Applied Psychology
Year:2014 | Volume:7 | Issue:4 (28)|Papers Count:8

Aim: This research investigated the effectiveness of training based on Stair’s communicative approach, on improving parent-child relationship for teenage girls.Method: A quasi-experimental method with pre- and post- test design was employed. The statistical population included all female students (N=1850) studying in junior high-schools during the academic year 2008-09 in Tehran’s District 19 of the Ministry of Education’s divisions. From this population, thirty students was selected randomly and assigned to an experimental and a control group, comprising of fifteen individuals each. In the pre-test and post-test both groups completed the Strauss Conflict Tactics Scale (1996). The experimental group participated in eight training sessions, each lasting two hours. The sessions were held twice weekly and training was based on Stair’s communicative approach. Post-test was administered to both groups after the training. Data were analyzed using ANOVA.Results: Results showed that training significantly decreased the amount of verbal and physical aggression. Further, it was found that reasoning skills significantly improved following post-test. These results were confirmed after a one month follow up.Conclusion: The Satir communicative approach may be considered an effective method for improving parent-child relationship.

Aim: Aim of this research was to determine the effects of psychodrama training on communication skills and aggression of aggressive girls.Method: A quasi experimental method with pre and posttest and a follow up design was used. Thirty female high school students were selected randomly from a population of 1950 students in District 13 of Ministry of Education's divisions in Tehran during the 2012-013 academic year. The thirty participants were matched and assigned to either an experimental or a control group (fifteen in each group). Participants completed the Aggression Questionnaire (Zahedifar, 2000) and the Communication Skills Questionnaire (Attarha, 2007). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data.Results: Results showed that psychodrama training had a significant effect on communication skills and that it decreased the rate of aggression. Follow up data confirmed this effect on both depended variables.Conclusion: Since psychodrama is an effective approach to improving communication skills and reducing aggression, it can be used for those students with communication problem.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of hope therapy in reducing distress of women with breast cancer.Method: This research was quasi experimental with a pre and post-test and a control group design. The statistical population included all women diagnosed as having breast cancer who were attending Shahid Beheshti Medical University’s Cancer Research Center during 2013-14. Thirty patients were selected based on accessibility and were divided randomly into an experimental and a control group. The Kessler Distress Test was administered at pre and post- test to both groups.Hope therapy was conducted. The experimental group received eight 90 minute sessions of hope therapy. Result: Results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that hope therapy had reduced distress in women with breast cancer.Conclusion: Since hope therapy strategies can reduce distress in women with breast cancer, hope therapy may be suggested as a complementary therapy alongside medical treatment.

Aim: This study examined the mediating effect of occupational self-efficacy on the relationship between occupational stress and job-related affective well-being among teachers.Method: In this correlational study, statistical population included 284 teachers from Divandareh city in the 2012-2013 academic year. On a sample consisting of 250 teachers, who were selected through simple randomized sampling, were administrated the Occupational Stress Inventory- Revised (OSI-R, Osipow, 1998), Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale- Short Version (TSES-SV, Schwarzer, Schmitz & Daytner, 1999) and Job-Related Affective Well-Being Scale (JAWS, Van Katwyk, Fox, Specter & Kelloway, 2000). Structural equation modeling was used to assess the mediating effects model of occupational self-efficacy on the relationship between occupational stress and job-related affective well-being among teachers.Results: In hypothesized model, results indicated that there is a significant negative correlation between occupational stress with occupational self-efficacy and job-related affective well-being and significant positive correlation between occupational self-efficacy with job-related affective well-being. In this model, results also indicated that the relationship between occupational stress and job-related affective well-being by occupational self-efficacy is mediated. All of the regression weights in the model were statistically significant and model' predictors accounted for 64% of the variance in job-related affective well-being.Conclusion: These findings show that when encountering to occupational stress, difference in job-related affective well-being accounted for by difference in degree of occupational self-efficacy.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of problemsolving training on the quality of life of mothers with autistic children.Method: Research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, follow-up and control group. Subjects were thirty mothers with autistic children randomly selected among clients referred to the “Children of the Sun” Specialized Autism Center located in Ghods City, Tehran Province in 2013. Participants were placed in an experimental and a control groups (fifteen in each group). The experimental group received six two hour training sessions once a week and the control group was placed in a waiting list. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992) was administered at pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Data was analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).Results: Results indicated that, as compared to the control group, learning problem-solving skills was effective in improving the quality of life in the experimental group. A two-month follow-up confirmed these results.Conclusion: Since mothers with autistic children play a central role in the emotional climate of the family, problemsolving training can be used as a supporting tool for improving the quality of family life.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to design a culturally suitable questionnaire for evaluating the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) and investigating its psychometric properties.Method: Three hundred and eighty two students of Shahid Beheshti and Tehran universities participated in the present study which used a correlational design. BAPQ was designed based on symptoms of autism. The Farsi versions of Reading Mind from Voice (FVRMFV) and Reading Mind from Eyes (RMFE) tests were performed simultaneously. Exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and independent t- tests were used to evaluate the validity and Chronbach's alpha was used to evaluate the reliability of BAPQ.Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a seven factor structure for the questionnaire. These were labelled as follows: language, communication and social skills, variety of interests, global outlook, empathy and implicit perception. Correlations between BAPQ and FVRMFV and RMFE were significant. Compared to normal participants and females, parents of children with autism and male participants showed higher scores BAPQ. Cronbach' s alpha of BAPQ was 0.718.Conclusions: BAPQ is a suitable and reliable testing device for the evaluation of broad autism phenotype and it can differentiate parents of children with autism from the normal population and males from females.

Aim: The purpose of present study was to demonstrate the undesirable and harmful side of creativity with the assumption that creative people are able to justify their unethical behaviors. Therefore they are more able to convince themselves to commit unethical behaviors.Method: Research method was correlational and statistical population was all undergraduate students of the Qom Payame Noor University (N=8100) that 165 of whom were selected using a multistage random sampling and were placed in an ethical dilemma to choose between self-interest and moral self-concept in two ways so that justifying unethical behavior in justifiable group was easy and in unjustifiable group was hard. Research tools were Abdi’s creativity test (1372) and Raven’s progressive test and data were analyzed using moderated regression analysis.Results: Findings showed that creativity, even after statistical control of IQ can predict dishonesty, and that this prediction is very stronger in unjustifiable group than justifiable group.Conclusion: Creativity has negative and harmful aspects that must be considered and led to positive ones using planning and education.