International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences
Year:2020 | Volume:7 | Issue:2|Papers Count:6

Introduction: Drug-craving as a multidimensional subjective experience recently has been accepted as an addiction hallmark. Desire for Drug Questionnaire or DDQ is a well-known questionnaire for measurement of drug craving severity. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the DDQ among Iranian methamphetamine abusers. Method: DDQ was translated from English into Farsi by language experts. The questionnaire was then used for evaluation of craving among 50 male methamphetamine abusers. Then, DDQ questionnaire' scores was subjected to an exploratory principal components factor analysis. To assess construct validity of DDQ, the model was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was examined by calculating cronbach's alpha. Results: Finally, the Persian version of DDQ was verified with 13 items and three factors. Three factors with high eigenvalues were identified by (PCA) that accounted for 70. 63% of the total variance. Given the relative fit of the confirmatory factor model, the construct validity of the DDQ was verified. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the total score of the questionnaire was 0. 86. Conclusion: The Farsi-translated version of DDQ questionnaires had good psychometric properties. The questionnaire could be considered as a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of drug craving level in Iranian methamphetamine abusers.

Introduction: The subject of identity styles and its role in different stages of life has been confirmed by numerous researches. However, the role of identity styles on academic motivation has not been considered. This study was conducted in response to a research need. This study was conducted aimed to investigate the relationship between identity styles and academic motivation in adolescent girls in Tehran. Method: In a cross-sectional study, in the form of a correlational design, 201 participants were estimated among high school girl students and were selected using purposive sampling method. Data were gathered using demographic checklist, structured clinical interview, Berzonsky's identity style inventory, and Harter's motivational scale. Results: The data analysis showed that identity styles explained 32. 8% of the variance of academic motivation. Regression coefficients showed that informational identity style (β =0. 159, p<0. 05) and commitment identity style (β =0. 295, p<0. 01) directly and diffuse identity style (β =-0. 196, p<0. 01) reversely predicted academic motivation in adolescent high school girl students. Conclusion: The findings of this study, in line with the previous studies, indicate the relation between identity styles and motivation. These findings indicate the importance of identity styles in academic motivation.

Introduction: The family is the most important constituent of the society and marital maladjustment is considered as a threat to growth and development in marital life. This study was conducted aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of group schema therapy on differentiation of self and emotional control in couples with marital maladjustment. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, during October 2018 to January 2019, among couples with marital maladaptation referring to counselling centers in Tehran, 16 couples were selected using purposeful sampling. Participants were assigned into two groups using block randomization. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of Schema Therapy on weekly and based on Young Manual and the control group was placed on the waiting list. Questionnaires of Dyadic Adjustment, emotional control and differentiation were completed by the participants in two stages. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS 21 software. Results: Primary outcomes showed that schema therapy had a significant effect on the four dimensions of differentiation of self; including emotional responsiveness (p<0. 05), my position (p<0. 01), emotional digression (p<0. 01), and interactions with others (p<0. 01). Secondary outcomes also showed the effectiveness of this intervention on emotional control in the form of emotional inhibition, aggression control, intellectual rumination and benign control(p<0. 05) in couples. Conclusion: The findings of this study are in the line with the previous studies suggesting the role of maladaptive schemas in marital problems. Schema therapy had a significant effect on differentiation of self and emotional control in couples with marital maladjustment.

Introduction: Suicide is one of the major health problems and challenges in the world, which has various social, psychological, economic, and cultural dimensions. This study aims to determine the mediating role of self-conscious emotions and the domain of disconnection and rejection schemas in the relationship between maternal psychological separation and suicidal ideation. Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 573 students from Tehran who were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. In this study, the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA-3), Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) were used. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with SPSS 21 and AMOS 24 software. Results: The results showed a significant and indirect effect of maternal separation variable on suicidal ideation (β = 0. 145, p<0. 05), a significant and indirect effect of disconnection schema on suicidal ideation (β = 0. 040, p<0. 05), and the indirect and significant effect of maternal separation variable on the self-conscious emotions variable (β = 0. 104, p<0. 05). The results also revealed that the path coefficient of separation from the mother to suicidal ideation (0. 01) and self-conscious emotions (-0. 01) were not significant. Conclusion: The results of the fitted model data analysis showed that psychological separation from the mother, mediated by the domain of disconnection and rejection schemas, predicts suicidal ideation. Clinical interventions are recommended to be conducted for identifying and targeting schemas, particularly the domain of disconnection and rejection ones, in order to prevent suicidal ideation and thoughts or repair and control them.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of mortality in the world. In addition to physical problems, they are also influenced by psychological factors and psychological therapies along with biological therapy can help to improve these patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and emotionfocused therapy (EFT) on Health locus of control of coronary heart patients. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of the study included patients with coronary heart disease in the city of Karaj. Patients were 30 to 60 years old who referred to Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Karaj. Samples were selected using convenient sampling method and were assigned randomly into two experimental and one control group. Data were collected using health locus of control questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance. Results: outcomes showed that ACT and EFT are effective on adjusting the Health locus of control in patients with coronary heart disease, and there was a significant difference between the experimental and control group (F = 7. 25, p <0. 05). But there was no difference between the efficacy of the two treatments. Conclusion: Psychological therapies such as ACT and EFT increase self-care in cardiac patients by increasing control and increasing sense of responsibility.

Introduction: Today's world is full of unavoidable stress. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of psychological hardiness training intervention on perceived stress among students of Payame Noor University. Method: By available sampling, 31 subjects (29 females and 2 males) whose perceived stress scores were higher than the mean (M = 27. 26) were selected and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group received 12 sessions of the hardiness training intervention. Participants completed perceived stress scale and the hardiness personality inventory before and after the intervention. Results: The results of one-way analysis of variance showed a significant decrease in perceived stress and a significant increase in psychological hardiness (P <0. 05) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Therefore, the psychological hardiness training increased the psychological hardiness and its components including challenge, commitment, and control and decreased perceived stress in students in the face of stressful events.