DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (JOURNAL OF IRANIAN PSYCHOLOGISTS)
Year:2012 | Volume:9 | Issue:33|Papers Count:17

the relationship between the components of mother-child relationship with anxiety syndrome in preschool children was investigated. 291 females selected by cluster sampling method from a group of mothers with children aged 2-6 years old in Tehran completed the Preschool Anxiety Scale (Spence et al, 2001) and Child-Parent Relationship Scale (Pianta, 1992). The results obtained from regression analysis and correlation showed that positive relationship of mother-child was a negative predictor of the social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the fear of physical injuries. Whereas conflict in mother-child relationship was a positive predictor of anxiety symptoms, especially generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorders and fear of physical injuries. Also, the dependence of mother-child positively predicted anxiety syndrome, in particular separation anxiety. The implications of mother-child relationship in the assessment of children's welfare, especially in clinical contexts and the need for formulation and implementation of treatment profiles by child clinicians were discussed.

in order to explain different aspects of competitive anxiety including cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence as related to dimensions of perfectionism including striving for perfection (positive perfectionism) and negative reaction to imperfection (negative perfectionism), 173 volunteer athletes (115 males, 58 females) from different Iranian sport federations participated in the current study and completed the Competitive Perfectionism Scale (Besharat, 2009a) and the Multidimensional Competitive Anxiety Questionnaire (Besharat, 2009b). The results revealed that 1) striving for perfection (positive perfectionism) was negatively associated with cognitive and somatic anxiety, and positively associated with self-confidence, 2) negative reaction to imperfection (negative perfectionism) was positively associated with cognitive and somatic anxiety and negatively associated with self-confidence, and 3) dimensions of perfectionism can predict changes related to athletes' competitive anxiety. Moreover, striving for perfection decreased competitive anxiety and increased self-confidence through reinforcing personal feelings of competence, control and management of competitive conditions and concentration while performing sport skills and techniques. Conversely, negative reaction to imperfection, increased competitive anxiety and decreased self-confidence by weakening personal feelings of competence, control and management of competitive conditions and disturbing concentration while performing sport skills and techniques.

the present research examined the practicality, reliability, validity and norming of Cattell's Fluid Intelligence Scale (Scale 3, Form A).435 gifted high school students (215 girls, 220 boys) in the academic year of 2010-2011 were selected by multistage random sampling method and completed Scale 3, Form A of Cattell Fluid Intelligence Scale (Cattell, 1978). Based on the correlation coefficient of each item with the overall score of the scale and factor analysis of the scale items, no item was omitted. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was estimated at 0.783. Results of principal component analysis and oblique rotation for determining construct validity led to the extraction of four factors: memory span, perception accuracy, perception speed and reasoning by induction. Findings were in accordance with the Cattell Fluid Intelligence Theory.

the effects of cognitive strategy skills on dimensions of perceived competence (cognitive, physical and social) among elementary school students was studied. 50 male fifth-grade students selected by cluster sampling method and divided into one group of experimental and one control group (n=25). Both groups completed the Perceived Competence Scale (Harter, 1982). The research design was pretest-posttest with control group. The experimental group received 10 sessions (35 minutes each) of training cognitive strategy skills (Maleki, 2005). Covariance analysis indicated the effectiveness of cognitive strategy training in modifying dimensions of perceived competence (cognitive, physical and social). The results also posited the effectiveness of training cognitive strategy skills after a 30 day follow-up.

the current research was a developmental study of the quality of adolescent relationships with the same and opposite sex friends. 182 boys and girls adolescents aged 13, 15 and 17 studying in the academic year of 2010-2011 were selected based on available sampling from Tehran and responded to the Network of Relationship Inventory (NRI, Furman & Buhrmster, 1985). Data analysed using MANOVA and ANOVA demonstrated that girls reported affection and disclosure as the most important quality in their friendship with same-sex ones and affection and companionship with opposite-sex ones. For boys the most important quality in their friendship with the same-sex was reported as companionship and nurturance and with opposite-sex affection and nurturance. In both groups of adolescents the quality of relationship with the same-sex was significantly affected by age and gender, while the effect of age on the quality of relationship with the opposite-sex was not significant. Furthermore adolescents without opposite-sex friends showed better relationship quality with their fathers than their peers with opposite-sex friends.

The present study aimed at predicting psychological resilience based on intrinsic-extrinsic motivation and the mediating role of self-efficacy in high school students.402 students (212 girls and 158 boys) were selected by cluster sampling method from 6 high schools of four educational districts of Karaj city and answered the Resilience Scale (Conner, Davidson, 2003), Work Preference Inventory (Amabile, Hill, Hennessey & Tighe, 1994) and Self-Efficacy Subscale of Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (Pintrich & DeGroot, 1990). Results derived from enter regression analysis revealed that intrinsic-extrinsic motivation can predict psychological resilience, with intrinsic motivation being more significantly predictive. Also, the mediating role of self-efficacy in relation to motivation and psychological resilience was concluded. Findings were discussed in terms of research literature and the necessity for further research.

the present research was conducted to determine the relationship between self-efficacy, impulsiveness and social skills with substance abuse in high school students. 400 male junior high school students were selected by cluster sampling method from 10 schools (40 students from each school) in Arak city during the academic year of 2010-2011 and completed the self-efficacy Scale (Sherer, 1982), Impulsiveness Scale (Barrat, 1994), Social Skills Questionnaire (Matson, 1983) and Substance Abuse Checklist (Karimi, 2010). Data analysis was done using the correlation method and both enter and step by step multivariable regression analysis. The results indicated that behavioral impulsivity and lower levels of social skills have meaningful contributions in predicting substance abuse among high school students. Also, behavioral impulsiveness, lower scores of self-efficacy, social skills, and lack of thinking and planning accounted significantly for the vulnerability of students towards substance abuse.

in order to determine the mediating role of maladaptive cognitive schemas as related to family process and content and strategies for coping with parent-child conflict, 400 high school students (240 females, 160 males) in Shiraz city during the academic year of 2011-2012 were selected by multistage cluster sampling method and responded to the Organizational Conflict Inventory (ROCI-II, Rahim & Magner, 1995), Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (Young, 1999) and Family Process and Content Scale (Samani, 2009). Findings revealed no meaningful relationship between cognitive schema and family content components (except other-directedness with life atmosphere and fiscal resources) and family process (except religious beliefs). Also, a meaningful relationship was found between strategies for coping with parent-child conflict and family process components (excepting religious beliefs). Goodness of Fit Index derived from path analysis revealed the confirmation of the hypothesis regarding the model of relationship between family content with strategies for coping with mother-child conflict (except dominating) and strategies for coping with father-child conflict (except integrating, dominating and accommodating).