Journal of Research in Behavioral Sciences
Year:2008 | Volume:6 | Issue:1 (11)|Papers Count:13

Introduction: Exercise test (ET) is the first line of ischemia assessment in patients with suspected Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). We conducted this study to evaluate whether Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) influences the parameters of ET performance and affects the interpretation of test results.Material and Methods: In an ex-post facto study, 265 patients (191 Men, 74 women; mean age 48±10 years, 22-75 years old) referred for ET were enrolled through convenient sampling after completing and signing informed consent forms. After exercise testing, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression. Data was analyzed using t- paired, k2 and correlation coefficient tests under SPSS10 software.Results: The prevalence of depression was 41.5%. The proportion of positive ET in depressed and non-depressed groups was 23.6% and 19.4% respectively (p>0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, family history of CAD, and smoking habit, total exercise duration showed negative correlation with BDI scores (p<0.001). Correlation analysis for Maximum Predicted Heart Rate showed a strong trend of negative relation (p=0.06). Duration of performing ET was significantly lower in MDD patients (p=0.001).Negative correlation of BDI with ET performing duration was true both before and after corrections for the mentioned variables (p=0.001).Conclusion: Decreased psychomotor activity in depression may lead to inadequate exercise duration and affect the performance indices. However, if the performance indices of ET in a depressed patient are acceptable, the test result could be interpreted with confidence.

Introduction: Stress has wall– known effects in the pathogenesis of many physical and mental disorders and training of stress management skills may help individuals to reduce the adverse psychological consequences of it in such conditions. This study was aimed to assess the effects of stress management skills training on the academic achievement of girl students. Method and Materials: A semi–experimental study carried out in the girls’ high schools of Tiran and Karvan city in the 2006-2007 academic years. A total number of 198 students were selected through randomized cluster sampling and randomly assigned to the case and the control groups. Their coping styles were assessed using the Checklist of Stress-Revised (CS-R). After performing Stress Management Skills Training for the case group, in an active mutual participation model, the final average academic scores of the first (pre-intervention) and the second (post-intervention) academic half-year examinations were compared between the two group using t-student and t-paired tests running SPSS-10 software. Results: No significant difference was found between two groups regarding their use of problem–focused, emotion–focused, less effective and non–effective styles. Comparing the 18 coping strategy subscales, both groups showed a significant difference only in the impulsivity subscale (p < 0.05). The means of the average academic scores of the groups were not significantly different in the pre-interventional half-year (p = 0.37) and were significantly different in the post- interventional half year (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Training stress management skills exerts positive effects in the students’ academic achievement.

Introduction: Good performance in academic tests plays a major role in the student’s further academic and occupational achievements. In students who experience excessive amounts of anxiety while sitting for a quiz or test, lower academic grades may be achieved as a result of and impaired information processing.This study examined the relationship between anxiety test (AT) and some socio-demographic factors in high school students in Shiraz.Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample consisted of 512 high school students in Shiraz, Iran. Participants were students from both sexes and from all kinds of high schools (named: Governmental, private, and specialized high schools for the exceptionally talented students). The instruments used for data collection were Spielberger’s Test Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS11 software, using ANOVA, paired t, and Pearson’s correlation tests.Results: The STAI mean scores showed significant correlations with the districts of education organization to which the school belonged, the populated status of the classroom and the attitude of parents and school authorities toward academic failure (P<0.05). There was found no significant correlation between TA and the parent’s age, their conjugal relationships and the frequency of school visits by them.Conclusion: The Findings demonstrated the adverse effects of AT on the student’s academic performance.Identifying the bio-socio-demographic correlates of AT may help to plan more specific interventions for reducing AT in students.

Introduction: Youth and adolescence are important periods of human life. The time duration of using internet and virtual spaces is being increased among this age group. This study examined the identity status and mental health in three groups of Tehran University students using internet and virtual spaces.Methods and Materials: In a cross sectional study, 200 (19-30 years old) students selected via quota sampling from various faculties of Tehran University. Demographic questionnaire, Ego Identity scale, National Identity Scale, Religious Identity Scale and GHQ (General Health Questionnaire) were administered; then the participants were distributed in three group; namely: over users (spend 20-40 hours per week using internet and virtual spaces), moderate users (5-10 hours per week), and rare users (seldom use these media). Then they were compared regarding their mean scores of the administered scales. Data were analyzed by SPSS10 using ANOVA and follow up Sheffe test.Results: No significant difference was considered in ego identity scores of the three groups (F=3.2, p<0.05). However, the groups showed significant differences in religious identity (F=15.9), national identity (F=9.2) and mental health status (F=10.5) mean scores (p<0.05).Conclusion: In this study, national and religious identity scores as well as mental health status scores were obviously lower in the over users group. Prolonged time usage of internet and virtual spaces may be associated with poorer mental health status as well as, defects in some identity aspects.

Introduction: Parents’ attitude toward parenting styles is one of the factors that affect how they treat their children. Through enhancing the knowledge, educational interventions can moderate such attitudes. Studying new health educational models is essential for improving the traditional ones. The purpose of this study was to assess mothers’ attitude toward child abuse before and after educating the behavioral intention model.Method and Materials: This was a quasi-experimental single group before and after study. The sample consisted of 45 mothers with a child abusive attitude randomly selected among the referees to one of the Falavarjan health homes. The Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI) questionnaire was used to assess their attitude toward parenting style. Data was analyzed using t-paired test via SPSS soft ware.Results: Comparison of pretest and post test scores using paired samples t test indicated statistically significant improvement in attitudes whole mean scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate that educating parents may change their attitude toward proper parenting style. Such educations may result in better parenting behaviors and fewer instances of child abuse and neglect.

Introduction: During the recent years, increasing rate of divorce, affects families and community. Identifying divorce risk factors seems to be very important. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and some demographic correlates of mood Bipolar Spectrum Disorder (BSD) in volunteers of divorce referred to Family-Counseling Centers.Method and Materials: This was a descriptive-analytic study on divorced volunteers referred to family counseling centers of Isfahan in winter-spring 2007. The sample consisted of 96 volunteers selected through randomized cluster sampling. All participants were administered Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) as well as a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS13 software, using descriptive statistics, c2 and Mann-Whitney tests.Results: BSD was significantly more prevalent among females (p < 0.031) and among housewives (p<0.05). No significant difference was seen in the frequency of BSD between different age groups (p=0.47) and educational levels (p=0.11).Conclusion: Our findings indicated that psychiatric disorders including BSD may have a role in divorce. Marriage and/or divorce counseling may serve as a means for recognizing BSD in consults. Hence, it may play a role in reducing the rate of divorce through patients’ referral for appropriate specialized treatment.

Introduction: The higher prevalence of suicidal attempts among women has been reported in a vast amount of scientific literatures; but contradictory findings have been reported about the different rates of such attempts in different menstural phases.Some studies have shown that suicidal attempts in women are more frequent in specific menstrual phases compared to other phases and to general population. Some other studies, however, have failed to duplicate such results. Regarding these controversies, this study was aimed to evaluate the existence of is any relationship between the suicidal attempts and different phases of menstrual cycle.Material and methods: This was a descriptive study carried out on 298 suicide-attempted females referred to Isfahan Noor and Ali Asghar poisoning emergency center in 2005. They were selected through convenient sampling and were administered questionnaires to assess the menstrual phase at the time of suicidal attempt. Data was analyzed by SPSS10 software using c2 test.Results: Most of the suicide-attempted women were in the luteal phase. There was a significant difference between the frequency of this phase and the other phases at the time of attempt (p<0.05).Conclusion: Suicidal attempts in females may be more frequent during luteal phase. For preventing suicide, more supportive and evaluative methods should be considered during this high-risk phase.

Introduction: Spatial orientation abilities serve the human and most animals as a basic means for survival. This study was designed to examine the role of visual cues and the rotation of the experimental system on the spatial orientation in Albinos rats.Material and Methods: A simple water maze was used to examine the spatial orientation. Twenty five rats aged 2-3 months were distributed into three groups: 8 rates in the first group with distant visual cues, 8 rats in the second group with near visual cues and 9 rats without any visual cues. Experimental investigations were carried out at animal laboratory of Khorasgan Islamic Azad University. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and t independent tests by SPSS12 soft ware.Results: Experimental group with distant visual cues used both types of information, namely: exocentric information based on visual cues and egocentric information based on vestibular sense. But in the two other groups, localization and orientation were based on only one of the two mentioned types of information.Conclusion: Regardless of the distances, the visual cues are very important for spatial orientation abilities in rats. The study also showed that these animals use different strategies for orientation; but if the visual cues are available, they always dominate other kinds of sensory information.