The Effectiveness of Meta-cognitive Skills Training on the Motivational Structure and Academic Performance of Drop-out Students

Background: Meta-cognitive skills training through giving meaning to information and making a logical connection between new and previously learned content, enables students to learn better and improve their academic performance. The present study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of meta-cognitive skills training on the motivational structure and academic performance of drop-out students.Methods: This study considered as semi-experimental research which has used the pretest-post-test with control group design. In this study, the statistical population included all drop-out male and female students of the Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (They entered the university in 2014 and considered as drop-out students for at least two years). Thirty students were selected using the purposive sampling method, who randomly divided into two groups of experimental (n=15) and control (n=15). Meta-cognitive skills taught to the experimental group within four sessions. The Motivational Structure Questionnaire (MSQ) and academic performance report card were used to collect data. Covariance analysis and SPSS-24 software used for data analysis.Results: According to the results of covariance analysis, there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.001). Therefore, it can conclude that meta-cognitive skills training a significant effect on the motivational structure and students’ academic performance.Conclusion: Due to the results of this study, it is imperative that university officials pay attention to the effect of the meta-cognitive training program on the motivational structure and performance of drop-out students and provide the proper context for relevant skills training in the counseling department, the department of social affairs and educational field

The Effectiveness Companion of Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and the Sensory Processing Styles Training on Behavioral Problems in Children Aged 7-12 Years

Background: Children’s health is very important in societies. Children’s behavioral problems result in efficiency rate reducing in educational performance. Therefore, solving these problems is necessary. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions and sensory processing styles training on children’s behavioral problems (7-12 aged).Methods: The current study was quasi-experimental with the pretest-posttest design. The statistical population of this research included all elementary students of sari city in 2017-2018. Among them, 90 target students (30 students per intervention) were selected as samples by the clustering sampling method and were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. Experimental groups received cognitive-behavioral interventions and sensory processing styles training orderly. Control group received no training. A child behavioral questionnaire was used to collect information. After scoring the questionnaire and extracting the data, SPSS-21 software used for statistical analysis of multivariate covariance and independent t test.Results: The findings showed that cognitive-behavioral interventions and the training of sensory processing styles have a significant effect on behavioral problems in children and have reduced the internalization and extraversion problems in experimental groups and the effectiveness of the cognitive-behavioral intervention in reducing behavioral problems in children is more significant than teaching sensory processing styles.Conclusion: We suggest that cognitive-behavioral therapy and sensory processing styles training are useful for parents. They help to thought control, ethical behavior and parents, mental health.

Modeling the Structural Relationship of Happiness Based on Psychological Well-Being With Self-efficacy Intermediation and Academic Self-regulation in University Students

Background: Happiness is the degree of emotion that a person judges with his overall quality of life as an utterly desirable life. The purpose of this study was to model the structural relationship between happiness based on psychological well-being and self-efficacy and self-regulatory mediation among students at Farhangian University.Methods: This correlation study was carried out using structural equation modeling methods. The statistical population of this study included all undergraduate students at the Farhangian University of Golestan province who were studying in the academic year of 2016-17. By using the Morgan table, 280 people selected through multi-stage random cluster sampling. The data were collected using Savari and Arabzadeh’s educational self-regulatory scale, Sherer Self-efficacy Scale, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and Ryff’s psychological well-being questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using path analysis and structural equations with AMOS software.Results: The results showed that psychological well-being had a positive effect on happiness (P < 0.02). Also, the pattern fit results showed that psychological well-being indirectly affects self-efficacy, and self-regulation has an indirect effect on happiness (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between happiness and psychological well-being with self-efficacy and self-regulation mediation. Therefore, it is possible to raise the level of happiness and psychological well-being of students through the development of programs aimed at promoting self-efficacy and self-regulation of students

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Creativity Therapy Training and Group Counseling Based on Choice Theory on Students’ Motivation Improving

Background: According to findings educational psychologist's motivation has important effect upon student's achievement and performance. Therapists and psychologists have tried to study the methods of motivation improving in students.Objective: The present study compares the effectiveness of creativity therapy training and group counseling based on the choice theory on motivation improving in students.Methods: The participants of this study included all students referring to the counseling center of Payam Noor University, Sari center, in the academic year of 2016-2017. The convenience sampling method was used for the selection of all the subjects. The sample consisted of 45 individuals who were randomly divided in to three experimental and control groups (15 individuals per group). In pre-test, the motivation improving questionnaire was administered for all groups. The experimental groups received the training of creativity therapy and group counseling based on the theory of choice in 8 (90 minutes) sessions for 2 months. The control group did not receive training during this period. After completing the training, post-test was obtained in three groups. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis by the spss-16.Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the effectiveness of creativity therapy training and group counseling based on choice theory in promoting students motivation (p˂0.05). Also, group counseling based on choice theory had more effect upon students motivation improving than creativity therapy (p=0.001).Conclusion: creativity therapy training and group counseling based on choice theory may be effective in improving motivation in students.

The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological hardiness and distress tolerance in female patients with psoriasis

Background and Purpose: Psoriasis is a chronic and common skin disease that affects approximately 2% of the population. The impact of this disease on the quality of life of patients is very high even in cases where a very small level of the body is involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological hardiness and distress tolerance in patients with psoriasis. Methods: The present research method is quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test design and one-month follow-up with a control group. The statistical population consists of all female patients who referred to the skin and hair clinics of Boroujerd in 2022 who received a definitive diagnosis of psoriasis. Among them, 30 patients with psoriasis whose depression rate was higher than the cut-off point were selected by non-random sampling method and alternated in experimental group (acceptance and commitment therapy) and control group. (15 people in each group). Acceptance and commitment therapy was performed according to the Protocol (Hassanzadeh, 2020) in 8 sessions of 90 minutes in the experimental group. Data were collected using the Lang and Golett (2003) Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire, Simmons and Gaher (2005) and Beck (1996) Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that acceptance and commitment therapy is effective on psychological hardiness (p<0.001) and distress tolerance (p<0.001) in patients with psoriasis. Conclusion: It can be concluded that acceptance and commitment therapy was effective on psychological hardiness and distress tolerance in patients with psoriasis and this treatment can be used to reduce the adverse effects of the disease on patients' lives and take supportive measures

Comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on cognitive distortions and causal attributions in nursing and midwifery students with health anxiety

Background and Purpose: Nursing is one of the professions that is always faced with numerous and stressful factors in the work environment. The nature of this job is such that it involves a combination of roles through technical activities, professional skills, human relations and empathy. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on cognitive distortions and causal attributions in nursing and midwifery students with health anxiety. Methods: It is a semi-experimental research design with a pre-test-post-test design and a three-month follow-up with the control group. The statistical population included all nursing and midwifery students suffering from health anxiety in the free universities of Gilan branch in 2021. Among these, 45 people were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly replaced in experimental groups (schema therapy based on mentality and therapy based on acceptance and commitment) and control (15 people in each group). Mindfulness based schema therapy was performed in 10 90-minute sessions based on Yaung et al.'s (2003) educational package in the experimental group. Data were collected using Ellis' (2000) Cognitive Distortion Questionnaire, Peterson et al.'s (1982) documentary style, and Salkovskis' (2002) health anxiety. The data was analyzed using SPSS-22 software and through the analysis of variance test with repeated measurements. Results: The results showed that mindfulness-based schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy are effective on cognitive distortions (P<0.001) and causal documents (P<0.001) of nursing and midwifery students suffering from health anxiety. Also, the results of the follow-up test showed that mindfulness-based schema therapy on acceptance and commitment therapy has a greater effect on cognitive distortions and causal attributions than mindfulness-based schema therapy. Conclusion: Considering the role of beliefs and thoughts in cognitive distortions, it is suggested that therapists consider these interventions in reducing the symptoms of worry and disease perception

The relationship between five main factors of personality and addiction to SMS in high school students

Abstract: Today, mobile phones compared with computers and Internet technology, have a greater impact on social life, people&apos;s lifestyle and their consumer behavior, because mobile phones are cheap and easy to use. This paper aims to examine the relationship between 5 main personality factors, neuroticism, extroversion and addiction of students to SMS. The statistical population consisted of all high school students studying in the academic year (2011)(2012) which totally are 7520 people of which 364 students were selected as study samples using random sampling method. Research tools include questionnaire for addiction to text messaging and NEO-FFI questionnaire for 5 main personality factors. Pearson correlation coefficient and t-test were used for data analysis. Data analysis results showed that neuroticism and addiction to text messaging are positively related and it has a significant negative correlation with extraversion. Other findings indicate that there is no significant difference between male and female students in terms of addiction to SMS and personality characteristics. Results show the importance of the personality characteristics in predictions of SMS addiction

The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on tolerance failure and health anxiety in nursing and midwifery students with health anxiety

Background and purpose: Nursing and midwifery staff and students of this field are exposed to many stresses due to their educational and occupational nature, including long and continuous communication with sick and dying patients, extraordinary responsibility, and personal requests from He pointed out the patient and the people around him. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on failure tolerance and health anxiety in nursing and midwifery students suffering from health anxiety.  Methods: It is a semi-experimental research design with a pre-test-post-test design and a three-month follow-up with the control group. The statistical population included all nursing and midwifery students suffering from health anxiety in the free universities of Gilan branch in 2021. Among these, 30 people were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly replaced in the experimental group (treatment based on acceptance and commitment) and control (15 people in each group). Mindfulness-based therapeutic schema was performed in 10 90-minute sessions based on Yang et al.'s (2003) educational package in the experimental group. Data were collected using failure tolerance questionnaire (Harnigton, 2005), health anxiety questionnaire (Saluskis and Warwick, 2002). The data was analyzed using SPSS-22 software and through the analysis of variance test with repeated measurements. Results: The results of the research showed that acceptance and commitment therapy is effective in tolerating failure (P<0.001) and health anxiety (P<0.001) in nursing and midwifery students suffering from health anxiety. Conclusion: Considering the role of beliefs and thoughts in health anxiety, it is suggested that therapists consider treatment based on acceptance and commitment therapy in reducing the symptoms of tolerance failure and health anxiety

Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Hypnotherapy on Pain in Patients with Premenstrual Disorder

Background and Objective: Due to the increasing prevalence of premenstrual disorder and the need to use the most effective treatment to improve the symptoms of this syndrome, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy on pain in patients with the premenstrual disorder. Materials and Methods: The study followed a semi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control and an experimental group. The statistical population of the research included all women aged 25 to 40 who visited a gynecologist at least three times in the past year due to menstrual pain and were referred to a counseling and psychological center with the diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoria. A group of 24 people were selected using the available sampling method and were randomly divided into the experimental and control group (12 people each). The research tool was the Pain Questionnaire. Cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy intervention was implemented in eight 90-minute sessions for the experimental group. After entering the data into the SPSS software (version 25), they were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: The results of MANCOVA showed that cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy significantly improved pain intensity, as well as physical-sensory, sensory-emotional, and cognitive-evaluative aspects of life in women with premenstrual dysphoria (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy improves physical-sensory, sensory-emotional, and cognitive-evaluative aspects of life in women with the premenstrual disorder. It also influences their adaptive and uncompromising strategies, mental health, social relationships, environmental health, general health, and quality of life