Investigating Chronotype Orientation on Daily and Weekly Rhythm Fluctuations in Preschoolers Working Memory Performance

Background: Chronopsychology researches claim that cognitive processes performance during learning in the educational environment in times of the day and days of the week fluctuate, and working memory is essential among these cognitive processes. The research aimed to study the rhythm of daily and weekly working memory performance of preschoolers based on their chronotype (morningness and eveningness) orientation.Methods: The research method is causal-comparative. The participants are 100 preschool children in Tehran that were selected based on purposive sampling. Their working memory was tested at different time intervals of (8, 11, 13, and 15) and weekly (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). Saturday also considered as the first day of the week. Data collection instrument were children morningness-eveningness preference (CMEP) in the form of questionnaire and working memory test. Data analysis based on a mixed analysis of variance.Results: The results showed that preschoolers working memory performance during different days of the week and time of day was different (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between children in different groups regarding memory at different hours of the day, but on different days of the week, there was no significant difference in memory performance (P < 0.01).Conclusion: According to the findings, teachers and clinicians are suggested to consider the importance of circadian rhythm parameters in assessing cognitive function in patients and healthy people. Awareness of individual differences of the morningness-eveningness type can be very effective in designing training programs and preventive health associated matters with each type

Prediction of Body Image Dissatisfaction from Self-esteem, Thin-ideal Internalization and Appearance-related Social Comparison

Introduction: The present study has aimed to demonstrate the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and three variables of self-esteem as a psychological factor along with thin-ideal internalization and appearance-related social comparison as psychosocial factors. Methods: To conduct this study, 477 Tehran high-school students were recruited by a cluster sampling method. Afterwards, they filled out the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Appearance Evaluation Subscale, Physical Appearance Comparison Scale as well as Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire-4. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using the Pearson’ correlation coefficient together with the stepwise regression. Results: Findings were indicative of a direct correlation between body image dissatisfaction and variables of thin-ideal internalization as well as appearance-related social comparisons. Meanwhile, there was a negative correlation between self-esteem and body image dissatisfaction. In addition, self-esteem could better work in assessing body image dissatisfaction. Because, it explains 19% of the variance thereof. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that self-esteem plays a central role in predicting body image dissatisfaction. Therefore, health professionals should place a value on such a role while using preventive measures or interventions

Effect of Morningness-Eveningness Chronotype on Daily and Weekly Fluctuations in Aggression in Preschool Children

Background: The present study aimed at studying the morningness-eveningness chronotype (MEC) of daily and weekly biorhythm fluctuations in the aggression of preschool children. Methods: This was a causal-comparative study. The statistical population was preschool children in Tehran. One hundred children were selected through purposive sampling. They were examined at different times of day (08:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00) and different days of the week (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). The data collection tool used was the MEC questionnaire for children, a behavioral questionnaire for preschool children and a self-report questionnaire about aggression. The data was analyzed using mixed ANOVA. Results: The results showed that the aggressive behavior of pre-school children in the educational environment varies throughout the day and week. Also, the aggressive performance of preschool children in the morning differed from that of mid-session children or evening-type children in the educational environment during the week (P<0.01). Conclusion: The results of the behavioral questionnaire showed that the effect of the group on the level of aggression was not significant, but the effect of the day of the week and time of day was significant

“Fourth Grade Slump in Creativity”: Development of Creativity in Primary School Children

The aims of this study included the investigation of the developmental trend of creativity and its components (originality, fluency, flexibility and elaboration) in primary school children in the city of Tehran as well as the possibility of " Fourth grade slump in creativity". 400 children ( 200 males and 200 females ) were randomly selected by cluster sampling from 30 elementary schools of one educational region in Tehran. Data were gathered using TTCT-figural, form A and were analysed using two-way ANOVA, Trend analysis, repeated measure ANOVA and planned tests. Findings and results showed that developmental trend of creativity is a function of third degree. Creativity scores increase from grade one to grade three, then decrease with a sharp slope between the third and fourth grade and increase again in fifth grade. There was no significant difference in development of creativity between two genders. however, a significant difference was found between boys and girls. The main component of developmental changes in creativity in both girls and boys, was elaboration. It seems that creativity in primary school children follows a developmental course and the variations of scores specific to elaboration

The practice of religious leaders in confronting the corporal punishment of children

Reviewing the practice of the religious leaders, including the prophet of Islam (PBUH) and the infallible Imams, show that their system of child rearing is taken from a divine system targets the absolute perfection. Therefore, the maturity and development of an individual is addressed, always focusing on prevention prior to cure. In child rearing, Islam adopts an approach which puts affection, love and advice together with tolerance and caution at the center. Therefore, punishment is not a priority but as an instrument which may be used when kindness and affection fail to develop appropriate habits. In Islamic cultivation, going to extremes is not favored and only this way can we cultivate balanced individuals with all their potentials and capacities being full-fledged and their body, soul, intellect functioning in harmony. Although, in Islamic law and jurisprudence, the corporal punishment of children is allowed on the condition that their body does not turn red, black or bruised and it is only for the purpose of disciplining children. However, the violence of parents against children is disapproved and it is considered to be detrimental to their proper cultivation and guidance. Parents are persuaded to treat their children kindly, tenderly and caressingly. مطالعه سیره تربیتی پیشوایان دینی از جمله پیامبر اسلام۹ و امامان معصوم نشان می‌دهد که نظام تربیتی آنان برگرفته از تربیت الهی است که به کمال مطلق توجه دارد، لذا همواره رشد فرد را در نظر می‌گیرد و همواره بر پیشگیری پیش از درمان تأکید می‌کند. روش اسلام در تربیت کودک، محبت، پند و نصیحت توأم با مدارا و احتیاط یعنی جذب است که باید در عین حال دلنشین و مؤثر باشد. بنابراین تنبیه و مجازات نخستین عامل تربیتی در اسلام نیست، بلکه ابزاری است که در صورت سودمند واقع نشدن رفق و محبت در ایجاد عادات خوب به کار می‌آید. در تربیت اسلامی‌‌زیاده‌روی دیده نمی‌شود و فقط از این راه می‌توان افرادی معتدل را تربیت کرد؛ به طوری که تمام قوای او اشباع و تعدیل شوند و جسم و روح و عقل، هماهنگ باشند. در دیدگاه حقوق و فقه اسلامی، گر چه تنبیه ‌بدنی کودک توسط والدین، در حدی که موجب سرخی، سیاهی و کبودی بدن نگشته و آن هم در راستای تربیت و هدایت آن فی‌الجمله جایز دانسته شده است؛ اما در عین حال، خشونت والدین علیه کودک را مذموم دانسته و آن ‌را مضر به تربیت و هدایت فرزند می‌داند. در مقابل والدین را تشویق و ترغیب به مهر و محبت و نوازش کودک می‌نماید

Developing of an applied reading application with family interaction approach and its effectiveness on Expressive language;Receptive Language;Spoken language( spoken language skills) of children with down syndrome

Abstract Objective: this study aimed to design an creative educational application for family-centered reading and evaluation of its effectiveness in reading skills among the slow-paced students with Down syndrome. Methods: this applied semi-experimental study is a per-test-post-test project, follow-up with the test and control groups. Twenty slow-paced students with Down syndrome were randomly selected and assigned in two test and control groups. Wechsler IQ test, TOLD test and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) were run for students in the per-test, and TOLD test was run in the post-test and a half month after follow-up stage. Results were analyzed with Analyze of Co-variance (ANCOVA) and repeated measures analysis. Results: in general, results showed a significant difference in reading between test and control groups and the difference remained sustainable in the follow-up stage. Conclusion: innovation in family- centered reading application was effective in increase in reading skills among the slow-paced students with Down syndrome and this effect remained sustainable. Education by new technologies in the form of software for children with Down syndrome should be seriously considered. Family- centered reading application Can be used for teaching children, families and educators

Iranian Children’s Drawings of God: Demographic and Contextual Considerations

In 2014, we collected more than 3000 drawings of God in Iran. Here we present the conditions for this collection and the results derived from it. We interpret our fndings from the perspective of developmental psychology, and discuss them in terms of social, cultural, and contextual factors (media, formal and informal education). We consider God representation with regard to Iranian-Islamic culture. Additionally, we make a brief comparison between our findings, drawn from participants in Iran, and the findings of studies conducted in Western cultures. Finally, limitations of the study and future research directions are critically discussed

Prediction of Loneliness on the Basis of Quality of Relationship with God in Young People

The aim of this study was prediction of loneliness on the basis of quality of relationship with God in young people. Population of the study was 18-35 years old people in Tehran, fromwhich 232 persons were chosen in public places by available sampling method. They completed 2 questionnaires: Iranian Loneliness Questionnaire (ILQ; Rahimzadeh) and Quality of Relationship with God (Mazahery, Pasandideh, & Sadeghi).The data was analyzed using correlation and multiple regression methods. Results showed that the components of fear and disappointment about god are the positive predictors of loneliness, but affection to God is the negative predictor of loneliness. The findings revealed that the more the relationship with, and faith to god is strong, the less an individual would experience loneliness. And also lower levels of desirability in the relationship would increase loneliness

The role of individual and social variables in predicting body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms among Iranian adolescent girls: an expanding of the tripartite influence model

The aim of the present study was to examine the causal relationships between psychological and social factors, being independent variables and body image dissatisfaction plus symptoms of eating disorders as dependent variables through the mediation of social comparison and thin-ideal internalization. To conduct the study, 477 high-school students from Tehran were recruited by method of cluster sampling. Next, they filled out Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES), Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (PACS), Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCCS), Appearance Perfectionism Scale (APS), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) and Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ-4). In the end, collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings showed that the assumed model perfectly fitted the data after modification and as a result, all the path-coefficients of latent variables (except for the path between self-esteem and thin-ideal internalization) were statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, in this model, 75% of scores' distribution of body dissatisfaction was explained through psychological variables, socio-cultural variables, social comparison and internalization of the thin ideal. The results of the present study provid experimental basis for the confirmation of proposed causal model. The combination of psychological, social and cultural variables could efficiently predict body image dissatisfaction of young girls in Iran. Key Words: Thin-ideal Internalization, Social comparison, Body image dissatisfaction, mediating effects model, eating disorder symptoms, psychological factors