Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Mentalizing: The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire

Background and Aim: Reflective functioning is an important psychological construct, but its measurement tools lack validation in Persian-speaking populations. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Reflective Functioning Scale in Persian, as validating this tool is crucial for enabling rigorous research and clinical assessment of mentalizing in Persian-speaking populations. Materials and Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. Out of 70 initial participants, 60 met the criteria. After excluding 9 participants for various reasons, the final sample consisted of 51 participants. In this study, three instruments were used for assessments: the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), the Reflective Function Questionnaire for Adults (RFQA), and the Eye Test - Revised Version. All testing procedures were conducted daily at a hospital in Shiraz. Results: Reliability analyses showed good internal consistency (α = 0.78), split-half reliability (0.77, adjusted to 0.79), and test-retest stability over three weeks (r = 0.80), while content validity was confirmed by expert review with a high content validity index (CVI = 0.81). Reflective functioning showed strong positive correlation with secure attachment (r = 0.60) and social cognition (r = 0.65), moderate negative correlation with avoidant attachment (r = -0.45), and weak to moderate negative correlation with ambivalent attachment (r = -0.35), supporting the RF tool’s good convergent validity across attachment styles and social cognitive abilities. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the Reflective Functioning Scale has acceptable reliability and validity, making it a suitable tool for assessing mentalizing ability in Persian-speaking populations

Relationship of mother-child emotional interactions and oral habits in 3-6-year-old children: A cross-sectional study

Background and Objectives: Continuation of oral habits in children can bring about adverse oral and dental health consequences. Considering the significance of psychological and emotional factors in this regard, this study aimed to assess the effect of mother-child emotional interactions on continuation of oral habits in 3-6-year-old children. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted between Jun 2023- May 2024 on 196 eligible children between 3-6 years. The first questionnaire included questions regarding family demographics, infancy period, and oral habits of the child and family members (thumb sucking, pacifier use, bruxism, nail biting). The second questionnaire had 26 questions regarding mother-child emotional interactions, which were filled out by the parents. The collected data were compared between the two groups with and without oral habits. Results: Bruxism and nail biting had a higher prevalence than other habits. The two groups had a significant difference in the mean score of mother-child emotional interactions, and children with poorer mother-child interactions had a significantly higher frequency of oral habits (P=0.037). Boys had a significantly higher frequency of oral habits than girls (P=0.022). Also, oral habits had a significantly higher frequency in children with a positive family history for oral habits (P=0.000). However, other demographic factors had no significant association with oral habits (P>0.05). Conclusion: Considering the increased prevalence of oral habits such as bruxism and nail biting, and the significant effect of mother-child emotional interactions on continuation of such habits in children, mother-child interactions should be investigated and improved in children over 3 years with oral habits

The Effectiveness of Narrative Therapy in Improving Academic Vitality and Resilience of Students with Mother Heads of Households

Background and Aim: Social and psychological problems, such as academic failure and discouragement, can impose significant financial and social costs on families and society if the issues faced by students with head-of-household women are not addressed. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of narrative therapy in improving the resilience and vitality of students with head-of-household women. Materials and Methods: The study employed a semi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest approach and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all female students with head-of-household women in the second-grade high schools in Isfahan City during the academic year 2022-2023. According to the convenience sampling method, 30 students were selected as the statistical sample, with 15 randomly assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. Data collection was performed using the Academic Vitality Scale and the Resilience Scale. White and Epston's (1990) narrative therapy program consisted of eight one-hour sessions, held twice a week, for the experimental group after the implementation of the questionnaires. Univariate analysis of covariance (ANOVA) was also utilized to test the hypotheses. Results: Narrative therapy training was effective in increasing the academic vitality and resilience of students, particularly those from households headed by women, and students in the experimental group had significantly higher academic vitality and resilience than those in the control group at the post-test. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present research, narrative therapy training is efficacious in improving the resilience and happiness of students with head-of-household women, and this training can help address their problems. Furthermore, the counselors' and specialists' knowledge about this therapy can be helpful

Comparing the Effectiveness of In-person and Telehealth Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Psychological Distress and Resilience in People Recovered from COVID-19: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background and Aim: Apart from the physical effects that COVID-19 causes, the disease is also associated with various psychological problems that required research and clinical attention. Purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of in-person and telehealth Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-post design, a control group, and three-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of patients who recovered from COVID-19 in Tehran between 2022-2023, of which 45 patients were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly divided into three groups including the two study groups: in-person CBT and telehealth CBT group (15 patients for each) and a control group (15 patients). The in-person CBT group received 11 sessions, and the telehealth CBT group received 12 sessions. Research instruments included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Resilience Scale (RS). The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that although both treatments led to improvements in psychological distress (P<0.01) and resilience (P< 0.01), the effectiveness of in-person CBT was greater and statistically significant. Between effects size for depression, anxiety, stress and resilience was 0.37, 0.38, 0.44, and 0.64, respectively. Conclusion: The study results show that both in-person and virtual CBT lead to improvements in psychological distress and resilience in patients with a COVID-19 background compared to the control group, and the improvement rate for in-person CBT is higher in compared to the virtual group. In fact, in-person CBT leads to significant improvements in psychological distress and resilience

Comparing the effectiveness of compassion-based therapy (CFT) and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on the fear of negative evaluation in adolescent girls with psychosomatic problems

Background and Aim:Psychosomatic disorders are characterized by a bidirectional manifestation of symptoms, encompassing both physical and psychological dimensions. A significant concern for adolescents experiencing psychosomatic issues is the fear of negative evaluation (FNE), which is primarily defined by an excessive and persistent fear of being negatively judged by others. This fear often leads to feelings of worthlessness and shame. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) in alleviating the fear of negative evaluation among adolescent girls with psychosomatic disorders. Materials and Methods:The research method was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest, a control group, and a one-month follow-up design. The sample consisted of 45 female students aged 14-18 years from Mashhad during the academic year 1402-1403, selected via convenience sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: experimental group 1 (CFT), experimental group 2 (EFT), and a control group that received no intervention. The instruments utilized for data collection included the Lowry Evaluation Fear Questionnaire and the Takata Psychosomatic Complaints Scale. In the pre-test phase, all groups were assessed using these instruments. Following this assessment, experimental group 1 underwent eight sessions of compassion-focused therapy, while experimental group 2 received eight sessions of emotion-focused therapy. The control group did not participate in any therapeutic intervention. Post-intervention evaluations were conducted for all groups, followed by a follow-up assessment one month later. To analyze the data, repeated measures analysis of variance was performed using SPSS26. Results:The findings indicated a significant difference (p<0.001) in reducing the fear of negative evaluation in the CFT and EFT groups. Notably, EFT was found to significantly decrease the fear of negative evaluation in adolescent girls with psychosomatic symptoms. These results remained stable throughout the follow-up period (p<0.001). Conclusion:The superior efficacy of emotion-focused therapy compared to compassion-focused therapy can be attributed to its emphasis on reframing issues by addressing negative cycles, underlying emotions, and attachment-related needs. It suggests that EFT may offer a more effective therapeutic approach for reducing the fear of negative evaluation in adolescents suffering from psychosomatic disorders

Prediction of Creative Self-Efficacy Based on Innovative Thinking, Brain-Behavioral Systems, and the Mediating Role of Cognitive-Emotional Self-Regulation and Creative Problem-Solving in Teenage Girls in Tehran

Background and Aim: Nowadays, educational systems in every country strive to identify creative, innovative, and efficient students to harness their cognitive and emotional capacities in addressing significant societal challenges. In this context, conducting studies in various educational sciences has become a necessity. The present study aimed to predict creative self-efficacy based on creative thinking, behavioral brain systems, and the mediating roles of cognitive-emotional self-regulation and creative problem-solving among adolescent girls in Tehran. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted with a fundamental purpose and employed a descriptive-correlational path analysis approach. The statistical population included all female high school students in Tehran during the 2023-2024 academic year. A sample of 221 students was selected using a cluster sampling method. Data collection tools included the Carver and White Behavioral Inhibition/Activation System Questionnaire (1994), the short form of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire by Garnefski and Kraaij (2006), Beghetto's Creative Self-Efficacy Scale (2006), Carter's Creative Thinking Questionnaire (2009), and Basadur's Creative Problem-Solving Scale (1999). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS 24 and SPSS 27 was used to evaluate the proposed model. Results: Findings indicated a satisfactory fit between the proposed model and the data. Path analysis results showed that behavioral inhibition and activation systems, as well as creative thinking, explained 16% of the variance in maladaptive cognitive-emotional self-regulation strategies, 33% of the variance in adaptive cognitive-emotional self-regulation strategies, and 38% of the variance in creative problem-solving. Furthermore, behavioral brain systems, creative thinking, adaptive and maladaptive self-regulation strategies, and creative problem-solving together explained 39% of the variance in creative self-efficacy. Conclusion: The results of this study underscore the simultaneous importance of strengthening cognitive-emotional skills and behavioral brain systems in enhancing creative self-efficacy among adolescents, as well as in designing effective educational and developmental interventions to promote creativity within the educational system. These findings may inform policymakers and educational planners in developing innovative skills among adolescents

The Role of Hardiness and Moral Intelligence in Predicting the Anxiety of Corona Disease in Students

Background and Aim: The present study investigated the role of hardiness and moral intelligence in Corona disease anxiety in middle school male students of Khalkhal City. Materials and Methods: This research was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population was all male secondary school students of Khalkhal City in the academic year 2019-2020, and a sample of 265 students was selected using the cluster random sampling method. Alipour et al.'s Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, Lennick and Keil's Moral Intelligence Questionnaire, and Kobasa's Hardiness Scale were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and Multiple regression analysis in SPSS software version 26. Results: The findings showed that there is an inverse and significant relationship between predictors of hardiness (r=-321) and moral intelligence (r=-668) with the criterion variable of Corona disease anxiety (P<0.001). Also, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that the predictor variables of hardiness and moral intelligence explained a total of 0.56 of the changes in the anxiety variable of Corona disease. Conclusion: In conclusion, increasing students' resilience and moral intelligence could reduce their anxiety about coronary disease. According to the results of the research, we can state that teachers and managers of educational centers can hold workshops focusing on teaching hardiness and moral intelligence in order to reduce anxiety in these people and improve their level of mental health

Developing and Validating a Growth Mindset Educational Intervention Based on Dweck's Theory and Investigating Its Effectiveness on Girls' Intrinsic, Germane, and Extraneous Cognitive Load

Introduction: The present study aimed to develop and validate a growth mindset educational intervention based on Dweck's theory and investigate its effectiveness on girls' intrinsic, germane, and extraneous cognitive load. Method: This was an applied, mixed-methods study. The research was conducted in three phases: Phase 1 (qualitative) involved the development of the educational package, while Phases 2 and 3 (quantitative) focused on its validation and effectiveness. The statistical population for the validation phase consisted of 10 purposively selected specialists in the field. For the quantitative part, the population comprised second-grade high school female students in Tehran's Education District 2, studying in the 2024-2025 academic year. The sample included 30 students (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group), who were selected via random sampling. The experimental group received the growth mindset training over 10 sessions, each lasting 70 minutes, while the control group received no training. The Cognitive Load Scale by Klepsch, Schmitz, and Seufert (2017) was used as the research instrument. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS 24. Results: The findings confirmed that the growth mindset educational package possessed appropriate validity. The results of the ANCOVA also indicated that the intervention was effective in improving students' cognitive load. Conclusion: The growth mindset educational package can serve as a practical tool for enhancing adolescents' cognitive abilities and is effective in reducing their cognitive load

Comparing the Effectiveness of Compassion Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Pain Metaphorical Perception in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain: Comparing the Effectiveness of Compassion Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Pain Metaphorical Perception in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain

Background and Aim: Pain is expressed in conceptual metaphors, because it has abstract nature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of compassion focused therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on pain metaphorical perception in patients with musculoskeletal pain. Materials and Methods: The method of this study was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test-follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all patients with musculoskeletal pain who were referred to physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics in Tehran from January to the end of June 2024. Based on this, 45 patients with musculoskeletal pain were selected as candidates, and available, and two experimental groups and one control group (15 people in each group) were chosen by matching randomized method. All three groups responded to the Pain Metaphorical Perception Questionnaire (2024) in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. The compassion focused therapy program was implemented in eight sessions on the first experimental group and acceptance and commitment therapy conducted in nine sessions on the second experimental group, for an hour and a half weekly. The control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26. Results: The findings indicated that compassion focused therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy promote the pain metaphorical perception of patients with musculoskeletal pain (F=43.34), and the effect of both treatments continues over time (P=0.001). Conclusion: It seems; Third-wave cognitive therapies such as compassion focused therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy can alter the psychological and cognitive-verbal aspects of pain

Exploring the Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility and Interpersonal Forgiveness among Individuals Recovered from COVID-19

Background and Aim:Covid-19 caused many psychological problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on cognitive flexibility and interpersonal forgiveness in individuals who have recovered from the virus. Materials and Methods:A semi-experimental research design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments was employed, including a control group. The statistical population consisted of all COVID-19 patients who sought treatment at hospitals in MASKED FOR REVIEW in 2022. By availability sampling method, 30 individuals were selected and assigned to the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). The experimental group underwent nine sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Data collection instruments included the Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire by Dennis and Vander Wall (2010) and the Interpersonal Forgiveness Questionnaire by Ehtshamzadeh.Covariance analysis was employed to analyze the data, and repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess the stability of the treatment effects. Results:The research findings demonstrated that cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly enhanced cognitive flexibility (η² = 0.77, F = 80.71, P = 0.001) and interpersonal forgiveness (η² = 0.72, F = 60.95, P = 0.001) in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. Conclusion:It can be concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for improving cognitive flexibility and interpersonal forgiveness in individuals recovered from COVID-19. This can be explained by CBT's ability to reduce cognitive rigidity, promote adaptive thinking, and enhance emotional regulation, which helps individuals forgive others and cope better with the psychological effects of the illness