درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Objective : The present research, conducted in two complementary studies, aimed to explore the meaning of life and aspirations among the elderly. Methods : The first study adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach, and the second a quantitative descriptive-survey method. Participants were elderly residents of Rasht in 2024. In the qualitative phase, 10 individuals were selected purposefully based on theoretical data saturation and interviewed through semi-structured questions. In the quantitative phase, 100 participants were selected through convenience sampling and completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and Aspiration Index (AI). Data in the first study were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Findings : Three main themes emerged: safety, self-transcendence, and love and affection. Safety included subthemes of physical health, recreation and vitality, peace, and financial independence. Self-transcendence comprised satisfaction and personal growth, while love and affection included constructive interaction with others and wishing happiness for them. The quantitative results supported the qualitative findings, indicating that elderly individuals tend toward intrinsic aspirations such as maintaining health, spiritual connection, and social cooperation. No significant gender differences were found in meaning of life and aspirations (P > 0.05). Conclusion: As age increases, inner satisfaction, spirituality, and concern for others’ well-being become central to the meaning of life and aspirations in old age.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based acceptance training package on the attitude of mothers of children with ASD. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of mothers of children with ASD attending the Special Children’s Clinic at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. Using convenient sampling, 30 mothers were selected. These mothers were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group, with 15 participants in each group. The experimental group received the 12-session, 120-minute mindfulness-based acceptance training package, while no intervention was applied to the control group. Both groups completed the Parent Attitude Toward Special Needs Children Scale (Gonder, 2002) before and after the intervention. Data analysis was conducted using the covariance matrix analysis method in SPSS version 27. Findings: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental group, which received the mindfulness-based acceptance training package, and the control group in terms of overall attitude (p < 0.001). The effect of the intervention was also stable at the follow-up stage (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that a mindfulness-based acceptance training package can foster a positive attitude in mothers of children with ASD. Therefore, this training package can be utilized to promote a positive attitude among mothers of children with ASD.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how adoptive parents construct their identities and meaning of parenthood following experiences of infertility. Methods: This qualitative research employed a narrative methodology to investigate the lived experiences of 31 adoptive parents residing in Austria, all of whom had previously experienced infertility. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, ensuring diversity in gender, relationship status, and duration since adoption. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, each lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic narrative analysis with the assistance of NVivo software. Theoretical saturation guided the cessation of data collection. Data analysis focused on identifying shared themes and patterns in the way participants narrated their transition from infertility to adoptive parenthood. Findings: Three major themes emerged from the data: Redefining Parenthood, Emotional Journey, and Social and Relational Adjustments. Within these categories, participants described subthemes such as letting go of biological ties, reconstructing identity, symbolic rituals, emotional ambivalence, hope and renewal, navigating social stigma, and coping with institutional processes. Participants emphasized the importance of narrative reconstruction, spiritual or moral reframing, and peer support in legitimizing their parental identity. Despite the fulfillment found in adoption, many expressed that emotional residues from infertility persisted, shaping their experience of parenthood in both subtle and explicit ways. Conclusion: The findings highlight that adoptive parenthood after infertility is a complex, emotionally layered, and socially negotiated process. Narrative identity construction plays a vital role in helping individuals reconcile reproductive loss with the joys and challenges of adoption.