DANESHVAR RAFTAR
Year:2005 | Volume:12 | Issue:10 (SPECIAL EDITION ON PSYCHOLOGY)|Papers Count:10

Pain coping strategies have been shown to be associated with severity of pain and well as physical and psychological functioning among patients with chronic pain. Assessment of coping strategies has received increasing attention and several measures of cognitive and behavioural coping have been developed. To date, the impact of coping responses on adjustment to chronic pain has not been examined in the Iranian chronic pain population. Present study: (1) investigate the reliability and validity of the Iranian adaptation to the Coping Strategy Questionnaire (IR-CSQ) and (2) examine the relationships between the IR-CSQ individual subscales and severity of pain, physical disability and depression. Two hundred and thirty one male chronic pain subjects with mean age of 41.43 years (sd = 10.39) completed the IR-CSQ and 3 measures of adjustment (present pain intensity, physical disability and depression). To determine the reliability of each of the 7 different subscales in the IR-CSQ, coefficient alphas were computed, using all 6 items in each subscale. The coefficient alphas were high, ranging from 0.74 to 0.83 which indicates that the 7 subscales of the IR-CSQ have satisfactory reliability (i.e., internal consistency). The co relational analyses of the data revealed that more Catsatrophising was associated with more severe pain, physical disability and depression. Also, more use of Ignoring Pain and Coping Self-Statement strategies was significantly associated with less severity of physical disability and depression. The co relational analyses also showed that higher perception of coping efficacy is associated with less pain, physical disability and depression. A series of 3 multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the IR-CSQ subscales and the 3 adjustment measures (present pain intensity, depression and physical disability). The results indicated that while higher Catastrophising in chronic pain was a significant predictor of more severe pain, physical disability and depression, the higher use of Ignoring Pain Sensations and Coping-self-Statement were predictive of less depression. The findings of the present study lend additional support to the importance of pain coping strategies in understanding patients' adjustment to chronic pain. In general, while greater Catastrophising was predictive of more severe pain, depression and physical disability, the greater use of Ignoring Pain Sensations and Coping Self-Statement strategies were predictive of lower levels of depression. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

The Purpose of the present study is the comparison of personality traits, social and economic conditions among runaway and non-runaway girls in Tehran. With reference to previous theoretical and empirical analysis, hypotheses were set forth that are as follows: 1) The profile of personality of runaway girls differ from non-runaway girls', 2) Social and economic conditions of runaway girls differ from non-runaway girls. The present research is an expost facto study, and in order to study the hypothesis, 90 subjects were selected as the sample population, out of which, 45 subject were runaway girls of 15-25 years who included the imprisoned ones, those who were kept in the conservation centers of the welfare organization in Tehran, and those who had escaped only once and were returned to their homes. The other 45 subjects were non-runaway girls who were randomly selected among high school students of district 6 in Tehran. All subjects were assessed by Cattel16 Factor Test, and Social and Economic Conditions Measurement Questionnaire. The obtained results were analyzed by running T-Test and Chi square. The results revealed that: 1) There was not a significant difference among runaway and non runaway girls. Significant differences came up in eight personality factors of Cattel Scale (8, C, E, G, H, J, 0, Q2). In these eight factors, runaway girls scored higher in three factors of 1, 0, Q2. 2) There were significant differences between the two groups in social condition (to have parents, remarriage of fathers, parents education, parents job, disagreement between parents, marital state of parents, the number of siblings) and economic conditions (parents' income, fulfilling of financial needs, having pocket money, amount of pocket money, for parents to own parents house).

The present study aimed to investigate the role of peer - consoler in freshman student's mental health and adjustment. To this aim, first, 15 senior students were trained. Then a control and an experimental group of female freshman students were formed. All subjects filled out general health questionnaire (GHQ) and Bare adjustment questionnaire before they got in touch with peer consolers. While the experimental group was supervised by the peer consoler, the control group had no peer consoler. After 9 months and after continuing trainings all subjects took the same tests again so as to determine the stability of peer counseling effect. The results of mixed in - out group, and Anova showed that in most sub scales of general health and adjustment, there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups and this difference remained stable throughout 9 months of experiment.

Successful Aging is a suitable pattern of aging that has been paid due attention in recent years. Due to the growth rate increase of elders' population in the world, and higher life expectancy in different countries, the quality of life is of interest to everyone. Thus the recognition of the basic factors of successful aging is of prime importance. Accordingly, this study has investigated one of the variables which are the religious tendency and its relationship with successful aging. Based on the available operational definitions of successful aging, Life Satisfaction Scale (L.S.S.) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used as the research instruments. Religious tendency was assessed by Religious Orientation (R.O.). The data were analyzed by t test, F test and Logistic Regression. The results showed significant relationship between religious orientation and successful aging.

As an ex post facto research, it aimed to study the effects of similarity and dissimilarity of introversion/ extroversion personality characteristics of married couples on their marital satisfaction. The sample studied composed 207 married couples who lived together. The research instruments were; Eysench's 57 item personality scale, Enrich's 47 marital satisfaction questionnaire, and researcher made informative questionnaire. Couples filled the questionnaires first and then they were divided into sixteen different groups according to the similarity or dissimilarity of their introversion /extroversion personality characteristics. Data were collected and descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. One way Anova and LSD test were used to determine the significance of means difference. In the light of previous research and five hypotheses of the present research the following results were obtained which can be used in pre and post marriage counseling: 1) The highest degree of marital Satisfaction was observed among couples composed of a moderate introvert / extrovert and an introvert partner.2) The second highest degree of marital satisfaction belonged to the married couples who were both normal extroverts.3) The third highest degree of marital satisfaction was observed among married couples who were excessive introverts or a moderate person and an excessive introvert.4) The degree of marital satisfaction of an introvert female married to an extrovert male fell in the fourth category.5) The degree of marital satisfaction of an introvert females married to an excessive extrovert male.6) The least degree of marital satisfaction was observed among an extrovert female married to an introvert male.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between sensation seeking and: marital satisfaction, gender, education, marital duration and age differences of the couples. The subjects were 200 couples who were randomly selected among, Arak city families through a two- stage sampling method. The research measurement instruments were: Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale form V, Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire, and a general questionnaire. Results revealed significant negative correlation between sensation seeking and marital satisfaction (r=-0.168, p<0.01). The correlation between sensation seeking and education (r=0.303) and the correlation between sensation seeking and marital duration was significant (r=-0.158). However correlation between sensation seeking and age difference of the couples was not significant. The results of t- test showed that the differences between sensation seeking scores of males and females (p=0), and also between satisfied and dissatisfied couples were significant (p=0.005).

This study attempts to find the effects of learning strategies in increasing the tolerance of ambiguity and hence the language proficiency. To this aim 135 Shahed University students were randomly selected according to their English Entrance exam grades and GELT proficiency test scores to make sure that the subjects are culturally and linguistically homogeneous. These subjects filled out the questionnaire of Mac Lain's Second language tolerance of ambiguity scale and they were divided in to two groups with high and low tolerance of ambiguity. Then 80 subjects were randomly selected and divided into high and low tolerant, control, and experimental groups. They took the TOFEL pretest. Then they were taught the special learning strategies for increasing their tolerance of ambiguity during one semester. Again they participated in a TOFEL post test. The data were analyzed by "Analysis of Variance" and Toki test. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between low tolerant experimental group and other groups which make the influence of teaching of the strategies clear.

As a buffer personality characteristic against life stress events, the role and significance of psychological hardiness has been shown in several investigations. Some hypotheses and assumptions have been formulated about the formation of this important characteristic, yet this field hasn't been studied considerably. The present research was performed on a sample of 230 participants (110 male and 120 female) of high school students to investigate the relation between family functioning and psychological hardiness. Blooms Family Functioning Scale (FFS) with 15 subscales and a total score was used to measure family functioning, and Adolescence Hardiness Scale (AHS), which has been made, based on Personal View Survey (PVS) including 3 subscales and a total score was used to measure the psychological hardiness. The data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation, multiple regression analysis and t-test. The findings indicate a positive and significant relation between family functioning and hardiness in total sample and in groups of male and female. Some dimensions of family functioning appeared as the predictor of hardiness, commitment, control and challenge in regression analysis as well. The difference between two sexes in hardiness was not significant. Therefore the first seven hypotheses of the research eight hypotheses were confirmed and the last one was refuted. The results of the present research are in accord with the literature of hardiness and logical conclusions.

This research aimed to study the relationship between the personality variable of augmenter and reducer of pain, and mental health as well as studying the pain tolerance of individuals in relation with mental health related variables. Researchers have given due attention to many variables, but in spite of their supposition, factors such as age and gender have been less influential on pain tolerance rate. Psychological factors such as perception, flexibility, fear, previous experience and feedback, and job dissatisfaction influence the pain tolerance. Those with internal control -based on Jolian theory, show a further adaptation capability. Introverts compared with extroverts - based on Izinc studies - show a lower pain tolerance. Among cultural and social groups, essential differences are reported. Some cultural, religious, racial and social groups have demonstrated a higher degree of pain tolerance. Regarding personality structure influence on reaction towards pain; they are divided into two groups of augmenters and reducers of pain. The second group (reducers) showed more resistance towards pain and in fact they are perceptional reducers. But augmenters were sensitive to external stimuli and they are in fact perceptional augmenters. Statistical sample were the students of the international university who were selected through a staging sampling. 80 students were chosen. A general health questionnaire and a researcher made questionnaire for measuring personality variables of augmenter and reducer of pain were used as research instruments. All students filled out the two questionnaires. The results showed a strong correlation between personality and mental health variables. The correlation rate was 494% and was significant at 5% and 1% levels. No significant correlation was observed between pain tolerance and the general health mark.