مطالب

Objective: Proper sexual functioning is among the factors affecting marital satisfaction. A satisfactory sexual relationship plays a crucial role in individuals' sexual satisfaction, increased life satisfaction, and, consequently, family stability. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women dealing with sexual separation. Methods: To this end, a qualitative research approach was employed using a descriptive phenomenological method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with thirteen married women who reported having experienced sexual separation for more than a year and were living with their husbands at the time of the interview. Data analysis was conducted using Colaizzi's method. Findings: Ultimately, two main themes emerged: the nature of sexual separation and the reasons for sexual separation. The nature of sexual separation was divided into two sub-themes: lackluster relationship and wrong path. The reasons for sexual separation were coded into six sub-themes: personal injuries, emotional divorce, emotional wounds, beyond tolerance, unilateral pleasures, and backgrounds. Conclusion: According to the research findings, it can be inferred that sexual separation has different culturally dependent meanings. However, what stands out more prominently in the categories derived from this study is the reduction in frequency and duration of sexual relations and the lack of sexual desire and enthusiasm towards the spouse. Additionally, the factors causing sexual separation are an intertwined set of various reasons, with the most influential being emotional wounds and emotional divorce. The findings of this study indicate that some cases of sexual separation lead to sexual divorce.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program based on the threats and opportunities of remote work for dual-career couples during the COVID-19 pandemic on work-family conflict and its dimensions. Method: This was a quantitative, applied research employing a quasi-experimental design, utilizing a pre-test/post-test with a control group. The sample consisted of dual-career couples from Kerman city who sought counseling for various reasons. Collaboration was negotiated with a private counseling center, and agreements were made. Couples scoring above the cutoff on the prepared questionnaires were purposively selected, resulting in 20 couples who were then randomly assigned to either the experimental group (10 couples) or the control group (10 couples). The experimental group underwent the educational program while the control group received no training. The data collection instrument was the work-family conflict questionnaire by Carlson et al. (2000). Data in the quantitative section were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with the help of SPSS software. Findings: Given that the computed F-value for the effect of groups on work-family conflict and its dimensions was statistically significant at the 5% level (p < .05), it can be concluded that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups after the intervention, and the intervention significantly impacted work-family conflict and its dimensions. The Benferroni post-hoc test indicated that the effects of the educational program based on opportunities and threats of remote work on work-family conflict and its dimensions showed suitable stability during the follow-up phase. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that the educational package derived from the lived experiences of dual-career couples during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 outbreak was effective on the dimensions of work-family conflict among couples, and this effect was also stable in the follow-up phase.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to predict distress tolerance in the elderly based on experiential avoidance and spiritual intelligence. Method: This was a descriptive correlational study. The population included all elderly individuals aged between 65 and 80 years who visited community centers in Tehran in 2022, from whom a sample of 300 was selected using cluster sampling. The Emotional Distress Tolerance Scale by Simons and Gaher (2005), the Spiritual Intelligence Scale by King (2008), and the Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire by Gámez et al. (2011) were utilized for data collection. Data were analyzed using regression analysis. Findings: The results indicated that experiential avoidance significantly negatively predicted distress tolerance. Additionally, spiritual intelligence significantly positively predicted distress tolerance. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the current study, it can be concluded that this predictive model could serve as an effective framework in counseling and psychotherapy centers to enhance distress tolerance among the elderly.

This study investigates the feasibility and implications of implementing smart water supply systems as an integral component of the broader smart city initiative in Qazvin, Iran. As cities worldwide face growing challenges related to urbanization, resource management, and sustainability, smart infrastructure—particularly in water supply—has emerged as a critical area of innovation. The primary aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between smart water systems and overall urban smartness, assessing the extent to which intelligent water management can contribute to more efficient, resilient, and citizen-centered urban development. Employing a mixed-methods research design, this study integrates qualitative insights gathered through in-depth interviews with urban planning experts, and quantitative data obtained from structured surveys distributed among municipal managers and water authority officials. The results indicate that the integration of smart technologies in water systems has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of water distribution, enhance leak detection, reduce resource wastage, and foster greater public awareness and participation in water conservation efforts. Despite these advantages, several obstacles impede the successful adoption of such systems. Key challenges identified include limited financial resources, inadequate technological infrastructure, a shortage of skilled personnel, and the absence of cohesive regulatory and policy frameworks. The findings emphasize the importance of coordinated planning, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to address these barriers effectively.