POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH
Year:2019 | Volume:5 | Issue:1 (17) |Papers Count:6

Illness acceptance, stress and how to cope with it, are some of the important issues playing a crucial rule in illness prognosis, physical and psychological wellbeing of chronic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on illness acceptance and coping strategies in systematic lupus erythematous patients. This quasi-experimental study was carried out with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group. The sample included 16 lupus patients who were referred to the Rheumatology Clinic of Alzahra Hospital in Isfahan. The sample was selected by using the available sampling method. The patients were assigned randomly to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction. The control group did not receive any intervention. Chronic Illness Acceptance Questionnaire and the short form of Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations were used to collect data. After the end of intervention, both groups were tested again by the same instruments and 30 days afterward in a follow-up. The results of Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance showed that the intervention was effective in increasing activity engagement but it did not affect willingness. The intervention was effective in increasing the use of problem-focused coping and decreasing the use of emotional-focused coping. The intervention was also successful in decreasing the use of avoidant coping. Overall, mindfulness-based stress reduction can be a beneficial treatment to increase illness acceptance and enhancing coping strategies in patients with Lupus.

In recent years, causal studies have emphasized the role of biological, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions in the emergence and exacerbation of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of spirituality and forgiveness in psychological symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease. Therefore 96 patients admitted to the hospitals and clinics of medical diagnosis of coronary heart disease in 1396, were selected by purposive sampling method and answered the items of: Spiritual Tendencies (Sharifi, Mehrabi), Passed Questionnaire (Worthington, Hook & Witvliet) and a short form of Mental Indications (Dora). The results of correlation and stepwise regression analysis showed that there were negative correlations between the dimensions of spirituality and psychological symptoms. Psychological symptom subscales had significant negative relationships with spiritual beliefs, a sense of achievement spiritual, and religious self-realization, spiritual and social activities. Symptoms subscales as well as psychological and emotional dimensions of forgiveness decision had a significant negative correlation. Variables spirituality and forgiveness significantly predict and reduce psychological symptoms. The results of spirituality and forgiveness-based training programs can be used to promote mental health in different patients.

The purpose of this research was to investigate developmental trend of hope and its components in employees in 20 to 60 years old. Accordingly, the research was carried out in the form of a cross-sectional study and causal-comparative design. Therefore, from among the employees of Markazi Province Electeric Distribution Company 250 personnell in 4 age groups from first half of young-age to second half of middle-age were selected based on convenience sampling, and Snyder Hope Scale was administered to them. In order to create more age difference in groups, subjects in ages 30, 40, and 50 were eliminated from the sample. The final sample age groups were 20 to 30 (n=54), 30 to 40 (n=52), 40 to 50 (n=49), and 50 to 60 (n=48). The results of multivariate analysis of variance indicated that there was significant differences in the liner composition of pathways thinking and agency thinking of hope in studied groups. Univariate analysis of variance also indicated that there were significant differences between groups only in pathways thinking and not in agency thinking. The pairwise comparisons of least significant differences (LSD) also indicated that the second half of young-age and the first half of middle-age had highest rate of pathways thinking, and the second half of middle-age had thelowest rate. In conclusion, empowering the hope and pathways thinking in second half of middle-age and terminal years of job period must be paid attention to and necessary programs and education in these areas be employed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of self-regulation strategies training on students' happiness. The research method was quasi-experimental. It also utilized pretest-posttest and follow up design with control group. The sample consisted of 60 high school male and female students who were selected by multistage cluster sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The research instrument was Oxford Happiness Questionnaire which the students completed in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The experimental group received 8 sessions of 45 minutes self-regulation strategies training. The results of ANOVA with repeated measures showed that the differences between mean score of happiness of the experimental group and the control group after training was significant and higher for the experimental group (p≤ 0. 01). The results of the post hoc test (LSD) showed that the mean score of happiness in the post-test and follow-up stages was higher than the pre-test and the mean score of girls’ happiness in the post-test and follow-up stages was higher than boys in the same stages. According to these results, it is concluded that training self-regulation strategies can be effective in enhancing student happiness.

Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of mortality at the present time. Unlike the negative psychological states, a positive psychological state such as happiness, is associated with cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of happiness training on general health and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in coronary patients. This study had an experimental design. 50 coronary patients were randomly selected from patients referring to Isfahan Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center and randomly assigned to two experimental and attention control groups. Measurements were performed in three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up from April to September 2018 at the mentioned research center. Instruments included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28) and HS-CRP kit. Data were analyzed using, analysis of variance for repeated measures. According to the results, there were significant difference in general health between two groups in favor of the experimental group in measurement stages, but about HS-CRP, despite the positive changes in the experimental group at post-test, there were no significant changes between two groups. Based on the findings, it is probability that positive psychological changes require more time for leading to biological changes. Also, given the positive trends that has been shown in HS-CRP changes, and considering the observed power, it is likely that increasing the sample size in subsequent studies will lead to significant changes in this biomarker.

The purpose of this study was to investigate development of virtues and character strengths in adults during emerging adulthood in women and men of Isfahan. Research was planned in the framework of cross-sectional research in the form of a comparative causal research design. Using available sampling method a sample of 340 (170 females and 170 males) was selected from four age groups (18-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 year-olds). The subjects were asked to complete the Valuse in Action Inventory of Strengths (Peterson and Seligman). Findings revealed that mean scores of the majority of character strengths changed over time. In terms of creativity, perceptive and love of learning, honesty, perseverance and zest, social intelligence, self-regulation, prudence and humility, hope, humor and gratitude, fairness and citizenship increased in the age group of 30-39, but decreased in the 50-59 year olds. Also, there was a significant difference between men and women; women had higher mean scores. The results showed that in all character strengths, women of all age groups scored higher than men. Independent t-test results in the gender groups showed that there was significant differences in courageous, prosperity and judgment (critical thinking) in 18-29 year olds, self-regulation in 30 to 39 year olds, bravery, perseverance, honesty, love and forgiveness in 40-49year olds; and mean scores of women were higher than men. Findings were discussed based on related theoretical and empirical literature.