مطالب

  Objective: The purpose of this study was to ascertain how middle school students at Fakhri Zadeh School in Ardabil Province's academic year of 2023–2024 related their self-esteem, academic achievement, and test anxiety. Methods: The descriptive-correlational research approach was used for the objective of the study. All middle school students at Fakhrizadeh School were included in the statistical population, and 60 students from the same school were chosen for the study using convenience sampling. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Test Anxiety Scale (TAS) were the instruments utilized in this study. The SPSS program version 23 was employed for the tests, which included linear regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The current study's findings indicated no significant correlation between academic success and either test anxiety (p=0.47) or self-esteem (p=0.88). Test anxiety and self-esteem, however, were significantly and negatively correlated (p<0.001). Furthermore, test anxiety was significantly predicted by self-esteem (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study show that self-esteem plays a part in predicting test anxiety, and since students' self-esteem may be raised by offering them courses, it is feasible to establish the conditions necessary to lessen test anxiety.

 Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare personality traits, Perceived Social Support, and interpersonal relationships between two groups of prisoners: those who successfully reintegrated into society and those who re-offended.Methods: This research employed a causal-comparative method. The statistical population consisted of all individuals with a prison record in the central prison of Tehran city within the last 10 years (from 2014 to 2024). The sample size was 159 individuals (88 recidivists and 71 successfully reintegrated individuals), selected through purposive sampling in two groups: recidivists and successfully reintegrated individuals. Participants were assessed using NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Barton Communication Test Revised. The data were then entered into SPSS-22 statistical software for analysis and analyzed using analysis of variance and independent t-tests.Results: The findings revealed that among personality traits, significant differences between the two groups were observed only in the two dimensions of extraversion (P < 0.001) and conscientiousness (P < 0.001), as well as in the total score of Perceived Social Support (P < 0.003) and interpersonal relationships (P < 0.003). The comparison of means indicated that the meaning of these dimensions was higher in the successfully reintegrated group.Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that psychological variables such as extraversion and conscientiousness personality traits, as well as Perceived Social Support and appropriate interpersonal relationships, play a crucial role in successful reintegration into society and prevent re-offending.

 Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the mindfulness-based self-compassion program on distress tolerance, emotional expression, and psychological resilience in individuals with social anxiety disorder.Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design. Thirty individuals with social anxiety disorder were selected through purposive sampling in counseling centers and cyberspace, and they were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. At the beginning and end of the study, the two groups answered the questionnaires, including Social Phobia Inventory (SPI), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Emotional Expressiveness Scale (EES), and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). The experimental group underwent a mindful self-compassion intervention for eight weekly sessions, one session lasting 150 minutes, while the control group did not receive any treatment. Univariate analyses of covariance were employed to analyze the data using SPSS software version 27.Results: The results of ANCOVA analyses showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the post-test of distress tolerance, emotional expression, and psychological flexibility (p < 0.05). The results of the Bonferroni test showed that the experimental group had higher scores in the post-test of distress tolerance, emotional expression, and psychological flexibility than the control group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Findings indicate that the mindful self-compassion program is effective in enhancing distress tolerance, emotional expression, and psychological flexibility for individuals with social anxiety disorder.

This study aimed to find the relationship between test-taking strategies, test anxiety, and goal orientations in EFL learners. For this purpose, 150 intermediates Iraqi EFL learners were selected by convenience sampling, and the data was collected using the Test-Taking Strategy Questionnaire, Test Anxiety Inventory, and Achievement Goal Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Findings indicated that time and test-wiseness strategies were negatively correlated with test anxiety. Mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were positively correlated with affective strategies; the mastery-avoid goal was negatively correlated with test-wiseness, and the performance-avoid goal was negatively correlated with affective strategies. Finally, performance-avoid and mastery-approach goals were negatively correlated with test anxiety. These results emphasize the understanding of the relationships between test-taking strategies, goal orientations, and test anxiety in academic contexts. By fostering adaptive goal orientations and equipping students with effective test-taking strategies, educators can significantly enhance learners’ testing experiences and reduce anxiety levels.

Geostrategic realms refer to large-scale spatial zones on the Earth shaped by the rivalry among major global powers, forming extensive blocs of confrontation. These realms are structured through a combination of political, cultural, economic, social, military, security, commercial, technological, and media-related factors or a subset thereof and are typically led by a dominant actor assuming a guiding role. At the global level, two primary realms can currently be identified: the maritime realm and the continental realm. Transformations within geostrategic realms are infrequent and evolve over the long term, as dominant powers strive to preserve their superiority and stability by leveraging the aforementioned variables. In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which intensified cohesion among maritime powers, a new geopolitical window has opened for China to strengthen its position within the continental realm. Moreover, the rise of Donald Trump as President of the United States and the resulting transatlantic tensions over the Ukraine war present the potential for reshaping the global geostrategic landscape. This study investigates these emerging fractures and examines the prospects for realignment among global realms and the rise of new strategic actors. It analyzes geostrategic configurations through the lens of prominent geopolitical theories and interprets the shifting dynamics between the maritime and continental realms in the current global context. The research is primarily based on library and documentary sources and follows a descriptive-analytical methodology.

Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative technology with implications for global security. This article using descriptive-analytic method aims to explore the US and China’s Competition for AI supremacy and its security consequences for global security. The research main question is that “what ramifications do the US and China’s competition for AI supremacy have for global security?” This article argues that the competition between China and the U.S in the realm of AI technologies has significant ramifications for global security, with implications spanning economic, military, and geopolitical spheres. This multifaceted competition casts a profound shadow over the contemporary international landscape and necessitates a nuanced understanding of its consequences. This article also discusses that international collaboration, dialogue, and the establishment of norms and regulations are crucial in harnessing the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks. The final section of this article addresses recommendations to robust AI systems that prioritize human rights. By embracing a responsible approach to AI, we can strive towards a safer and more secure world.

Latin America has witnessed radical transformations for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. The most important features of the transformations revolve around the orientations of India’s policies. The most important of these differences is the abandonment by most of these countries of the centrality of the ideology of hostility to Western imperialism, and the adoption of an approach based on reforming the global system to serve their interests, and a pragmatism supporting multilateralism (as opposed to non-alignment) to confront multidimensional threats, through multilateralism and building coalitions across ideology, in addition to strategic hedging and resistance to joining alliances under the umbrella of the great powers. This new global environment, and the rise of the influence of the major powers in the global south and their efforts to promote their national interests as a strategic priority, created geopolitical, economic and value complexities for India, which produced an approach to its orientations to compete towards the Latin continent.

This study aims to investigate Saudi Arabia’s quest for regional hegemony, including its objectives, initiatives, and difficulties. In other words, the degree to which Saudi Arabia has been successful in establishing itself as the region’s dominant power. It is crucial to thoroughly explain Saudi Arabia’s psychological and practical justifications for pursuing regional hegemony in this context. To examine the political discourses, reality, narratives, ambitions, and perspectives of Saudi Arabia and compare these with other regional powers in this area, as well as to highlight a number of context-specific constraints on Saudi Arabia’s aspirations for regional hegemony, is the goal of the research. In addition, it intends to investigate how external powers such as the United States, China, Russia, the European Union, and Turkey influence Middle Eastern regional dynamics based on their own vested interests. This analysis demonstrates that Saudi Arabia’s drive for regional hegemony is mostly restrained by external causes. First, despite its preeminent economic power, the country lacks strong military capabilities to provide a security shield for its friends in this region. Second, the sectarian politics and undiversified economy of the region make it unlikely that secondary nations will receive full public goods. Third, low economic integration, the perception of a common regional threat, the absence of a broad free trade arrangement, the superiority of hard power over soft power, and a lack of mutual trust among regional countries are significantly diminishing the acceptance of Saudi Arabia’s hegemonic role in the region. However, Saudi Arabia is deliberately involving regional partners and coalitions in regional growth. The country takes on the main task for reshaping the Middle East’s economy and elevating this region to success. If Saudi Arabia is successful in fostering regional integration, offering a security shield, encouraging trust building, and collaborating with other states in this region to address shared regional threats, it will have a greater chance than the majority of other states in the region to become the regional hegemon.