INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Year:2010 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

Introduction: With regard to importance of psychological substructures in onset of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), this study was done to investigate and compare the activity of brain/behavioral systems in patients with GERD and healthy people. Method: 60 patients (30 female and 30 male) attending to an outpatient gastrointestinal clinic in Tehran, and diagnosed as GERD cases by a gastroenterologist and 60 other healthy subjects (30 female and 30 male) with the same age average and similar entry criteria were selected as comparison groups. Two groups completed Gray Wilson personality questionnaire (GWPQ). The means of variables in both groups were compared by independent T-test. Results: The activity of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) in GERD patients was significantly higher than healthy people; while behavioral activation system’s (BAS) activity in healthy people was significantly higher than patients group. No significant difference was observed in fight/flight system’s (FFS) activity of two groups. Conclusion: Fundamental analyzing of neural/behavioral variables in the study of gastrointestinal disorders is necessary.

Introduction: Hysterectomy surgery is one of the most common women’s surgeries. The purpose of this research was to examine the role of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in accelerating the physical recovery of patients after hysterectomy surgery. Method: In this clinical trial study, 20 subjects candidate for hysterectomy surgery were randomly selected and divided into in two groups of experimental and control. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was instructed before surgery during 8 sessions for experimental group and after surgery both groups were examined in terms of accelerating the physical recovery, i.e., amount of sedatives dose, duration of hospitalization and return to daily activities.Results: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly accelerated the process of physical recovery, relieved pain and lowered sedatives consumption for patients of the experimental group. Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) acts in accordance with the recognition and changing the negative cognitions and causes the acceleration of recovery, reduction of pain and consumption of pain after Hysterectomy surgery.

Introduction: The aim of the present research was to investigate the relationship between the belief in Hijab and various types of vulnerability in personal, familial and social areas. Method: In this correlation research, 531 teenage and young daughters, aged 15-29 years old were selected, from different cities of Iran, using multistage cluster sampling. The required data collected through researcher-made questionnaire concerning different dimensions of vulnerability, consisting of 20 subscales. The data were analyzed using statistical methods of correlation coefficient, regression analysis and variance analysis. Results: Belief in Hijab had significant relationship with decrease in vulnerability with rate of 0.80 (p<0.0001). Tendency to west predicted 66% of Hijab noncompliance alone. There were significant correlation between the level of compliance to Hijab and demographic characteristics (age, education, family relationships and parental control level) at p<0.001 level. Conclusion: Belief in Hijab acts as an obstacle to cultural vulnerability. Therefore, its growth and strengthening is one of the appropriate methods of preventing and reducing the vulnerability.

Introduction: Identifying the positive and negative perfectionism beliefs and their relationship with psychological and personality factors is highly important. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between perfectionism beliefs and self-handicapping behaviors. Method: Current study is a descriptive research of correlation type. 360 students of third year of bachelor degree (170 male and 190 female) in Tehran universities were selected through cluster sampling and participated in this research through completing Frost Multi Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and self handicapping scale (SHS). Data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. Results: Between negative and positive perfectionism, and self-handicapping, there were significant positive and negative correlations, respectively. Also both negative and positive perfectionism could significantly predict changes in self handicapping (p<0.001). Conclusion: In the presence of positive perfectionism variable, probability of self-handicapping behaviors increase is lower and in the presence of negative perfectionism variable the probability of self-handicapping behaviors existence is higher.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare early maladaptive schema in obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) and those without it. Method: This study was conducted in two stages. At first stage, 151 obese participants completed Binge Eating Scale (BES) in order to identify obese binge disorder eaters and those without this disorder. In the second stage, subjects who scored above 17 in BES selected as obese binge eaters (n=30). Subjects who scored 6 or less than 6 in BES identified as obese non-binge eaters (n=30). These two groups completed Young Schema Questionnaire. Two groups were homogenized in terms of their sex and age to avoid the influence of confounding variables. Results: Obese with binge eating disorder gained significantly higher scores than obese without binge eating disorder in abandonment/ instability, emotional deprivation and insufficient self-control/ self-discipline. Conclusion : Abandonment/ instability, emotional deprivation and insufficient self-control and self-discipline schemas play principal role in identifying the differences between the obese individuals that have binge eating disorder and those without this disorder.

Introduction: The present study investigated the moderator role of job accident variable in relation to cognitive failure and meta-cognitive components. Method: This study is correlation. The participants of this study were 4726 male and female -formal and informal-personnel of car producing factory in 2007. At the long last, 254 persons were selected as the main studied participants. Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) and Meta Cognition Questionnaire (MCQ) were the data collection instruments. Participants were divided into two groups of with accident and without accident, according the rate of accidents. In order to investigate the relationship between variables and comparing them, appropriate statistical descriptive procedure, correlation, independent T-Test and factor analysis were used.Results: There was significant discrepancy between two groups in terms of cognitive failure and meta-cognitive components. Also the relationship between cognitive failures and meta-cognitive components was significant in two groups. Conclusion: Cognitive failure in the morning class (individuals who have the maximum level of consciousness and awareness in the morning) is higher than evening class (individuals who have the maximum level of consciousness and awareness in the evening). Taking this point into account, applying the evening class individuals in jobs that have shifts and night shift can prevent the accident.

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of family psycho-educational program on family environment in families of patients with severe mental disorders. Method: Research sample consisted of 30 patients suffering from severe psychiatric disorders that were hospitalized in Taleqani and Imam Hossein hospitals of Tehran in 2007, and were selected via available sampling. Patients who were willing to participate in the program placed in experimental group and those who were not willing to participate placed in control group. Both groups answered to the family environment questionnaire (pretest), then, curriculum was implemented for experimental group for six 2 hours sessions weekly. Data were analyzed using independent T-test and covariance. Results: Psycho-education improved cohesion and expressiveness of experimental group (p<0.01) but no change was seen in conflict and total family environment components in two groups. Conclusion: Family psycho-education of patients who suffer from severe mental disorders has no positive effect on their family environment. Family psycho-education causes to increase in expressiveness and family cohesion, but do not change conflict component.

Introduction: This study investigated the effects of affective content of tasks on explicit and implicit memory function of students, in order to examine the difference in effect of pleasure and unpleasure events on memory. Method: This is an experimental study with random selection of 90 university students that was conducted individually. Each subject received one task with positive, inactive and negative affective contents. Then, the rates of affective tasks recall measured using two methods for evaluation of explicit & implicit memory. Results: Affective content tasks (positive, negative, inactive) had different effects on explicit and implicit memory function. Explicit memory had the best function associated with positive affective content tasks and the minimum memory function in negative task. Implicit memory function in both positive and negative affective tasks was better than inactive task. Conclusion: Explicit memory has the highest efficiency for positive and pleasant affective issues; the lowest rate of efficiency is due to unpleasant and negative affective issues. In implicit memory, affective issues, being pleasant (positive) or unpleasant (negative), lead to better memorization of information, but inactive content has the minimum amount of influence on implicit memory.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was comparative analysis of the quality of life, stress and mental health in addicts and non addicts affected by HIV and healthy people. Method: 30 addicts affected by HIV and 30 non addicts affected by HIV were selected from HIV patients’ caring centers and 30 healthy people in Tehran’s parks were selected by available sampling. Participants were evaluated by researcher-constructed questionnaire, Peakle life events questionnaire and general health questionnaire. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and HSD. Results: Quality of life and mental health in addicts affected by HIV are lower than non addicts affected by HIV, and in non addicts affected by HIV are lower than healthy people. Also, the level of stress in addicts affected by HIV was higher than non addicts affected by HIV and in non addicts affected by HIV was higher than healthy people. Conclusion: Diagnosis of HIV infection along with addiction, because of different reasons such as social labels, uncertainty of disease condition and the lack of definite cure can add more severe physical, psychological and social problems to patients’ problems and pains.

Introduction: ADHD is chronic and traumatic disorder, which continues from childhood to adulthood. This research was conducted in order to compare the family functions of mothers with normal and ADHD children and investigating the effectiveness of problem solving skill instruction on the family function of mothers with ADHD children. Method: This research is a quasi-experimental study with a control group. 8 ADHD mothers and 12 normal mothers were selected using available sampling as the statistical sample, and were divided into two groups after homogenization in terms of their age and gender. Before and after the Badell & Lannox problem solving skill training, the subjects completed the family assessment device (FAD) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS.15 software and for analysis of hypothesis, independent T-test independent was used. Results: Family functions of mothers of normal children were disturbed comparing to those of ADHD mothers (p<0.05). Moreover, the problem solving skill training for ADHD mothers improved their family function; especially this training improved their problem solving ability, parental roles, behavior control and general function (p<0.05); but did not significantly change emotional responsiveness, communication and support (p>0.05), which suggest the sensitivity and effect of multiple factors on family function. Conclusion: Family function of mothers with ADHD children is considerably weaker than mothers of normal children and problem solving skill instruction improves family function of mothers with ADHD children, especially their problem solving ability, parental roles, behavior control, and general function.

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of motivational interviewing on lifestyle self-efficacy in terms of weight in men. Method: The present research is an experimental study with Pre-test, post-test and a control group that was conducted at different time on 40 subjects suffering from overweight and obesity (Body Mass Index more than 25) working in Isfahan Poly Akril Company in 2009. The subjects were selected by random sampling and were randomly classified into the experimental group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). The intervention consisting of five sessions of group motivational interviewing and weight controlling program was given to the experimental group. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical tests of covariance analysis and dependent t-test, via weight efficacy lifestyle questionnaire. Results: The score of the group receiving motivational interview was significantly higher than the control group in general weight self-efficacy lifestyle scale (p=0.0001) and all its subscales including availability of nutrition (p=0.0001), social pressures (p=0.0001), physical discomfort (p=0.006), negative emotions (p=0.002) and positive entertaining activities (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Including motivational interview in usual weight controlling programs can increase weight self-efficacy lifestyle as a predicting index of losing weight.

Introduction: The main purpose of this study was comparative analysis of the effect of puberty health education through reliable sources of puberty education on heath behaviors of girl students of the guidance school in one of residential towns of Tehran, district 1. Method: This research is a quasi experimental study of field trial type. Population and the studied samples were all female middle school students of the second grade (132 students) of public schools located in one of residential town of Tehran. At first, the researcher-made questionnaire was completed by students. Then, with an identical educational program, all students were instructed. Curriculum was implemented by face to face educational method and discussion and debate technique during single 2.5 hours session for each group. Three months after the end of educational program, questionnaires were completed by students again. Data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests, paired T, Chi square and ANOVA. Results: There was no significant difference among total mean scores of health behaviors in pre intervention phase, but, there was significant difference in three groups in post intervention phase (p > 0.05 ). Also, the difference was significant in comparing the pre and post scores of each group ( p > 0.05 mothers group, p > 0.001 teachers group, p > 0.001 nurses group). Conclusion: Education through health nurse is more effective than instruction through mothers and teachers and leads to improvement and promotion of teenage girls’ health behavior.