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Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and schema therapy on psychological well-being and sense of coherence among infertile women. Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest-follow-up design with a control group was used. Thirty infertile women referring to Saarem Hospital in Tehran during the first half of 2024 were randomly assigned to three groups: CFT (n=10), schema therapy (n=10), and waitlist control (n=10). The CFT group received eight sessions, and the schema therapy group received ten sessions. Psychological well-being was assessed using the 18-item Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale, and sense of coherence was measured with the Flensborg et al. (2006) Sense of Coherence Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Findings: MANCOVA results showed significant differences between groups on both psychological well-being and sense of coherence at posttest (Wilks’ Lambda = .350, F(4,54)=18.76, p<.001). Univariate tests indicated significant group effects on psychological well-being (F(2,27)=18.45, p<.001) and sense of coherence (F(2,27)=22.13, p<.001). Post-hoc analyses revealed that CFT significantly improved psychological well-being compared to schema therapy and control at posttest (p<.05), while schema therapy led to greater improvements in sense of coherence compared to CFT and control (p<.05). Both interventions maintained their effects at the one-month follow-up. Conclusion: The findings suggest that compassion-focused therapy is more effective in enhancing psychological well-being, whereas schema therapy is more effective in strengthening sense of coherence among infertile women. Both interventions showed sustained benefits over time, highlighting the importance of incorporating structured psychological treatments into infertility care to promote adaptive functioning and resilience.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of cultural silence and emotional suppression within Asian-American families. Methods: This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach to investigate emotional suppression among 24 Asian-American adults residing in the United States. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity across ethnic subgroups and generational backgrounds. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted via secure video conferencing platforms. Interviews lasted between 60 and 90 minutes and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Thematic analysis was performed through an inductive coding process that emphasized participants’ subjective interpretations and cultural meaning-making around emotional expression. Findings: Four major themes emerged from the data: family communication norms, cultural identity and emotional suppression, impacts on mental and emotional health, and pathways to emotional expression and healing. Participants reported indirect communication, emotional stoicism, and intergenerational silence as common patterns within their families. These dynamics were often reinforced by cultural expectations of respect, shame, and self-control. Emotional suppression was linked to internalized distress, difficulty in emotional identification, and barriers to help-seeking. Despite these challenges, participants also described transformative experiences involving therapy, peer support, and bicultural integration that facilitated emotional literacy and relational healing. Conclusion: Emotional suppression and cultural silence in Asian-American families are shaped by deep-rooted cultural values and intergenerational practices. While these patterns may hinder emotional well-being, participants also demonstrated adaptive strategies and agency in redefining emotional norms. These findings underscore the importance of culturally responsive mental health practices that validate heritage while promoting emotional authenticity.

Objective: This study aimed to provide a phenomenological analysis of psychological distress caused by the loss of the father in female adolescents in Tabriz, Iran.Methods: This phenomenological study was conducted using a qualitative approach. Seven female adolescents who had lost their fathers in childhood due to illness were selected using purposive sampling. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews until data saturation. The interview texts were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method.Results: The findings of the study showed that psychological distress experienced by the girls by the absence of their fathers could be described with three main categories and eleven subcategories. The identified categories were emotional pressures (deprivation of companionship, deprivation of a supporter, mother’s pressure, recalling memories and worries), social pressures (others’ mistakes, hiding, inhibition, and limited relationships), and economic pressures (self-reliance and financial problems).Conclusion: The dimensions of psychological distress experienced by male and female adolescents due to the absence of their fathers or mothers should be considered in psychological assessments and interventions.

Background: Grief is a natural and universal response to the loss of a loved one. The grief experience is not a state but a process. Most individuals recover adequately within a year after the loss; however, when individuals experience an extension of the standard grieving process, they are said to be experiencing prolonged grief disorder, thought to result from failure to transition from acute to integrated grief. Therefore, validating tools related to grief in different cultures can provide the ground for measuring its concept by the culture to understand the cultural differences of this structure. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties, reliability, and validity of PG-13-R. Methods: Data were collected from two independent samples of 285 (exploratory factor analysis) and 241 (confirmatory factor analysis) mourning adults to determine whether the findings explored in one sample can be verified in another. Face and content validity were measured quantitatively and qualitatively. Concurrent validity was measured using correlation coefficient calculation with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS.27 and AMOS.26 software. Exploratory factor analysis was performed using principal components and the Varimax method. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using AMOS.26 software. Results: The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the two-factor structure with emergent distress, detachment, and meaninglessness factors. These factors had acceptable internal consistency. PG-13-R factors had good convergence validity with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bereavement experience (P< 0.05). Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α) was 0.78 for Distress and 0.79 for Detachment and Meaning factor, and 0.87 for the whole scale, indicating good internal consistency Conclusion: PG-13-R is a useful and reliable tool for measuring PGD symptoms in the Iranian population. It is suggested that future studies examine this scale in people who have been bereaved for various reasons, including (death by suicide, sudden death, and death by accident).