درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program based on the Marital Distress Tolerance Model on reducing marital conflicts among conflicting couples in Tehran. Methods and Materials: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group. The statistical population included all conflicting couples who visited psychological and counseling centers in Tehran. One center was randomly selected, and 30 couples were chosen through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 couples each). The experimental group received a 9-session intervention based on a structured educational package developed from the causal model of marital distress tolerance, focusing on cognitive flexibility, family health, and social problem-solving skills. Data were collected using the Barati and Sanaei Marital Conflict Questionnaire and a researcher-developed content validity instrument evaluated by experts. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were used to analyze the data through SPSS software. Findings: The results of the MANCOVA indicated that the educational program had a statistically significant effect on all dimensions of marital conflict, including reduced sexual relations (F = 28.438, p < .001), increased emotional reactions (F = 18.448, p < .001), separation of financial matters (F = 29.932, p < .001), reduced cooperation (F = 22.822, p < .001), reduced relationships with spouse’s relatives (F = 18.549, p < .001), increased relationships with one’s own relatives (F = 10.030, p = .005), and increased seeking support from children (F = 65.565, p < .001). Conclusion: The study confirmed that the educational program based on the marital distress tolerance model significantly reduced marital conflicts across multiple dimensions, supporting the model’s applicability in therapeutic interventions for couples experiencing relational distress.

Introduction and Objective: A thorough understanding of how people with schizophrenia experience critical situations such as an epidemic is important. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the lived experiences of patients with schizophrenia residing in a care center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research Methodology: The qualitative research method used was phenomenology. Patients with schizophrenia who were residing at the Sarai Ehsan Rehabilitation Center were selected purposefully. Based on the rule of theoretical saturation, sampling continued until 31 patients were included. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The analysis method followed Colaizzi's approach, and the data were manually analyzed by the researchers. Findings: Data analysis led to the identification of 308 primary codes. Five main themes were extracted: (1) patients’ perceptions and causes of the disease, (2) patients’ views about quarantine, (3) feelings and emotions during the period of quarantine and illness, (4) patients’ actions during the period of quarantine and illness, and (5) sources of information about the disease. These main themes included 32 sub-themes. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting quarantine significantly affected the experiences of patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are encouraged to use these findings in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia during infectious disease outbreaks.

Aim : The aim of this study was to design and validate a serious game-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adolescent girls with social anxiety, using a structured scenario-writing protocol based on Hoffman's Social Self-Appraisal Therapy Model. Method: The research employed a multi-phase approach encompassing scenario preparation, expert evaluation, face validity testing, usability assessment, and pilot implementation. Content validity was evaluated by ten psychologists and counselors utilizing the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) metrics. Face validity was assessed utilizing the Story World Absorption Scale (SWAS) with a cohort of 10 adolescent participants. A pilot study including an additional cohort of 10 adolescents evaluated alterations in social anxiety utilizing the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA). Usability and player experience were examined through the MEEGA+ instrument.   Results: The results demonstrated strong validity and efficacy of the serious game. Content validity was confirmed (overall CVI > 0.79, CVR > 0.62), along with robust face validity - evidenced by attention and transportation scores exceeding 0.81 (Kappa coefficients = 0.85, 0.81) and emotional engagement and mental imagery scores above 0.61 (Kappa coefficients = 0.78, 0.72). Additionally, a significant T-test result (t(9) = 16.74, p < 0.025) further supported these findings. Based on the MEEGA+ evaluation, the game was classified as 'good quality,' with θ scores ranging from 57.5 to 63.5 across usability and player experience subscales   Conclusion: The results revealed that the CBT-based serious game is both experientially effective and clinically promising. For adolescents with social anxiety, it provides a scalable and entertaining intervention tool, especially in situations where access to conventional therapy is restricted.

Aim: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of self-encouragement training on the homesickness (including longing for family, desire to return home, maladjustment, feelings of loneliness, yearning for familiar people and environments) in non-native university students. Method: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test control group. The statistical population consisted of all first-year non-native university students residing in university dormitories at the Islamic Azad University of Ardabil. From this population, 30 university students were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). Data were collected using the Homesickness Questionnaire developed by Van Vliet (2001). The experimental group received 10 sessions of self-encouragement training based on the encouragement training Shwanker's model (1979). Self-encouragement training is a psychological intervention aimed at enhancing resilience and reducing negative emotions by promoting self-acceptance, recognizing personal strengths, and fostering a positive outlook on life. Data analysis was conducted using multivariate covariance analysis via SPSS software, version26. Findings: The results showed that the self-encouragement Training significantly reduced the level of homesickness in the experimental group. Specifically, the post-test mean scores of homesickness and its subcomponents significantly decreased after the intervention (p<0.01). Conclusion: The self-encouragement training significantly reduced feelings of homesickness and its related components among non-native university students. This finding demonstrates the effectiveness of this psychological intervention in improving emotional adjustment and alleviating longing for family and familiar environments. Therefore, it can be considered an effective approach for providing psychological support to non-native university students.