مطالب

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment and the Compassion-Based Approach on suicidal ideation and spiritual well-being in women victims of domestic violence. Methods: This study is applied in terms of its purpose and quasi-experimental in nature and method, utilizing a pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up design with a control group. The study population comprised all women victims of domestic violence who sought help from social emergency centers and family counseling clinics in Tehran during the second half of 2023. The sample consisted of 51 participants who were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The first experimental group received an eight-session (90-minute each) Compassion-Based Therapy intervention program, while the second experimental group received a ten-session (60-minute each) Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment program at these centers. The control group did not receive any intervention. Data collection tools included the Violence Against Women Questionnaire by Haj-Yahya (2001), the Beck and Steer Suicidal Ideation Scale (1991), and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale by Paloutzian and Ellison (1982). The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test with SPSS 27 software. Findings: The study findings indicate that both Compassion-Based Therapy and Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment led to a reduction in suicidal ideation and an increase in spiritual well-being in the experimental groups. Additionally, considering the mean difference, Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment had a greater effect than the Compassion-Based Approach in reducing suicidal ideation and enhancing spiritual well-being (p < .05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, Compassion-Based Therapy and Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment are effective approaches for improving spirituality and reducing suicidal ideation in women victims of domestic violence. Psychologists and family specialists are encouraged to utilize these findings to enhance the quality of family life.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the sources that shape mental constructs in the minds of the participants and their strategies for bringing their own lives closer to that of a successful marriage. Methods: This study employs a qualitative method. Research data were collected through 30 in-depth interviews with 15 Tehranian couples. The data were coded using MAXQDA software, version 2020. The number of participants was determined upon reaching saturation. In the first stage of coding, a total of 860 codes or initial concepts were extracted from the interview transcripts. Findings: The findings of the study indicate that mental constructs of marriage are acquired, modifiable, and constructed entities that are the result of family upbringing and parental relationships, the dominant society and culture, and personal experiences after marriage. The strategies provided by participants for maintaining or achieving a successful marriage amounted to 51 suggestions and strategies, with the highest levels of agreement and recurrence around concepts such as patience, mutual respect, learning problem-solving skills, self-restraint, and communication. Conclusion: This study highlights that mental constructs of successful marriage are shaped by family, lived experiences, and societal influences, emphasizing the importance of empathy, mutual respect, and communication for marital satisfaction and stability.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and modifying early maladaptive schemas in married women aged 18 to 25 years diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: This research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a pre-test, post-test, and five-month follow-up design. A total of 30 married women aged 18 to 25 years residing in Tehran were selected and randomly assigned to either the CBT intervention group (n = 15) or a waitlist control group (n = 15). The intervention group participated in 12 weekly CBT sessions (60-90 minutes each), while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) to assess maladaptive schemas and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to measure OCD symptom severity. Statistical analysis was conducted using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27 to evaluate changes in symptoms and cognitive patterns over time. Findings: The ANOVA results showed a significant time effect (F = 124.68, p < 0.001) on both OCD symptoms and maladaptive schemas, with participants in the CBT group demonstrating substantial reductions in both variables from pre-test to post-test and sustained improvements at follow-up. The Bonferroni post-hoc test confirmed significant differences between pre-test and post-test (p < 0.001) and pre-test and follow-up (p < 0.001) in both OCD symptoms and schemas, indicating that CBT led to both immediate and long-term benefits. Conclusion: The results suggest that CBT is an effective intervention for reducing OCD symptoms and modifying maladaptive schemas in young married women, with treatment effects persisting over time.

Objective: The aim of this study was to predict and explain happiness and hope for the future based on parental attachment styles among female university students. Methods and Materials: This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical and correlational design with a predictive approach. The statistical population included all female students of the Islamic Azad University, Garmsar Branch, during the academic year 2022–2023. A total of 274 students were selected using stratified and purposive sampling methods based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Snyder’s Hope Scale, and Hazan and Shaver’s Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire. After obtaining informed consent, the data were analyzed through Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis using SPSS and AMOS software. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Findings: The results showed that secure attachment style significantly and positively predicted both happiness (β = .38, p < .01; R² = .24) and hope for the future (β = .44, p < .01; R² = .31). Avoidant attachment style was a significant negative predictor of happiness (β = –.29, p < .01) and had a weaker, yet still significant, inverse relationship with hope for the future (β = –.11, p < .01). Ambivalent attachment style negatively and significantly predicted both happiness (β = –.17, p < .01) and hope for the future (β = –.30, p < .01). All regression models met the assumptions of normality, linearity, and independence of residuals. Conclusion: The findings suggest that parental attachment styles, particularly secure attachment, play a meaningful role in promoting positive psychological outcomes such as happiness and hope in emerging adults. Insecure attachment styles, including avoidant and ambivalent, are associated with diminished emotional well-being.

Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the phenomenon of divorce from the perspective of expert family therapists. Method: The research method was qualitative, based on grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014). The research setting included all family therapists in the city of Isfahan in the year 2024, and the participants consisted of ten of the most prominent therapists who were purposefully selected. The research tool was interviews conducted in the form of focus groups. The collected data were analyzed using Charmaz’s (2014) method: first, coding was carried out, followed by conceptualization. Then, during the process of integration, categories were extracted, and finally, the core categories were identified and the theory was formed. Results: The results indicated that the phenomenon of divorce includes three main categories: (1) the reasons behind the occurrence of divorce: the activators of divorce causes, with categories such as changes in cultural and social structures and the prioritization of individuality over couplehood; (2) the nature of divorce causes: causes of divorce categorized as changes in family roles and authority, poor spouse selection, inappropriate communication, and individual problems; and (3) the process through which the causes interconnect: integrators of divorce causes (disturbance-power, disturbance-intimacy, and boundary disturbances). Conclusion: Based on the findings, this study suggests that in order to reduce divorce, the activators of divorce cannot be ignored, as they render society more prone to facilitating the grounds for divorce rather than preserving family stability. Additionally, the identified causes of divorce indicate that many revolve around the philosophy of individualism. Therefore, society and societal discourse must reinforce the value of collectivism so that this value can function as a socio-psychological superstructure acting as a barrier to divorce.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions using coaching and self-learning methods on marital satisfaction and couple intimacy. Methods and Materials: This semi-experimental study followed a pre-test–post-test design with a control group and two experimental groups (coaching and self-learning). The statistical population consisted of couples who visited family counseling centers in District 8 of Tehran in 2022 and reported low levels of marital satisfaction and intimacy. A purposive sampling method was used to select 45 participants, who were equally divided into three groups of 15. The coaching group received eight 90-minute cognitive-behavioral sessions, while the self-learning group was given a structured 73-page manual to follow independently over two months. The control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Thompson and Walker Marital Intimacy Scale. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were used to analyze the results. Findings: ANCOVA results indicated that cognitive-behavioral interventions using the coaching method significantly improved marital satisfaction (η² = 0.30, p < .01) and couple intimacy (η² = 0.372, p < .01), compared to the control group. Similarly, the self-learning method showed significant improvement in marital satisfaction (η² = 0.19, p < .01) and intimacy (η² = 0.23, p < .01), although the effect sizes were smaller. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral interventions, particularly through coaching, are effective in enhancing marital satisfaction and intimacy. The presence of a coach facilitates deeper understanding, accountability, and behavioral change, making it a more impactful approach compared to self-directed learning.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the strategies and consequences of non-marriage among single men. Methods and Materials: The study was carried out using a qualitative approach and grounded theory methodology. The study population consisted of men whose age ranged between 33 and 45 years, considering the average age of marriage for men in the city of Kazerun in 2023 was 30.9 years. All participants were residents of Kazerun County in Fars Province. Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling based on inclusion/exclusion criteria until theoretical saturation was reached (15 participants). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's (1998) grounded theory approach, including open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: In the open coding phase, out of 232 identified codes, 33 open codes related to strategies and 56 open codes related to consequences were extracted. These codes were categorized into different concepts during axial coding. Finally, in the selective coding phase, the main categories and related outcomes of non-marriage were identified. The most significant strategies for not pursuing marriage included improving economic conditions, enhancing mental and physical well-being, developing alternative relationships, and seeking emotional or financial bonds. On the other hand, mental and psychological consequences, objective consequences, and environmental consequences were among the major outcomes associated with prolonged singlehood in men. These included negative emotions such as depression, isolation, wasted time and energy, and economic and social problems. Conclusion: This study revealed that the decision not to marry among men is the result of a combination of psychological, social, cultural, and economic factors that influence individual choices. Based on the findings, it is recommended that social and cultural policies aimed at supporting youth and facilitating marriage are essential. Moreover, identifying and thoroughly examining cultural and social barriers to marriage could help reduce the rate of singlehood and increase the willingness to marry among young people.

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 investigate the relationship between sexist parenting style, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and the perpetration of domestic violence against women by married men. Methods and Materials: A correlational design was used involving 300 married men selected through convenience sampling from medical centers in Qazvin. Participants completed the Mohseni Tabrizi Domestic Violence Questionnaire and the Garnefski Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and structural equation modeling using LISREL 8.80 were conducted to analyze the data. Model fit was assessed using indices including Chi-square, RMSEA, CFI, and TLI. Findings: Results indicated that sexist parenting style was positively associated with domestic violence perpetration (β = .51, p < .001). Maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies were also significantly associated with increased violent behavior (β = -.39, p < .001). Model fit indices demonstrated a good fit (χ²/df = 1.41, RMSEA = .037, CFI = .97, TLI = .96). Additionally, sexist parenting and emotion regulation interacted positively in predicting violence, suggesting that both factors jointly contribute to abusive behavior. Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical role of sexist parenting and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in perpetuating domestic violence against women. These results highlight the need for preventive interventions focusing on gender-sensitive parenting practices and training in adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies among men to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing negative affect, improving emotional processing, and enhancing psychological hardiness in women experiencing domestic violence. Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants, divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group underwent eight 90-minute ACT sessions over eight weeks, while the control group received no treatment. Outcomes were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up stages using validated tools for Negative Affect, Emotional Processing, and Psychological Hardiness. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, with SPSS-27. Findings: Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group across all variables. For Negative Affect, mean scores decreased from 3.52 (SD = 0.45) at pre-intervention to 2.89 (SD = 0.39) post-intervention and 2.45 (SD = 0.33) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 30.19, p = 0.001, η² = 0.52). Emotional Processing scores increased from 3.20 (SD = 0.40) to 3.80 (SD = 0.37) post-intervention and 4.25 (SD = 0.31) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 34.38, p = 0.001, η² = 0.55). Psychological Hardiness improved from 3.15 (SD = 0.38) to 3.95 (SD = 0.35) post-intervention and 4.10 (SD = 0.32) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 36.57, p = 0.001, η² = 0.58). The control group showed minimal changes across all measures. Conclusion: ACT was highly effective in reducing negative affect, improving emotional processing, and enhancing psychological hardiness in women experiencing domestic violence. The results suggest that ACT is a valuable therapeutic approach for this population, with sustained benefits over time.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group compassion training and group choice theory training on mindfulness and needs satisfaction in couples at risk of divorce in Rasht. Methods: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and control group, including a follow-up phase. The statistical population consisted of couples at risk of divorce who referred to counseling centers approved by the Welfare Organization of Rasht in 2023. A total of 60 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (compassion training and choice theory training) and one control group (20 participants in each group). The research utilized the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale as the main instruments. Both interventions were conducted in eight 90-minute sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS 26. Findings: The results revealed significant differences in the effectiveness of group compassion training and group choice theory training (p < .01). Group compassion training was found to be more effective than choice theory training in improving mindfulness and needs satisfaction. Both training types significantly impacted mindfulness and needs satisfaction in couples at risk of divorce (p < .01). Conclusion: Both group compassion training and group choice theory training were effective in improving mindfulness and needs satisfaction among couples at risk of divorce, with compassion training showing greater effectiveness. These findings suggest that compassion training may provide a more suitable approach for enhancing psychological well-being in couples facing marital challenges.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on internalized shame, marital disaffection, and inclination toward divorce in couples who had experienced infidelity. Methods: This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who, due to experiencing infidelity by their spouses, referred to licensed counseling and psychotherapy centers of the Iranian Psychological and Counseling Organization, the State Welfare Organization, or psychiatrists licensed by the Iranian Medical Council (Anis Andisheh Clinic) in District 3 of Tehran, during the first quarter of 2024. In this study, the sample size for each of the experimental groups and the control group was 16 people (8 women and 8 men), and a total of 32 individuals were selected. According to the quasi-experimental design, they were chosen through convenience sampling from among volunteers and then randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups by lottery. Data collection instruments included the Internalized Shame Scale by Cook (1993), the Marital Disaffection Scale by Kaiser (1993), and the Inclination Toward Divorce Scale by Rusbult et al. (1986). In this study, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy consisted of eight weeks of two-hour sessions based on the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy protocol by Crane. Findings: The results of data analysis indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had an effect on internalized shame, marital disaffection, and inclination toward divorce in couples who had experienced infidelity. Conclusion: Considering the results, it can be stated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy influences the research variables. It is suggested that further studies be conducted in this area to enhance external validity.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between humor and stress in families, with positive affect as a mediating variable. Methods and Materials: The study employed a descriptive correlational design with 409 participants selected from families in South Africa, based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires measuring humor, stress, and positive affect. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS-27 to explore bivariate associations among variables. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed in AMOS-21 to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated using multiple indices, including χ², df, χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA. Findings: The results revealed significant correlations between the study variables. Humor was positively correlated with positive affect (r = 0.53, p < .001) and negatively correlated with stress (r = −0.41, p = .001). Stress showed a significant negative correlation with positive affect (r = −0.47, p < .001). The structural model demonstrated acceptable fit (χ²(61) = 124.36, χ²/df = 2.04, GFI = 0.93, AGFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.049). Path analysis confirmed that humor had a direct positive effect on positive affect (β = 0.39, p < .001) and a negative effect on stress (β = −0.34, p = .001). Stress negatively influenced positive affect (β = −0.28, p < .001). Positive affect mediated the relationship between humor and stress, with a significant indirect effect (β = 0.09, p = .002). Conclusion: The findings highlight the protective role of humor in family contexts, showing that it reduces stress both directly and through the mediating role of positive affect. Integrating humor into family-based interventions may enhance resilience and emotional well-being.

Proverbs, a cornerstone of folk literature, transmit societal thoughts and experiences across generations through concise and impactful sentences. Virtually every facet of human experience is reflected in proverbs, including the concept of peace, which is richly represented in Persian tradition. This study examines 30 Persian proverbs related to peace, employing a systemic-functional linguistics framework to analyze their ideational, interpersonal, and textual functions. The findings reveal that these proverbs frequently utilize or imply a relational process. Circumstantial elements within these processes often serve to compare peace with war, or to provide justification for the prioritization of peace. In terms of interpersonal function, the consistent use of the present tense underscores the timeless relevance of peace. Regarding textual function, the placement of peace-related concepts in the thematic position emphasizes their centrality for the audience. Furthermore, the cohesive juxtaposition of peace with war, or related concepts, reinforces the imperative to avoid conflict.