The effect of training mental states on improving mind theory and the social skills of elementary school children

Mind theory is defined as the ability to understand that others have got some mental states such as thoughts, inclinations, and beliefs that can differ from our mental states or from the reality. This study is aimed at determining how much the training of mental states can affect improving the theory of mind and the social skills of school children. The design of this study was quasi-experimental, with pre-test, posttest and control group. 30 second-grade female elementary school students were selected for this study based on cluster sampling. After homogenizing the subjects based on age, intelligence and mind-theory grades, they were randomly divided into two groups, each having 15 students. Mental states were taught to the students of the experimental groups for nine sessions while the control group did not receive any instruction. Before and after instructions, both groups received mind theory test and social skills questionnaire. (the teacher format of Grasham and Elliot scale of social skills, 1990). The data collected from pre-test and posttest were analyzed using Co-variance analysis. The results indicated that the training of mental states had significant effect on improving the levels of mind theory and the social skills of school children. The results indicated that we can use this plan of mental state training to improve the social skills and to solve the problems of school children

The Effect of Life Review Group Therapy on Elderly With Chronic Pain

Objectives: Chronic pain is a common problem in the elderly. The prevalence of pain indicates that among the Iranian older population who are living in nursing homes, at any specific time, at least 72.8% experience pain. Research designed as a structured review of one’s life is helpful, even is therapeutic in elderly. The aim of life review therapy increases life satisfaction, improves self-esteem, and helps elderly to cope with crises, losses, life transitions and providing acceptance of their life`s realities in coping and resolving their own past conflicts. Methods & Materials: Via this descriptive, case-control research, forty residents with persistent pain of 4 nursing homes in Tehran were selected. All subjects were asked to give their own demographic details and pain status following the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Randomly they got allocated into two groups. First group, conducting the complete life review therapy guide and the second one as control group. During the therapy time, patients reconstruct their life story and examine both positive and negative experiences, with the therapist as a coach. Effects of life review therapy on such elderly were examined via pain questionnaire after therapy periods and were compared with basic levels. Results: The results showed a significant difference between two groups.Reduction in pain questionnaire scores in first group compare with control group were significant. Conclusion: The implications of these results are discussed with respect to the utility of applying life review therapy for elderly with chronic pai