Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry
Year:2023 | Volume:10 | Issue:4|Papers Count:12

Introduction: Personality disorders have a wide impact on people's personal and social life. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the degree of differentiation of cluster B personality disorders based on interpersonal problems. Method: The design of the current research was descriptive and of a comparative causal type. The statistical population included all people with cluster B personality disorder in the 5 districts of Arak city in 2022. Based on the number of research groups and variables, 120 people were selected from among those who referred to the psychology and addiction treatment centers of Arak city using the available method and responded to the Clinical Multiaxial Scales of Milon version 4 (2015) and Interpersonal Problems (1996), people were also evaluated by Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders (2016). To analyze the data, the discriminant analysis method was used in SPSS software version 26. Results: The results indicate a significant difference between the components of sociable (P=0. 001), assertive (P=0. 001), aggressive (P=0. 001), caring (P=0. 001), dependent (P=0. 008), supportive (P=0. 001), and involved (P=0. 001) in the studied groups, but did not show a significant difference between the studied groups (P=0. 14). In total, based on the evaluated components, 68. 3% of the participants were correctly placed in their groups. Conclusion: Considering that in the present study, most of the dimensions of interpersonal problems were significant in people with cluster B personality disorders, as a result, this variable can be used to differentiate the personality disorders of this cluster and also the intervention plan.

Introduction: Play is one of the methods for teaching the necessary movement, emotional and social skills, and structured play is the basis for children's normal communication and learning processes. Aim: The purpose of this study was the effectiveness of a selected movement program of structured, unstructured, and mixed on the social and psychological development of children aged 4-6 years. Method: The present research method was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population included children aged 4-6 years in district-5 of Tehran in 2020. The statistical sample included 60 children who were randomly selected and divided into three groups of 20 children. The studied groups trained for 12-weeks according to their implementation protocol, two session’s per-week and one-hour per-session. The research groups completed Vineland Social Development Questionnaire (1989) and Children Psychological Development (2010) before and after the intervention. A mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to analyze the data. All statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version-26 software. Results: The results showed that for social and psychological development, the main effect of levels and the interactive effect of group levels were significant (P<0. 05), but the main effect of group was not significant (P>0. 05). The results of the Bonferroni post hoc test showed that there was a significant difference between the mixed and structured groups (P<0. 05), but no significant difference between the unstructured and structured groups and between the mixed and unstructured groups (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Based on the results indicating the effectiveness of the mixed exercises on psychological and social development, it is suggested that professionals and physical education teachers use these protocols to improve and promote these skills.

Introduction: Impaired emotion regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) significantly affects their interactions. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a rehabilitation program based on vibroacoustic and virtual reality techniques and evaluate its effectiveness on the emotional profile of children with ASD. Method: The research employed a single-subject ABA design. The population included all children with ASD attending the Zehn ara Rehabilitation Clinic in Tehran in the second half of 2021, from which 5 participants were purposively selected. Initially, the combined program was implemented for 10 sessions of 30 minutes each on two randomly chosen participants from the sample, and after validating the program, three additional participants were included in the study. The Sensory Profile 2 questionnaire (2014) was used in this research. During the baseline phase, at the end of each intervention session, and during a one-month follow-up period, the questionnaires were completed. Data analysis involved visual analysis, percentage of improvement, and percentage of overlapping and non-overlapping data. Results: The results indicated that based on the obtained effect sizes, the intervention had a significant impact on emotional regulation in participants 1 to 5, with 90%, 80%, 80%, 100%, and 90% certainty, respectively. Furthermore, the percentage of improvement resulting from the interventions for participants 1 to 5 was 20. 08%, 28. 75%, 28. 24%, 27. 24%, and 21. 02%, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the combined rehabilitation program was effective in improving the emotional profile of children with autism. Therefore,this approach can be recommended as an appropriate intervention for individuals with ASD.

Introduction: Drug abuse is one of the most important health, social and economic problems in many countries, and the world has faced shocking statistics of its prevalence in society in the last three decades. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of life skills training on the psychological well-being of drug abusers. Method: The current research was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population includes all drug abusers in addiction treatment centers in Kermanshah during the years 2017 to 2019. From these people, 60 people were selected as available sampling and randomly placed in two experimental and control groups (30 people in each group). The research tools included Rif Psychological Well-being Questionnaire (1989) and 8-session life skills training intervention by Khalilan and Aflakifar (2016). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 software and multivariate covariance analysis. Results: The findings showed that life skills training had a significant effect on the dimensions of psychological well-being in the post-test and follow-up stages (P<0. 05). Based on the results for the six dimensions of mental well-being, i. e. independence, mastery of the environment, personal growth, positive relationship with others, purposefulness in life and self-acceptance, respectively 0. 24, 0. 30, 0. 31, 0. 49, 0. 67 and 0. 39 in the average difference of the groups was due to the effect of the intervention. Conclusion: Life skills training increases self-control and decreases positive attitude towards drug use in people. By learning life skills training, environmental mastery, independence and other psychological well-being structures can be promoted in people.

Introduction: One of the most important concerns in school psychology is understanding how students strive for academic success. Aim: The present study aimed to compare the family’s emotional climate, academic motivation, and academic buoyancy between excellent and average students. Method: In this causal-comparative research, the statistical population consisted of male students in the first year of middle school in districts 5, 18, and 22 of Tehran, Iran, during the academic year 2021-2022. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to recruit 300 students (n=150 per group) from these districts. Data were collected using the Family Emotional Climate Questionnaire by Hill (1964), Harter's Academic Motivation Scale (1980), and Martin and Marsh's (2008) Academic Buoyancy Scale. The collected data were analyzed using Chi-square test, regression analysis, and independent t-test in SPSS-21. Results: The results indicated a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the family’s emotional climate and its components, including love (P<0. 001), caressing (P<0. 002), approval (P<0. 003), shared experiences (P<0. 003), gift-giving (P<0. 002), encouragement (P<0. 001), trust (P<0. 001), and sense of security (P<0. 002). Additionally, there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the variables of academic motivation (P<0. 001) and academic buoyancy (P<0. 001), with the mean scores of excellent students being higher than those of the average group. Conclusion: In the group of excellent students, the family’s emotional climate, academic motivation, and academic buoyancy were higher than those of the average group. Therefore,strengthening the relationship between family members and students, besides implementing skill development programs that focus on enhancing academic motivation and buoyancy in school education, can have a significant impact on the academic success of students.

Introduction: In the last two decades, the literature in field of consumer behavior has paid a lot of attention to the issue of compulsive buying, but there are gaps. Aim: The purpose of research was to design a model of the psychological behavior of compulsive buyers in relation to brands based on the qualitative approach. Method: In the research, a qualitative approach based on the foundational data theory was used. The studied population included residents of Tehran in 2021 with an age range of 16 to 50 years who had compulsive buying disorder, and specialists in psychology and psychiatry, and marketing managers from Tehran with at least 10 years of experience. In order to collect data, the semi-structured interview method and the Compulsive Buying Behavior Diagnosis Questionnaire of Maccarrone & Schofield (2017) were used. Open, central, and selective coding, with Max QDA software version 20, and SPSS version 26 were used for data analysis. Results: The found model showed that contextual conditions (psychological and sociological factors), along with intervening conditions (concepts related to the brand, lifestyle display, income, intensifying negative feelings), in formation of compulsive buyers in relation to brands is effective and social and emotional benefits from buying the brand were the cause of this behavior. In the meantime, the behaviors of compulsive buyers in relation to brands (floating among brands and listening to brands) leads to adverse consequences from a marketing point of view. Conclusion: Based on results, the formation of hating feeling towards the brand causes irreparable damage to the brand, and due to the presence of social networks, these feelings can be quickly transmitted among consumers and lead to the brand's reputation damage.

Introduction: Social anxiety disorder is characterized by the fear of negative evaluation. This psychological construct results in individual’s poor functioning. Aim: The present research aimed to compare the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness therapy on the fear of negative evaluation in individuals with social anxiety disorder. Method: This quasi-experimental study, with a pretest-posttest control group design, was conducted on a population of individuals with social anxiety symptoms, who were referred to the psychological clinics of Shiraz, Iran, in 2019. Sampling was performed using the convenience sampling method. After initial evaluations, 45 people were randomly divided into three equal groups (two intervention groups and one control group). The CBT protocol proposed by Hoffman and Otto (2008) and the Acceptance and Mindfulness protocol by Fleming and Kukowski (2007) were used to implement the interventions (12 two-hour sessions). The participants also completed the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) by Connor et al. (2000) and the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale by Leary (1983) before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed in SPSS-24, using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: The results of MANCOVA test showed a significant difference between the scores of the control and experimental groups (P<0. 001). Compared to the control group, the fear of negative evaluation reduced in the experimental groups. Although there was no significant difference between the two treatment approaches (P>0. 05), the effect of mindfulness treatment was slightly higher than CBT. Conclusion: In this study, comparison of the two mindfulness and CBT approaches indicated no significant difference between these two methods in reducing the fear of negative evaluation among individuals with social anxiety. Therefore,it is suggested to use acombination of these two methods to reduce the fear of negative evaluation.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuropsychological disorder, characterized by social skill deficits, language disorders, and repetitive behaviors. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the expressive language of children with ASD. Method: This semi-experimental study, with a pretest-posttest control-group design, was conducted on a statistical population of autistic children, aged 4-6 years, who were referred to the rehabilitation clinics of Yazd, Iran, during 2022. A total of 30 autistic children were randomly selected for this study. The scores of Newsha's Growth Assessment Test (2009) were compared in three intervals: before tDCS, after tDCS, and during follow-up. Data analysis was performed in SPSS Version 21, using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The results of data analysis showed a significant difference in the mean expressive language scores of the experimental and control groups (P<0. 05). The effect size of tDCS on expressive language scores was estimated at 0. 421. The score of Newsha's Growth Assessment Test increased significantly in the experimental group after tDCS and during the follow-up compared to the control group (P=0. 001). Conclusion: The results showed that tDCS led to the improvement of the expressive language of children with ASD. Therefore, it is recommended to use this type of treatment as one of the complementary methods in the rehabilitation of ASD patients.

Introduction: It is very important to know the factors that influence motivational processes in children’s participation in physical activities. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the structural relationships of self-efficacy, body image, and mindfulness with behavioral regulation of students in physical activity. Method: The method of this study was descriptive correlation based on structural equations. The statistical population included all male elementary school students in Tabriz city in the academic year 2021-2022, and the statistical sample included 384 students selected by an available sample. Self-efficacy (Pender et al., 2002), Body Image (Cash et al., 2004), Mindfulness (Ahern et al., 2011), and Behavioral Regulation (Ryan et al., 2019) questionnaires were used for data collection. Pearson’s correlation test and structural equations with SPSS version 26 and Lisrel version 8 programs were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed a direct and significant relationship between self-efficacy and body image, mindfulness and behavioral regulation (P<0. 001), and a direct and significant relationship between body image and mindfulness and behavioral regulation (P<0. 001), and mindfulness had a direct and significant relationship with behavioral regulation (P<0. 001). Finally, the theoretical model of the research had a good fit. Conclusion: This study showed that self-efficacy, body image, and mindfulness improve students’ behavioral regulation in physical activity participation. Therefore,it is necessary to develop appropriate strategies and interventions, especially by physical education teachers, to teach techniques to increase self-efficacy, body image, and mindfulness in children.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which the facts surrounding a person are interpreted as abnormal. The treatment aims to reduce symptoms and the possibility of disease recurrence. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of spironolactone on schizophrenia symptoms. Method: In this double-blind analytical and clinical study, 44 patients were randomly divided into two groups. The study was carried out in Quds Hospital and centers for psychiatric patients in Sanandaj city in 2019 and 2020. The number of patients decreased to 32 due to drug side effects and unwillingness to continue treatment. The instrument used was the scale test of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Datum were analyzed using chi-square and ANOVA with repeated measurements and independent t-tests by SPSS-23 software. Results: The results showed that out of 44 patients studied, 37 (84. 1%) were men and 7 (15. 9%) were women. The imbalance was due to the small sample size. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of sex distribution, literacy level, marital status, employment history, and background medication use (P>0. 05). In addition, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of reducing negative symptoms (P=0. 666), positive symptoms (P=0. 748) and general symptoms (P=0. 342). Conclusion: According to the finding, spironolactone has no significant effect on reducing negative, positive, and general symptoms. Therefore, it is suggested to carry out more studies using this drug (by removing the limitations of this study) and other drugs.

Introduction: One of the most common problems among children and adolescents who suffer from SPD is having a deficiency in interpersonal relationships. Aim: The current study aims to investigate the Persian version of psychometric properties of the ERQ and social skills among children and adolescents who suffer from SPD. Method: This study was applied and developmental in terms of aim and psychometric type, respectively. The population included all the patients with SPD in Tehran city in 2020-2021, from which 222 children and adolescents with SPD were selected by available sampling. Three scales of Emotion Regulation and Social Skills (2015), Social Interaction (2003), and Social Skills (1983) were used to collect the data. Besides, mean, standard deviation (SD), exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, divergent validity, and SPSS-24 and AMOS-19 were run to analyze the data. Results: The result of factor analysis confirmed that the questionnaire is single-factor and explained 0. 54 of that. The reliability was checked via Cronbach’s alpha for the total questionnaire (0. 97), and the convergent validity of the parents’ form of this questionnaire was checked by social skill (0. 63) and social interaction (0. 49). This indicated the criterion and concurrent validity of this questionnaire. Conclusion: The results of this study showed the efficiency of psychometric properties of ERQ and interaction skills, considering the diagnosis of emotional and social features of SPD children. Future studies can use this measure for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes among patients with SPD.

Introduction: Marital separation is a significant life event that often results in a stressful and challenging period for both parties involved. This period may be particularly intense for women. Understanding the factors that can mitigate these conditions is crucial for managing this transitional phase effectively. Aim: This study aimed to elucidate the process of mental security development in divorced women using a qualitative approach. Method: This phenomenological study employed a qualitative method. The sample population comprised women from Al-Shatar City, Selseleh County, Lorestan Province, Iran, who had been divorced for a period ranging from 6 months to 6 years during 2021-2022. 18 participants were selected through purposive sampling and the data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The MAXQDA software was utilized to streamline the coding and analysis processes. Results: The results identified 4 key factors influencing the development of mental security in the divorced women studied: grounding factors, revealing factors, sustaining factors, and stabilizing factors. These factors collectively resulted in physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral effects, thereby laying the foundation for mental security in these women. Conclusion: Mental security in divorced women is a multi-faceted construct influenced by various factors. Identification of these factors may vary across different environments, cultures, and societies. Recognizing these factors can inform the development of effective strategies to enhance mental security of divorced women.