PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Year:2008 | Volume:10 | Issue:3-4 (20)|Papers Count:7

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between illness perception and coping strategies in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was conducted by survey and cross-sectional methods. Data was collected from 146 outpatients with confirmed RA who were admitted by two centers of RA between 27th July and 27th August 2005 in Isfahan. These patients were selected by stratified sampling. They then responded to Standardized illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) and Coping strategies Questionnaire (CSQ). The results showed significant correlation between illness perception and coping strategies, and among some components of coping strategies and illness perception. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that components of illness perception explained 9.2% of the variance of coping strategies. The present study confirmed the validity of Self-Regulation Model in explanation and prediction of RA patient's illness behavior and their coping strategies with RA.

The present research investigated the link between creativity and five factors of personality. Accordingly, 256 Subjects were given the Abedi Creativity Test and the Goldberg Five Factors of Personality Test respectively. Initially, validity and reliability measures of the Abedi Creativity Test were examined. Results showed that this test was a valid and reliable test for evaluating creativity in Iranian subjects. Research findings highlighted the fact that creativity had a positive relation with three factors of personality, namely extroversion, agreeableness and openness to experience. Extroversion and openness to experience could predict the variation of creativity measures. Analysis of Regression showed that 20 to 25 percent of the variance in each of the elements of creativity (Originality, Elaboration, Flexibility and Fluency) could be separately explained by the five factors of personality. There were no significant sex differences in levels of creativity.

The object of this research was to study memory problems in obsessive-compulsive disorder (checker-type) in comparison with obsessive – compulsive personality disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. For this purpose four groups of subjects (OCD, checker-type; OCPD; GAD and normal controls) were selected. The clinical subjects were referred from psychiatric offices and to confirm their diagnoses they were interviewed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition (DSMIV). Subjects were giving Beck Anxiety Inventory and Maudsley Obsession Compulsive Inventory. The subjects' memory was studied using computerized tasks. Findings showed that the groups did not portray significant differences in their overall memory functions. However, the GAD group solely showed memory bias. The OCD, Checker-type and OCPD groups had poor confidence in their memory.

To determine the effects of an anger management training program on anger self-regulation skills in a sample of high school boys, one school was selected randomly in Tehran. In this school, all 170 students who were in their second and third year of high school (freshmen and sophomores) answered the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 as a screening instrument. Subjects, who scored at the 75th percentile and higher, according to the AX-Index, were expected to have anger management problems and were at high risk to produce serious negative consequences. Therefore, they were defined as the target group. From this very same group, 32 students were randomly selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Consequently, sixteen participants took part in the anger management program. In the third step, pre-intervention data by using STAXI-2 was gathered from all subjects. In the later step, a fourteen-week (14 sessions and each session Lasted 90 minutes) anger management program was administered for the experimental group while members of the control group completed the routine program. After treatment, pos Hest or post-intervention evaluation for both groups were carried out. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and t-test for independent groups used determine whether there were statistically significant differences between measures corresponding experimental and control groups. The findings of present research indicate that anger management training has a positive effect on anger self-regulation skills of participants.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of different teaching methods on creativity of students. A sample of 574 female fourth grade elementary school students of Hamadan province, were selected through multi-stage random sampling and were assigned to 24 groups; 3 control and 21 experimental groups. To test the hypothesis in all educational areas (educated, semi-educated, and educationally deprived) a pretest-posttest design with several groups was utilized. Likewise, a randomized blocked design with more than one subject in each tentative case was used in the whole province. Data analysis, using one way ANOVA, and blocked analysis of variance, showed that the brainstorming teaching method, research skills, creative study, active teaching methods (problem solving and group discussion), the use of strategies for increasing self-concept and self-assertion, familiarizing teachers with creativity, its values and significance and ultimately the use of flexible educational programs in the classroom had significantly positive effects on girls in the fourth grade. Furthermore, in some cases, differences were observed among the different educational areas regarding the influence of the above mentioned methods. Also, there was interaction between these methods and educational areas in creativity teaching.

The present research investigated the relating factors for job stress in a group of psychologists, working in Iranian Welfare Organization and studied the relation of these factors to the amount and manner of job satisfaction. Among the job stressors (consisting of individual and environmental variables or sources), locus of control (an individual variable), and role conflict and role ambiguity (environmental variables) were studied. Then, the relationship between different types of job stressors (in terms of satisfaction towards the nature of the job, employers, coworkers, raises and promotions) were investigated. A sample of 77 psychologists employed at the welfare organization was selected from 206 personnel (30%) by systematic random sampling. The research data were gathered through administering the Job Descriptive Index, questionnaires for job knowledge and skill and the check list for assessing the attitude toward job role. Results showed that role conflict and role ambiguity are the main sources for job stress among personnel. In addition, internal locus of control had a significant role in mediating job satisfaction.