Contemporary Psychology
Year:2017 | Volume:12 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:11

One of the most important factors affecting interpersonal problems is early childhood experiences with parents. These experiences play an important role in developing attachment.The present study was undertaken to investigate the mediating role of interpersonal cognitive distortions in the relationship between attachment styles and interpersonal problems. A total of 214 participants completed the Collins and Read attachment style (RASS), interpersonal cognitive distortions scale (ICDS), and interpersonal problems scale (IIP-32). Structural equation modeling (SEM) and Bootstrap tests were conducted to examine direct and indirect pathways of the study’s model, respectively. The results of the study showed that attachment styles and interpersonal problems are antecedents and consequences of interpersonal cognitive distortions, respectively, in students. The results also indicated that interpersonal cognitive distortions play a significant mediating role on the relationship between attachment styles and interpersonal problems (CFI=.95, GFI=.94, NFI=.9, RMSEA=.058). Furthermore, the findings of this study revealed that attachment styles and interpersonal cognitive distortions p lay a role in students’ interpersonal problems. A fit model was tested and used to explain students’ interpersonal problems.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the playing of digital games in children, adolescents and adults worldwide. Not only has interest in digital games grown dramatically, but variations in the types of games in different fields have also occurred. An example is the emergence of three- and two-dimensional games. Based on this, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two- and three-dimensional video games on social creativity and skills of male students. To this end, 45 students of the Persian Gulf University were selected through recall and after matching according to the intelligence score and experience of playing video games, they were divided into three groups (two experimental and one control groups) of 15 students each. In a 20-session period, participants in the two experimental groups, participated in two- and three-dimensional video games. Torrance Creativity (SC) and social skills Inventory (SSI) tests were conducted for all participants in two stages: pre-test and post -test. Data were analysed using covariance analysis. The results showed that two- and three-dimensional video games affected fluency and only three-dimensional video games affected flexibility, which is one of the components of creativity. In addition, two-dimensional video games affected social control, which is a component of social skills. From the findings of this research, it can be deduced that playing two- and three-dimensional video games is one of the factors that influence creativity (fluidity and flexibility) and social skills (social control).

Eating disorders are among growing chronic mental illnesses around the world. Bulimia nervosa is a subtype of eating disorder, whereby a person fluctuates between extreme diet and overeating. The study made an attempt to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on eating disorder symptoms in patients with bulimia nervosa considering parental bonding. The study employed an experimental design using the pretest -posttest and follow-up design (control group). The study population included all patients aged 16 to 23 years with eating disorders referred to psychiatric, psychotherapy, and clinical treatment centers in Tehran. A total of 72 patients had medical records. After screening, 39 patients were selected according to the psychiatrist's diagnosis and DSM-5 using a systematic method.Patients were matched in two experimental groups and one control group according to age and inappropriate compensatory behavior per week. Data were collected using questionnaires (1- Parental Bonding 2- Eating Disorder Inventory and 3- Young Scheme Questionnaire) and diagnostic interviews based on diagnostic criteria for eating disorders and psychiatric diagnosis.Compared to CBT, schema therapy was more effective in reducing symptoms of eating disorder and more durable in patients with more supportive parental bonding than less care for the body or body dissatsfact ion (f=.430, p=.001<.05).According to the findings of the study, patients with more supportive parental bonding responded better to schema therapy.Therefore, it is advisable for therapists to apply a combination of the schema approach with other system approaches.

Strategic thinking as one of the main capabilities of high functioning leaders, has a high complexity and importance.The assessment center is regarded as one of the most flexible and comprehensive tools for measuring strategic thinking.The purpose of this study was to design and implement an assessment center of strategic thinking competency for managers of the National Iranian Oil Refining & Distribution Company. To this end, 21 managers were selected as the sample of this study and they filled out the Professional and Managerial Position Questionnaire (PMPQ). Thereafter, job-related simulation exercises (leaderless group discussion, role playing, oral presentations and case studies) were designed to assess dimensions of strategic thinking (prospecting, systematic thinking, clever opportunism and conceptual thinking). Of the 21 managers of companies, six managers were evaluated by 12 assessors. Finally, with the implementation of the assessment center grade of each dimension in each practice, the overall rating, rating of each exercise, and overall performance rating were determined. In addition, the reliability and effectiveness of exercises and assessment centers were determined. This showed that the effectiveness of exercises and assessment center were higher than average. The results of the assessment center can be used in management decisions (such as upgrading).Furthermore, according to the validity and effectiveness of the tools and practices, they can be used in similar assessment centers.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a severe and chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system in which clinical manifestations and extreme neurological disabilities are presented. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third wave treatment opt ion used in medical populations to help patients cope with the physical stress of diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on disease acceptance and experiential avoidance in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The population of this study included all patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) in East Azerbaijan province in 2016. Among them, 30 patients referred to the MS Society were selected through purposive sampling and then randomly assigned into two experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The experimental group received 10 sessions of ACT intervention. Multiple Sclerosis Acceptance Questionnaire (MSAQ) and the second version of the Acceptance and Act ion Questionnaire (AAQ-ii) were used as data collecting tools.Analysis of variance combined with mixed-design repeated measures (ANOVA) was used and data was analyzed using SPSS21 software. The findings of the study revealed that the score of disease acceptance both in post -test and in follow-up increased significantly in the experimental group. Thus, it is important to pay at tent ion to psychological and physical problems in this clinical population. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to offer, along with medication, psychological treatments including ACT to these patients.

This study aimed to study the efficacy of a group behavioral activation treatment on decreased depression symptoms, cognitive-behavioral avoidance and increased quality of life.After meeting the study’s requirements, 40 students with depression were selected and randomly assigned to either behavioral activation treatment (n=20) or a waiting list control group (n=20). The experimental group received eight weekly behavioral activation treatment sessions. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Cognitive-Behavioral Avoidance (CBAD) and Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) were used as outcome measures. The questionnaires were administered immediately before and after the intervention and two months following the termination of the intervention. The results of the study showed that behavioral activation treatment is effective in reducing symptoms of depression and cognitive-behavioral avoidance, however, there was no significant effect on participants’ quality of life. Based on the results of this study, group behavioral activation treatment is effective in decreasing symptoms, and cognitive-behavioral avoidance in students. These results can have practical implications for clinicians and counselors engaged in university counseling centers.

Cancer is a chronic medical illness that can affect the psychological well-being and quality of life of individuals, including children and their families. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of social support in predicting general health based on emotional control in the mothers of children with cancer. The statistical population included the mothers of children with cancer in Tehran; 205 subjects were selected as sample. The research tools used for the study included the Philip s’s Social Support (SS-A), Roger and Nesshoever’s Emotional Control Questionnaire (ECQ) and Goldberg general health Questionnaire (GHQ).Data were analyzed using correlation coefficient (structural equation modeling). The results of the study indicated that social support played a mediating role in predicting general health. In addition, social support had a significantly direct impact on general health (-.75). Emotional control had a significantly direct (.36) and indirect impact on general health (.63). From the findings of the research, it can be concluded that social support and emotional control influenced general health among the mothers of children with cancer. Therefore, training in these areas can help increase the general health among mothers of children with cancer.