Applied Psychology
Year:2011 | Volume:5 | Issue:2 (18)|Papers Count:10

Aim: The aim of this research was to determine the effects of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) on improving quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer.Method: A quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and control group was used. Participants were 30 patients with cancer who were selected from among patients referred to chemotherapy centers and oncology clinics in Zahedan. They were placed randomly into two groups of 15 participants. The experimental group received nine sessions of cognitive behavior therapy of 60 minutes duration twice a week. The control group did not receive psychological intervention. The research instrument was the quality of life questionnaire published by the European Research Organization (Aaronson, 1987). The scale consists of three general areas which measure symptoms/quality of life, functional scale and the scale of the symptoms. Each of these scales also evaluates several separate dimensions. The questionnaire was administered at pre-test and post test stages. Data was analyzed using covariance analysis.Results: Results suggested an improvement and a significant difference in all aspects of quality of life measures in the experimental group compared with the control group. They also showed improvements in aspects of role playing, emotional functioning, cognitive and social functioning scale compared to the control group. These results were confirmed after a one month follow up.Conclusions: Cognitive behavior therapy results in improvement of performance and quality of life in cancer patients. Hence CBT may be suggested as a complementary therapy alongside medical treatment. The technique can also be used to improve communication between patient and physician.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between BAS-BIS (behavioral inhibition system-behavioral activation system) and some demographic factors with cardio-vascular disease among patients and normal people. Method: The method was ex-post factor design and the statistical population consisted of 360 cardio-vascular patients aged 20-40 years who were hospitalized in Shahid Madani hospital in Tehran. Participants included 122 persons (60 patients and 62 normal individuals) who were selected randomly and administered Carver-Whites' BAS-BIS scale (1994). In this study multivariate analysis of variance was used.Results: Results showed that there was a positive inverse and significant correlation between the BAS and having cardio-vascular disease. Also gender had no significant effect on the behavioral systems. Logistic regression showed that weight and age significantly predicted cardio-vascular disease. Results showed that more men suffer from cardio-vascular disease than women.Conclusion: Given that there is a significant difference between healthy and unhealthy people in behavioral inhibition system, this system can be an efficient indicator in psychological analysis of cardio-vascular disease. In sum, with the recognition of brain-behavioral systems specialy BIS in individuals and awairing them to develop their life styles, we can decrase cardio-vascular diseases in them.

Aim: In this research, the efficacy of self-regulation strategies on writing performance of students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in third to fifth grades of primary school in the city of Shiraz was investigated.Method: An experimental design was employed. 8652 3rd to 5th grade students in Shiraz were targeted and from this population, 20 pupils with writing disorder were selected using multiple stage cluster sampling after taking diagnostic tests (Wechsler Children Intelligence Scale, WCIS and Stoney Brook Child Symptom Inventory, CSI-4), and were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group received Phonological Awareness Training Package in 10 sessions but the control group did not received any intervention at all. Data was analyzed using covariance analysis (ANCOVA).Results: Research findings indicate that writing efficacy of the experimental group improved in comparison with the control group and their spelling mistakes were reduced.Conclusion: results indicate that self-regulation strategies reduce spelling mistakes in Students with ADHD. Follow up tests indicate the permanence of the effects of self-regulation strategies after three months. It is recommended that educators, counselors, and psychologists administer self-regulation strategies to improve writing efficacy of students with writing disorder.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationships between managers' value system and their personality traits considering three variables, namely civic participation, attitude towards meritocracy and organizational alienation.Method: the research method of this study was Survey. Here by among 1870 managers and supervisors in bureaucratic organizations the number of 288 managers and supervisors, and among 1100 managers and supervisors in industrial organizations, 155 managers and supervisors were selected randomly and among the whole managers of the set of organizations and the mentioned relationship were analyzed and compared in these 2 organizations. Managers value system with Schwartz value survey (1994) Managers personality traits with Neo personality short form (Costa & McCrae, 1985) Civic participation with Almond and Verba questionnaire (1963) meritocracy attitude with Peerce and Tsui questionnaire (1994) and organizational alienation, with a questionnaire concluded 4 questions provided by the researchers, were measured. To analyze the relationship between variables pearson correlation coefficient and to compare 2 kinds of organizations, Fisher z were used.Results: According to obtained results, signification differences between bureaucratic organizations and traditional organizations found and also There are meaningful relationships between value system, personality traits and criterions.Conclusion: Considering findings, it seems bureaucratic organizations have more humanistic nature. Therefore executing reforming programs in traditional organizations is suggested to target organizational structure and culture based on spreading and encouraging universalism, benevolence and self-direction values and increason the flexibility of these organizations. This research offers specific response and shows which values are applicable in the fist steps of employment and initial selection of personnel. Although these results are usable in higher processes and after employment and also in management of elite persons and in improvement period.

Aim: This study investigated the effects of Philosophy for Children (P4C) Program on self-esteem and problem solving abilities of secondary school students in the City of Broujen during 2009 – 2010 academic year.Method: A pre-test post-test design with control group was used. From among 1720 students, two classes was selected using random cluster sampling and students were assigned to either an experimental or a control group through randomized placement technique. Both groups completed the Cassidy & Long Problem-Solving Styles Questionnaire (1996) and the Cooper and Smith Self-Esteem Questionnaire (1967) in the pre test phase. After this, the Philosophy for Children Program was performed in 15 sessions for the experimental group during a time span of 45 days. At the end of this intervention, post-test was performed on participates of both groups. In order to control the effects of pre-test, Covariance analysis (ANACOVA) was used for analyzing the data.Results: Analyzing the data with SPSS software showed that the program increased self-esteem significantly in the experimental group. Furthermore, the experimental group, showed a significant increase in problem-oriented problem solving style and a significant reduction in emotion-oriented style.Conclusion: P4C can be a useful program for promoting social and cognitive skills in students. As the program creators also believe the intended purpose in Philosophy for Children Program is that children become more of a thinker and tend to learn to be more flexible, thoughtful and rational humans.

Aim: The purpose of this research is investigation of the extent of efficacy of hope therapy on the increasing marital satisfaction of the married students who have insecure attachment style.Method: Method of this research is a quasi-experimental with design of pre-test and post- test with control group. The statistic of this research include 480 married students of Allame Tabatabaei University- in 1387-88 academic year. To identify individuals who have insecure attachment style, subjects completed Valler, Phraly & Bernan (2000) personal experiences in relationships questionnaire (ECR-R). after this stage of screening, 52 subjects with insecure attachment style, were identified. Among them, 16 individuals tended to corporate with researcher, so they were assigned in experimental and control groups. both of groups were respond on a Enrich marital satisfaction test (Soleimanian, 1373) and Snyder hope test (1991). Then in the experimental group, hope therapy was performed in the six-hour sessions, but control group did not receive any intervention. Then were performed post test.Results: Results showed that hope therapy approach in the experimental group, significantly increased the hope and marital satisfaction of married students with insecure attachment compared to the control group, but this approach has not been lead to changing in attachment style of individuals from insecure to secure.Conclusion: The hope therapy is very efficient and wealthy method in the treatment area and in dealing with people who suffer from marital dissatisfaction.

Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship among defense mechanisms, experience and expression of anger in a college student sample.Method: Method of research was correlational and 213 college students were selected using available sampling from Shahid Beheshti University and completed the DSQ Bond et.al (1986) and STAXI-II Spielberger, (1986) scales. For data analysis statistical methods and indexes frequency, mean, standard deviation and regression analysis were used.Results: Results showed that mature defense mechanisms have a significant and positive relationship with experience and control of anger and a significant and negative relationship with the expression of anger and some subscales of it such as expressing anger verbally, expressing anger physically, angry temperament, and angry reaction. Immature and neurotic defense mechanisms have a significant and negative relationship with experience and control of anger and a significant and positive relationship with expression of anger and some subscales of it.Conclusion: People who use mature defense mechanisms can experience their feelings such as anger and because of experiencing this feeling; they can control their anger better. But in the case of immature and neurotic defense mechanisms it is different. In both of the mechanisms people avoid from experiencing of their feelings, but it does not mean that they have lost their feelings and their neglected feeling are set out in the form of behaviors that in some of time it is out of the control. It is therefore important that people trained to use the mature defense mechanisms.