A national school-based screening program for mental health problems among children aged 6 to 12 years in Iran:scale development and psychometric evaluation

Schools are an ideal setting in which to measure and promote mental health difficulties. The aim of present study was to develop the Nemad Electronic Mental-Health Assessment Devices for Children (NEMAD-C) aged 6 to 12 years in Iran. A sample of parents and teachers (N = 10,163) were recruited to complete the parent and teacher reports. Totally, explorative and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the eight-factor model provides a better fit for both parental report and teacher report versions. Results revealed a screening tool consisting of eight dimensions: child abuse risk, self-harm, anxiety, depression, disruptive behavior disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, academic achievement deficit, and self-regulation. Findings showed that the internal consistency coefficients of the subscales were high, and convergent validity was evidenced by significant correlations with theoretically related constructs. Therefore, the NEMAD-C has adequate reliability and validity and could be used for multi-dimensional assessment of mental health problems in Iran

Effect of Emotion Management Training to Mothers on the Behavioral Problems of Offspring: Parents’ View

Objective The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), has defined behavioral disorders (i.e. oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and disruptive behavior disorder) as conditions involving problems in the self-control of emotions and behaviors. The underlying causes of behavioral disorders can vary greatly across disorders and among individuals within a given diagnostic category. The behavioral disorders vary from aggression or sudden arousal to depressive actions. It contains various extreme, chronic, and deviant behaviors. Such disorders lead to individual or social problems and require educational and therapeutic intervention. Such problems in children can increase their vulnerability to psycho-social confusions in adolescence and adulthood. The present study was aimed to determine the effects of emotion management training to mothers on the behavioral problems of their boy offspring. It also measured the efficacy of the program from the parents&rsquo; perspectives. Methods & Materials The present study was semi-experimental, having a pretest and a posttest design with a control group. An elementary masculine school was selected in convenience from the statistical population in Kermanshah City. All of the students (96 individuals) who studied at the elementary school were evaluated by the Rutter (1967) Children&rsquo;s Behavior Questionnaire for parents. Thirty students who acquired high score (13 points and higher) in the questionnaire were diagnosed as having behavioral problems. An explanatory session regarding the purpose of the study was held for their mothers. The mothers were randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group in equal numbers (each group=15 individuals). The experimental group attended 9 training sessions for two months (once a week; per session lasts for 60 minutes (and received emotions management program, but the control group did not attend any such session. Again, all the students were evaluated through the Rutter Children&rsquo;s Behavior Questionnaire for parents after the 9th session. Data were collected through the questionnaire before and after the training sessions. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used by SPSS (version 20) for analyzing the data. Results The findings showed that there was a significant reduction in the scores of components of behavioral problems as follows: aggression and hyperactivity (P<0.01), anxiety and depression (P<0.002), social maladjustment (P<0.05), and antisocial behaviors (P<0.001). There was also a significant reduction in the total score of behavioral problems (P<0.001) of the offspring after mothers&rsquo; participation in emotion management training sessions. But, the score of attention shortage increased after the training sessions in the experimental group although this variation was not significant (P<0.01). It can be stated that according to Eta square, 66% of the variation in the total score of behavioral problems in offspring was due to mothers&rsquo; participation in the emotion management training program. We also found that 24%, 33%, 15%, 38%, and 11% of variations in components such as aggression and hyperactivity, anxiety and depression, social maladjustment, and antisocial behaviors, respectively, can be explained by the mothers&rsquo; participation in training sessions. Conclusion We conclude that the training intervention (especially, emotion management training) for mothers who have male offspring with behavioral problems is beneficial not only for strengthening the parents to manage their emotions effectively but also for reducing behavioral problems in their offspring

Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Depressed Mothers with Cerebral Palsy Children

Objectives: Findings Demonstrated that Parent of Children With Cerebral Palsy Experience Elevated Level of Distress, Depression, Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Symptom and Subjective Symptom of Stress. Depression is a common condition that typically has a relapsing course. Effective interventions targeting relapse have the potential to dramatically reduce the point prevalence of the condition. Many of studies have shown that Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an intervention that has shown efficacy in reducing Depression syndrome and depressive relapse. In This Study, Effectiveness of Mindfulness&ndash;Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on Reduction of Depression in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy was examined. Methods: Three Mothers Whose Children Had Cerebral Palsy Were Diagnosed to Have Depression Symptoms, Using Beck Depression Inventory II, Structured Clinical in This Experimental Signal&ndash;Case Study. After The Baseline was Determined, Subject Attended on Eight&ndash;Session Program of Mindfulness&ndash;Based Cognitive Therapy. Results: The Comparison of Baseline and Post&ndash;Test was Showed That Depression Symptom has decreased through MBC. Improvement Quotient for Depression of each Subject was good. Discussion: Data Showed that MBCT Reduced Depression Symptoms in Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy

The association between parental mental health and behavioral disorders in pre-school children

Background and Aim: Behavioral disorders among children reflect psychological problems of parents, as mental illness of either parent would increase the likelihood of mental disorder in the child. In view of the negative relationship between parents’ and children’s illness, the current study intended to determine the correlation between mental health of parents and behavioral disorders of pre-school children. Methods: The present descriptive-correlational research studied 80 children registered at pre-school centers in Pardis Township, Tehran, Iran during 2014-2015 using convenience sampling. The research tools included General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Preschool Behavior Questionnaire (PBQ). The resulted data were analyzed using Pearson Product-moment Correlation Coefficient and regression analysis in SPSS 21. Results: The research results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between all dimensions of mental health of parents with general behavioral disorders (p<0.001). The results of the regression analysis showed that parents’ depression was the first and the only predictive variable of behavioral disorders in children with 26.8% predictive strength. Conclusion: Given the strong relationship between children’s behavioral disorders and parents’ general health, and the significant role of parents’ depression in children’s behavioral disorders, it seems necessary to take measures to decrease the impact of parents’ disorders on children

Scoping review on interventions, actions, and policies affecting return to school and preventing school dropout in primary school

Background: Dropout is one of the most important social problems in the world and especially in low- and middle-income countries. Efforts to prevent dropouts require giving due attention to different perspectives for applying them. The present study aims to identify the policies and interventions made in previous studies because reviewing evidence-based interventions and learning from their strengths and weaknesses is likely to play an effective role in preventing students from leaving school and returning them to school. Methods: This scoping review study conducted on all available studies and documents related to students' dropout. The study population includes articles searched in electronic sources that contain information related to the subject of dropout and out-of-school in primary schools. Appropriate keywords were extracted based on Mesh term and EMTREE and their synonyms and searched by a medical librarian. scientific sources and Gray literature published in Persian and English based on PRISMA standard criteria were reviewed. Results: A review of studies indicated that various interventions such as student interaction with school, educational interventions on students and teachers, family and local community cooperation, free nutrition, behavioral interventions, financial aid, and free education had positive effects on reducing dropout, absenteeism and encouraging students to return to schools. effect size was not reported for school dropout intervention. Conclusions: The findings have indicated that intervention with a combination of global and targeted strategies can affect dropout in developing countries. However, to confirm the effectiveness of this type of intervention, further research is required to be conducted in different countries and with different cultures

The Youth and Experience of Traffic Accidents (Grounded Theory)

Background: Traffic accidents are among major causes of death all over the world. In Iran, it has become a social problem, with lots of people involved in; and the youth include the most victims of traffic accidents. Objectives: The main objective of this research is to review the experience of the youth (18&ndash;24 years old in Tehran, Iran) with traffic accidents, and to develop a model to specify the factors. Methods: This study is based on Grounded Theory, in which a sample group of 50 young people, 18&ndash;24 years old, in Tehran, Iran, were selected and interviewed, using stratified purposive and snowball sampling method. Data is mainly collected by interviewing the youth in 7 key topics. To analyze the data, Grounded Theory is used through production of themes, components and concepts. Results: There are 11 general components for traffic accidents according to the ideas of the youth which will come in 3 categories including: individual factors (emotions, sensory-motor skills, and physical-mental health); environmental factors (road and traffic problems, a companion, using cellphone, or front individual, including carless drivers or passersby); and underlying factors (gender, legal and cultural infrastructures). And finally, the core category of carelessness, which is the leading cause in traffic accidents.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Conclusion: The findings indicate that a chain of various factors may cause traffic accidents with lots of devastating consequences. It is therefore necessary to modify driving culture, to internalize the attitude of caution, to use polyhedral strategies, and to apply them all correctly

Investigation of the Psychosocial Factors Affecting High Risk Driving Behaviors in Adolescents in the City of Tehran, 2014

Background: Driving accidents are among the most important causes of mortality in the world in recent years. In Iran, especially in major cities such as Tehran, this issue has become a prevalent social problem. More importantly, adolescents and young people constitute the majority of the victims of traffic accidents. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the psychosocial dimensions affecting high risk driving behaviors in adolescents in the age group between 12 to 17 years, in the city of Tehran. Materials and Methods: The present study has taken a quantitative (correlation) approach by selecting a sample of 537 adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years and the psychosocial factors affecting high risk driving behaviors were assessed. The samples were selected by a Stratified-cluster method from the insurance company, hospitals and education correctional centers. Results: Our study demonstrate that among psychological factors, three determinants, namely national religious identity, attitude toward laws and rules, and aggression were able to predict high risk behaviors in boys group with coefficient of B, 0.24, and 0.16, respectively; while the strongest predictor of high risk behavior is national religious identity. On the other hand, in the girls group, two factors, namely autocratic parenting and attitude toward law and rules were able to predict high risk behaviors with coefficients of B, 0.19, and 0.18, respectively; while the strongest predictor was the autocratic style of parenting. Among social factors, our findings show that participation in the plan to cooperate with traffic police with coefficients of Beta 0.26 and 0.21, respectively, is the strongest predictor of high risk behavior in adolescent boys and girls. Conclusion: Among predictor variables aggression, law breaking behavior, and national religious identity can better predict driving accidents, attitude toward law, and high risk behaviors. Aggression, attitude, and law breaking behavior are considered as abnormal behaviors that lead to legal problems, delinquencies, substance abuse and other destructive behaviors among adolescents and consequently cause damage, injury and disabilities in themselves and others. Moreover, involvement in aggressive behaviors can play a critical role in creating and exacerbating new behavioral problems in adolescents, and those problems are carried over immutably at the later stages of their life