping strategies and 36% of the changes in resilience showed the effect of psychological capital.   Conclusion : One of the determining factors of resilience in a chronic disease such as breast cancer is the role of personality traits, which is influenced by positive psychological variables such as coping strategies and psychological capital of the patient  

Objective: Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, chronic, and progressive disease that has become a crucial public health problem worldwide. Therefore, it seems necessary to identify risk and protective factors to prevent obesity and treat obesity. This study aims to identify the risk and protective factors of obesity in women. Method: The study was descriptive-correlational. The research sample consisted of 429 overweight and obese women, selected through voluntary sampling. To collect data, a physical activity questionnaire, core beliefs of eating questionnaire, self-criticism questionnaire, shame and guilt scale, self-esteem scale, body image concern questionnaire, stress-anxiety-depression questionnaire, and weight self-efficacy questionnaire were used. The obtained data were analyzed using stepwise regression using SPSS 24. Results: The findings showed that among obesity risk factors (core beliefs of eating, self-criticism, shame and guilt, concern about body image, stress-anxiety-depression), the core beliefs of eating, stress, and depression can predict obesity. Also, the research results showed that among obesity protective factors (weight self-efficacy, self-esteem, and physical activity), weight self-efficacy can predict obesity improvement more than other variables. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present research, we can say that the variables of core beliefs about eating, stress, and depression as risk factors and the variable of self-efficacy as a protective factor can predict body mass index.