Health Nexus
type: channel
description: E-ISSN: 2981-2569 Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Hadi Nobari Owner: KMAN Research Institute Publisher: KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Contact emails: healthnexus@kmanpub.com / healthnexusjournal@gmail.com Open access: YES Peer-review: Yes (Open Peer-review) Health Nexus is a multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing and disseminating groundbreaking research in human health. This journal uniquely focuses on the synergistic relationship among four key areas: sports sciences, psychology, public health, and emerging technologies in health. By embracing this diverse yet interconnected scope, Health Nexus serves as a dynamic platform for researchers to present their latest findings and contribute significantly to the enhancement of human health and well-being. The journal invites a wide array of submissions, including original research articles, comprehensive reviews, insightful meta-analyses, theoretical explorations, and practical applications. These contributions are expected to advance knowledge and understanding in each of the journal's core areas: sports sciences' role in physical and mental health, psychological perspectives on wellness, public health strategies for community and global health improvement, and the transformative impact of emerging technologies in healthcare. Health Nexus is committed to fostering the development of evidence-based practices and interventions. By integrating research from sports sciences, psychology, public health, and emerging technologies in health, the journal aims to offer a holistic view of human health. This approach ensures the promotion of well-being in all aspects of life, encouraging innovative solutions to health challenges in today's rapidly evolving world. About the Publisher Publisher: KMAN Publication Inc. Publisher Office: Unit 5‑10825 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4C 3E3 https://journals.kmanpub.com Email: kmanpu@kmanpub.com Telegram: +1 (647) 656‑4401 | WhatsApp: +1 (437) 429‑3507 Germany Office: Drateln…
publisher: KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB)
language: en
publication name: Health Nexus
issn: 2981-2569
items: Effects of Eight Weeks of Integrated Neuromuscular Training on Static and Dynamic Balance, Flexibility, and Landing Errors in Male Football Players Aged 18–20 Years
items: The Effectiveness of the Floortime Method on Sensory Processing Sensitivity, Theory of Mind, and Social Skills in Children with High-Functioning Autism
items: Maternal Early Maladaptive Schemas and Parenting Styles Associated with Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Girls Aged 9-11 Years
items: Embodied Cognition in Sport Expertise: A Thematic Exploration of Sensorimotor Awareness in Professional Athletes
items: Effectiveness of Hydrotherapy on Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
items: Effect of Telerehabilitation-Based Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Strength in Obese Older Women
items: Comparative Effects of Continuous and Interval Aerobic Training on Cellular Respiration Indices (OCR) and ATP Content in Skeletal Muscle of Rats with Type 2 Diabetes
items: Regulation of the GLUT4 Translocation Pathway in Diabetic Skeletal Muscle: Comparative Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Training on AS160 and GLUT4 Gene Expression in Type 2 Diabetic Mice
items: The Effectiveness of an Integrated Emotion-Focused Therapy and Music Therapy Package in Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
items: The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Executive Functions in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder
items: Effectiveness of Behavioral Therapy Based on Systematic Desensitization in Reducing Anxiety and Animal-Phobia Symptoms in Adolescents
items: https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/view/5505
items: Work Environment, Workload, and Mental Health Among Healthcare Staff in Critical Care Settings: A Systematic Review
items: Prediction of Self-Harming Thoughts Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas and Mindfulness
items: Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Pain Catastrophizing, Pain Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Flexibility in Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Quasi-Experimental Study
items: Parental Emotional Intelligence and Emotion Regulation in Children Aged 6–12: A Cross-Sectional Study
items: The Effectiveness of Schema-Reconstruction-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Rumination in Patients With Depression: A Quasi-Experimental Study
items: https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/view/5328
items: The Role of Parental Support in Restoring Neurocognitive and Physiological Regulation Following Childhood Grief: An Emotion-Regulation-Based Interventional Study
items: Effects of Schema Therapy and ISTDP on Resilience, Emotion Regulation, and Self-Compassion in Women with a History of Trauma
items: https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/view/5267
items: Modeling the Design of Therapeutic Environments for Patients with Schizophrenia Based on Environmental Cognitive Patterns and Its Effect on Anxiety Reduction
items: Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Mindfulness and Psychological Flexibility in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
items: The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Enhancing Post-Traumatic Growth in Adolescent Survivors of Sexual Assault
items: Sports Activity Level and Behavioral Maladjustment Among Male Secondary School Students in Tehran Province, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Survey
items: Effects of Continuous Aerobic Training on Body Composition in Primary School Boys
items: The Mediating Role of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in the Relationship of Stressful Life Events and Childhood Maltreatment with Gastrointestinal Symptoms
items: Learning Styles, Brain Dominance, Emotional Intelligence, and Second Language Learning Motivation and Anxiety in Secondary Students
items: Effects of Structured Play Interventions on Self-Esteem, Physical Competence, and Psychological Well-Being in Children

Effects of Eight Weeks of Integrated Neuromuscular Training on Static and Dynamic Balance, Flexibility, and Landing Errors in Male Football Players Aged 18–20 Years
type: item
description: Background and Objective: Football requires adequate neuromuscular control, postural balance, and the ability to safely execute jumping and landing movements. Deficits in these components may impair athletic performance and contribute to potentially hazardous movement patterns. This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of integrated neuromuscular training on static and dynamic balance, flexibility, and landing errors in male football players aged 18–20 years. Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial using a pretest–posttest design. Thirty male football players with a mean age of 18.97 ± 0.66 years were randomly assigned to either an integrated neuromuscular training group or a control group, with 15 participants in each group. The experimental group completed an eight-week multicomponent training program three times per week. The program included balance, strength, plyometric, core-stability, landing-technique, and reactive-agility exercises. The control group continued its regular football training routine. Static balance, dynamic balance, flexibility, and landing quality were assessed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance, with baseline values entered as covariates. Results: Following the eight-week intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in static and dynamic balance and flexibility compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The Landing Error Scoring System score also decreased significantly in the experimental group, indicating fewer observable landing errors and improved landing quality. The intervention produced large effect sizes for dynamic balance and landing-error scores, with partial eta-squared values of 0.656 and 0.492, respectively. The experimental group demonstrated an approximately 27.6% reduction in landing errors. Conclusion: Eight weeks of integrated neuromuscular training may improve postural control, flexibility, and the …
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: section
subject: integrated neuromuscular training; dynamic balance; static balance; flexibility; Landing Error Scoring System; football players; postural control
  topic: keywords
creator: Mohammed Abdulhamza Ismael Mohsin
creator: Lotfali Bolboli
creator: Reza Farzizadeh
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammed Abdulhamza Ismael Mohsin (Author); Lotfali Bolboli (Corresponding Author); Reza Farzizadeh (Author)
date: 2026-06-19
publication date: 2026-06-19
doi: 10.61838/

The Effectiveness of the Floortime Method on Sensory Processing Sensitivity, Theory of Mind, and Social Skills in Children with High-Functioning Autism
type: item
description: This study examined the effectiveness of the Floortime method on sensory processing sensitivity, theory of mind, and social skills in children with high-functioning autism. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group was used. The statistical population consisted of children with high-functioning autism who attended autism rehabilitation centers in District 5 of Tehran in spring 2025. Thirty-six children were selected by convenience sampling and then allocated to experimental and control groups, with 18 participants in each group. Data were collected using the Sensory Profile School Companion, the Theory of Mind Test, and the Autism Social Skills Profile. The experimental group received twelve 75-minute Floortime sessions over six weeks, whereas the control group received no Floortime intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and analysis of covariance in SPSS version 23. After controlling for pretest scores, the Floortime method significantly increased sensory registration, theory of mind, and social skills and significantly decreased sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding. The intervention did not produce a statistically significant change in sensory seeking. The findings suggest that Floortime can support sensory regulation, social-cognitive understanding, and adaptive social behavior in children with high-functioning autism when implemented in a structured and developmentally responsive format.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Floortime; DIR model; sensory processing; theory of mind; social skills; high-functioning autism
  topic: keywords
creator: Farideh Rahpeymay Nargesi
creator: MohamadParsa Azizi
creator: Fateme BagherMoradi
creator: Majid Ebrahimpour
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Farideh Rahpeymay Nargesi (Author); MohamadParsa Azizi (Corresponding Author); Fateme BagherMoradi, Majid Ebrahimpour (Author)
date: 2026-06-05
publication date: 2026-06-05
doi: 10.61838/

Maternal Early Maladaptive Schemas and Parenting Styles Associated with Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Girls Aged 9-11 Years
type: item
description: Maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, including self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, and blaming others, may place children at increased risk for emotional and behavioral difficulties. Maternal early maladaptive schemas and parenting styles are family-related factors that may be associated with these strategies. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 181 girls aged 9-11 years and their mothers in the second educational district of Kerman, Iran. Participants were recruited from five elementary schools using multistage cluster sampling. The girls completed the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and mothers completed Young's Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire and Baumrind's Parenting Style Questionnaire. Maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation was calculated as the sum of the CERQ maladaptive subscales: self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, and blaming others. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and exploratory simultaneous multiple regression in SPSS version 26. Maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation was positively correlated with all maternal early maladaptive schemas and with authoritarian and permissive parenting styles, and it was negatively correlated with authoritative parenting. The simultaneous regression model was statistically significant, F(21, 159) = 34.04, p < .001, R = .904, R2 = .818, adjusted R2 = .794. Variables with significant positive independent associations were mistrust/abuse, defectiveness/shame, failure, dependence/incompetence, vulnerability to harm or illness, subjugation, negativity/pessimism, punitiveness, authoritarian parenting, and permissive parenting. Authoritative parenting showed a significant negative independent association. The findings suggest that girls' maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies are associated with both mothers' cognitive-emotional schema patterns and maternal parenting styles. Because of the cross-sectional design, school-clustered …
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation; early maladaptive schemas; parenting styles; mothers; girls; cross-sectional study
  topic: keywords
creator: Shirin Alsadat
creator: Farshid Khosropour
creator: Hasan Mohamadtehrani
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Shirin Alsadat (Corresponding Author); Farshid Khosropour, Hasan Mohamadtehrani (Author)
date: 2026-06-05
publication date: 2026-06-05
doi: 10.61838/

Embodied Cognition in Sport Expertise: A Thematic Exploration of Sensorimotor Awareness in Professional Athletes
type: item
description: The objective of this study was to explore and interpret the lived experiences of professional athletes to identify the core thematic dimensions of sensorimotor awareness within the framework of embodied cognition. This study employed a qualitative research design using thematic analysis grounded in an interpretivist paradigm. Participants consisted of twenty-four professional athletes from Canada, representing both individual and team sports with a minimum of five years of elite-level experience. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, complemented by reflective journals and researcher field notes to enhance contextual richness and triangulation. Interviews focused on athletes’ perceptions of bodily awareness, decision-making processes, and integration of sensory feedback during performance. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed following a six-phase thematic analysis procedure, including familiarization, coding, theme generation, review, and refinement. Rigor was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and maintenance of an audit trail. The analysis revealed four overarching themes: heightened bodily awareness, embodied decision-making, sensorimotor calibration, and embodied emotional regulation. The findings indicated that perception–action coupling and motor refinement through repetition were universally experienced and constituted the core of expertise. Athletes demonstrated strong reliance on pre-reflective, intuitive processes for rapid decision-making, particularly in dynamic environments. Interoceptive and proprioceptive awareness emerged as critical mechanisms supporting performance optimization and emotional regulation. Variations across sport types suggested that closed-skill sports emphasized precision and bodily control, whereas open-skill sports prioritized adaptability and anticipatory action. Overall, sensorimotor awareness functioned as an integrative system linking cognitive, phys…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: category
subject: embodied cognition
  topic: keywords
subject: sensorimotor awareness
  topic: keywords
subject: sport expertise
  topic: keywords
subject: professional athletes
  topic: keywords
subject: perception–action coupling
  topic: keywords
subject: interoception
  topic: keywords
subject: proprioception
  topic: keywords
creator: Ali Seghatoleslami
creator: Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Seghatoleslami, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi (Author)
date: 2026-07-01
publication date: 2026-07-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 11
doi: 10.61838/

Effectiveness of Hydrotherapy on Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
type: item
description: Abstract The aim of this study was to determine and compare the effects of hydrotherapy on pain and functional disability in patients with low back pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on randomized controlled trials. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, yielding a total of 1,144 records. After removing duplicates, 920 studies remained for title and abstract screening, of which 850 were excluded due to irrelevance to the study objective. Ultimately, 6 randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review and 6 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The results indicated that although several individual studies reported improvements in pain and functional outcomes following hydrotherapy, the pooled effect estimate from the random-effects model showed a non-significant effect in favor of hydrotherapy compared with control interventions (pooled effect size = −2.44; 95% CI: −5.88 to 1.00). Considerable heterogeneity was observed among the included studies (I² = 98.1%), indicating substantial variability in study populations, intervention protocols, treatment duration, and outcome measures. This high level of heterogeneity suggests that the findings should be interpreted with caution. Assessment of publication bias using Egger’s test (P = 0.07) and Begg’s test (P = 0.43) indicated no evidence of publication bias. Overall, although individual studies suggested potential improvements in pain and function among patients receiving hydrotherapy, the final meta-analysis did not demonstrate a statistically significant overall effect.
subject: Public Health
  topic: section
subject: Hydrotherapy
  topic: keywords
subject: Low Back Pain
  topic: keywords
subject: , Exercise Therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: Rehabilitation
  topic: keywords
subject: Physical Therapy Modalities
  topic: keywords
creator: Marzieh Dowlatshahi
creator: Shaghayegh Rastgoo
creator: Javad salami
creator: Raziyeh Chabok
creator: masoumeh sadat mousavi
creator: Fatemeh Naseri
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Marzieh Dowlatshahi, Shaghayegh Rastgoo, Javad salami, Raziyeh Chabok, masoumeh sadat mousavi (Author); Fatemeh Naseri (Corresponding Author); Shaghayegh Rastgoo (Author)
date: 2026-06-07
publication date: 2026-06-07
doi: 10.61838/

Effect of Telerehabilitation-Based Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Strength in Obese Older Women
type: item
description: Abstract Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of an Six-week telerehabilitation-based Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) exercise program on cardiorespiratory fitness and upper and lower extremity strength in obese older women. Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design including a control group. The statistical population consisted of all overweight and obese older women living in Mashhad, Iran. The research sample included 30 participants aged 60 to 75 years with a body mass index above 25 kg/m², who were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (n=15) and control (n=15). The experimental group received a six-week DNS exercise protocol (six sessions per week, including three supervised sessions and three home sessions) via telerehabilitation. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the 2-Minute Step Test. Upper extremity strength was measured using the 30-Second Arm Curl Test for both left and right arms. Lower extremity strength was assessed using the 30-Second Chair Stand Test. All measurements were conducted at pretest and posttest stages. Analysis of covariance was used for data analysis at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The results showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups for cardiorespiratory fitness (F(1,29) = 586.88, P = 0.001, η² = 0.95). A significant difference was also observed for lower extremity strength (F(1,29) = 267.0, P = 0.001, η² = 0.90). However, no significant differences were found between the two groups for left upper extremity strength (F(1,29) = 0.350, P = 0.550, η² = 0.002) or right upper extremity strength (F(1,29) = 0.12, P = 0.770, η² = 0.005). Conclusion: A six-week telerehabilitation-based Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization exercise program is an effective intervention for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and lower extremity strength in obese older women. Howeve…
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: section
subject: Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization
  topic: keywords
subject: Telerehabilitation
  topic: keywords
subject: Cardiorespiratory Fitness
  topic: keywords
subject: Strength
  topic: keywords
subject: Obese Older Women
  topic: keywords
creator: Forough Nikghadam Dalouei
creator: Nasser Mohammad Rahimi
creator: Mahdi Esfahani
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Forough Nikghadam Dalouei (Author); Nasser Mohammad Rahimi (Corresponding Author)
date: 2026-05-29
publication date: 2026-05-29
doi: 10.61838/

Comparative Effects of Continuous and Interval Aerobic Training on Cellular Respiration Indices (OCR) and ATP Content in Skeletal Muscle of Rats with Type 2 Diabetes
type: item
description: Type 2 diabetes impairs skeletal muscle energy metabolism, partly through mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction and reduced ATP-generating capacity. This experimental study compared the effects of continuous and interval aerobic training on cellular respiration indices and ATP content in the gastrocnemius muscle of male Wistar rats with type 2 diabetes. Male Wistar rats were allocated to six groups: healthy control, healthy + continuous training, healthy + interval training, diabetic control, diabetic + continuous training, and diabetic + interval training (n = 8 per group). Type 2 diabetes was induced using a high-fat diet followed by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. The exercise interventions were performed for eight weeks. After the intervention, gastrocnemius muscle samples were collected for analysis of mitochondrial respiratory indices, including basal respiration, ATP-linked respiration, maximal respiration, spare respiratory capacity, proton leak, coupling efficiency, and tissue ATP content. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey post hoc tests. Diabetes reduced mitochondrial respiratory indices, spare respiratory capacity, coupling efficiency, and ATP content. Both aerobic training protocols improved respiratory function and ATP content in diabetic rats. The interval training protocol produced larger improvements than continuous training in maximal respiration, spare respiratory capacity, and ATP content. Eight weeks of aerobic training partially restored diabetes-related impairments in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Interval aerobic training appeared to produce stronger respiratory adaptations than continuous training. These findings provide preclinical evidence for the role of exercise intensity structure in mitochondrial adaptation under diabetic conditions.
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: section
subject: type 2 diabetes mellitus
  topic: keywords
subject: aerobic training
  topic: keywords
subject: resistance training
  topic: keywords
subject: AS160
  topic: keywords
subject: GLUT4
  topic: keywords
subject: glucose transport
  topic: keywords
subject: skeletal muscle
  topic: keywords
creator: Elham Fanaei
creator: ‌Elham Eftekhari Gheinani
creator: Jamshid Banaei Borojeni
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Elham Fanaei (Author); ‌Elham Eftekhari Gheinani (Corresponding Author); Jamshid Banaei Borojeni (Author)
date: 2026-07-01
publication date: 2026-07-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 9
doi: 10.61838/

Regulation of the GLUT4 Translocation Pathway in Diabetic Skeletal Muscle: Comparative Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Training on AS160 and GLUT4 Gene Expression in Type 2 Diabetic Mice
type: item
description: Background: Impaired glucose transport into skeletal muscle is a central mechanism in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. AS160 (TBC1D4) and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) are key molecular components of the insulin-dependent glucose transport pathway. Exercise training is an established non-pharmacological intervention for improving glucose homeostasis; however, the comparative effects of aerobic and resistance training on AS160 and GLUT4 gene expression in diabetic skeletal muscle remain insufficiently clarified. Objective: This study compared the effects of aerobic and resistance training on AS160 and GLUT4 gene expression in the soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of type 2 diabetic mice. Methods: Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to five groups: healthy control, sham, diabetic control, diabetic plus aerobic training, and diabetic plus resistance training. Type 2 diabetes was induced using a high-fat diet followed by low-dose streptozotocin injection. The training protocols were performed for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week. AS160 and GLUT4 gene expression in the soleus and EDL muscles was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and normalized to GAPDH using the 2^-ΔΔCt method. Data were analyzed using two-way mixed analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc comparisons. Results: Diabetes reduced AS160 and GLUT4 expression in both muscles. Both exercise modalities increased the expression of the two genes compared with the diabetic control group. The GLUT4 response was stronger than the AS160 response, and aerobic training produced a larger increase in GLUT4 expression than resistance training. The soleus muscle showed a stronger metabolic response than the EDL muscle. Conclusion: Exercise training, particularly aerobic training, partially restored defects in the skeletal muscle glucose transport pathway in type 2 diabetic mice. These findings support structured exercise as a molecularly relevant strategy for improving…
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: section
subject: type 2 diabetes mellitus; aerobic training; resistance training; AS160; GLUT4; glucose transport; skeletal muscle
  topic: keywords
creator: Reyhaneh Alizadeh Behbahani
creator: Saeed Keshavarz
creator: Leila Sarrami
creator: Jamshid Banaei Borojeni
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reyhaneh Alizadeh Behbahani (Author); Saeed Keshavarz (Corresponding Author); Leila Sarrami, Jamshid B anaei Borojeni (Author)
date: 2026-07-01
publication date: 2026-07-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 8
doi: 10.61838/

The Effectiveness of an Integrated Emotion-Focused Therapy and Music Therapy Package in Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
type: item
description: This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of an integrated therapeutic package combining emotion-focused therapy and music therapy in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest-follow-up design with a control group was used; after purposive eligibility screening, participants were allocated to groups using a simple random procedure. The population consisted of adults aged 18-45 years with autism spectrum disorder level 1, without intellectual disability, who attended psychological centers and private or semi-private clinics in Tehran, Iran, in 2025. Thirty adults were screened, and 27 eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling and allocated by simple random procedure to an experimental group (n = 14) or a control group (n = 13). The experimental group received 12 sessions of the integrated intervention over six weeks, with two 90-minute sessions per week; the control group received no study-delivered active psychological intervention during this period, while access to stable usual care was not restricted. Outcomes were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Mixed-design repeated-measures analyses of variance showed significant time × group interactions for stress, F(1.018, 25.447) = 77.285, p < .001, partial eta squared = .756; anxiety, F(1.007, 25.177) = 24.007, p < .001, partial eta squared = .490; and depression, F(1.011, 25.277) = 35.964, p < .001, partial eta squared = .590. The experimental group showed substantial reductions from pretest to posttest, and these gains were observed at the six-month follow-up, although maintenance should be interpreted cautiously because treatments received during follow-up were not experimentally controlled. The findings suggest that an integrated emotion-focused and music-based intervention may be a useful structured approach for reducing internalizing symptoms in adults with …
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: autism spectrum disorder
  topic: keywords
subject: high-functioning autismhigh-functioning autism
  topic: keywords
subject: emotion-focused therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: music therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: stress
  topic: keywords
subject: anxiety
  topic: keywords
subject: depression
  topic: keywords
creator: Hossein Fayazmanesh
creator: Kourosh Amraei
creator: Fatemeh Rezaei
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Hossein Fayazmanesh (Author); Kourosh Amraei (Corresponding Author); Fatemeh Rezaei (Author)
date: 2026-07-01
publication date: 2026-07-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 18
doi: 10.61838/

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Executive Functions in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder
type: item
description: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex clinical condition characterized by affective instability, impulsivity, interpersonal dysregulation, identity disturbance, and recurrent self-harming behaviors. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is particularly important in BPD because it is often used as a short-term strategy for regulating painful emotions, yet it is associated with considerable clinical risk and functional impairment. Executive functions, including inhibition, planning, self-organization, emotional self-regulation, and self-motivation, are also frequently impaired in this population. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be clinically useful because it targets experiential avoidance and promotes psychological flexibility, values-based action, and acceptance of difficult internal experiences. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included patients diagnosed with BPD who attended psychological and psychiatric treatment centers in Shahrood, Iran, in 2022. Forty participants were selected by convenience sampling and were then randomly assigned to an ACT group (n = 20) or a waiting-list control group (n = 20). The ACT group received eight intervention sessions, while the control group received no psychological intervention during the study period. Outcomes were assessed using the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale and the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury. Assessments were conducted at pretest, posttest, and two-month follow-up. Repeated-measures analysis was used to examine group, time, and group-by-time effects. ACT significantly reduced both intrapersonal and interpersonal NSSI functions. Significant group-by-time effects were found for intrapersonal NSSI (F = 11.55, p < .001, partial η² = .23) and interpersonal NSSI (F = 15.02, p < .001, partial η² = .28). ACT also significantly improved executive-function domains, including time self-managem…
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: borderline personality disorder
  topic: keywords
subject: acceptance and commitment therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: non-suicidal self-injury
  topic: keywords
subject: executive functions
  topic: keywords
subject: psychological flexibility
  topic: keywords
creator: Elahe Hatami
creator: Ali Akbar Soleimanian
creator: Hamid Darrodi
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Elahe Hatami (Corresponding Author); Ali Akbar Soleimanian, Hamid Darrodi (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 9
doi: 10.61838/

Effectiveness of Behavioral Therapy Based on Systematic Desensitization in Reducing Anxiety and Animal-Phobia Symptoms in Adolescents
type: item
description: Animal phobia is a common subtype of specific phobia and is often accompanied by marked anxiety, avoidance behavior, and functional impairment. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral intervention that combines relaxation training with gradual exposure to feared stimuli. This study examined the effectiveness of behavioral therapy based on systematic desensitization in reducing anxiety and animal-phobia symptoms among adolescents with animal phobia. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a wait-list control group was used. Twenty-seven adolescents aged 15-18 years were recruited from counseling centers in Mashhad, Iran, after a clinical screening interview guided by DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia and an elevated score on the animal-phobia item set of the Specific Phobia Questionnaire. Participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 13) or a wait-list control group (n = 14). The experimental group received eight weekly 60-minute sessions of systematic desensitization, whereas the control group received no active intervention during the study period. Outcomes were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and 10 animal-related items from the Specific Phobia Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of covariance, controlling for pretest scores. After controlling for pretest scores, the experimental group showed significantly lower posttest anxiety than the control group, F(1, 24) = 64.37, p < .001, partial eta squared = .728. A significant intervention effect was also observed for animal-phobia symptoms, F(1, 24) = 28.98, p < .001, partial eta squared = .547. These findings suggest that systematic desensitization may be a useful structured intervention for reducing anxiety and animal-phobia symptoms in adolescents. However, the small sample size, reliance on self-report outcomes, lack of behavioral approach testing, and absence of follow-up assessment require cautious interpretation. Futu…
subject: Public Health
  topic: section
subject: Public Health
  topic: category
subject: systematic desensitization
  topic: keywords
subject: behavioral therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: anxiety
  topic: keywords
subject: animal phobia
  topic: keywords
subject: specific phobia
  topic: keywords
subject: adolescents
  topic: keywords
creator: Homayun Rajabipour
creator: Hossein Fayazmanesh
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Homayun Rajabipour, Hossein Fayazmanesh (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 8
doi: 10.61838/

https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/view/5505
type: item
title: Comparison of the Effectiveness of Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Integrated Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Schema Therapy on Sleep Quality and Disability Caused by Tension-Type Headache in Insecurely Attached Nurses with Anxiety Symptoms
description: Nurses working in intensive, emergency, and oncology settings are exposed to persistent emotional, cognitive, and physical demands. In nurses with insecure attachment and anxiety symptoms, these demands may be expressed through sleep disturbance and disabling tension-type headache. This study compared the effectiveness of short-term psychodynamic therapy and an integrated acceptance and commitment therapy with schema therapy intervention on sleep quality and tension-type headache-related disability in insecurely attached nurses with anxiety symptoms. A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a wait-list control group and one-month follow-up was used. The population consisted of nurses employed in ICU, CCU, emergency, and oncology wards of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during the second half of 1403 SH. From 420 eligible nurses, 180 volunteered for screening; 70 had anxiety scores above the cut-off on DASS-21, 40 also showed predominant insecure attachment, and 30 met all inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to short-term psychodynamic therapy (n = 10), integrated acceptance and commitment therapy with schema therapy (n = 10), or wait-list control (n = 10). Both active interventions were delivered in eight 70-minute sessions. Outcome measures were the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Headache Disability Inventory. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Results: After controlling for pre-test scores, the overall multivariate group effect was significant for sleep quality, Wilks' Lambda = .49, F(4, 50) = 5.43, p = .001, partial eta squared = .30, and for headache disability, Wilks' Lambda = .30, F(8, 44) = 4.50, p = .001, partial eta squared = .45. Group effects were significant for sleep quality at post-test and follow-up and for both emotional and functional dimensions of headache disability at post-test and follow-up. Adjusted Bonferroni comparisons indicated …
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: short-term psychodynamic therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy
  topic: keywords
subject: acceptance and commitment therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: schema therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: sleep quality
  topic: keywords
subject: tension-type headache
  topic: keywords
subject: insecure attachment
  topic: keywords
subject: nurses
  topic: keywords
subject: anxiety
  topic: keywords
creator: Fatemeh Hassanezhad
creator: Fatemeh Shahabizadeh
creator: Jalil Jarrahi Feriz
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Hassanezhad, Fatemeh Shahabizadeh, Jalil Jarrahi Feriz (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 9
doi: 10.61838/

Work Environment, Workload, and Mental Health Among Healthcare Staff in Critical Care Settings: A Systematic Review
type: item
description: Critical care settings such as intensive care units, emergency departments, anesthesia units, and crisis-response hospital wards expose healthcare staff to high task density, moral pressure, unpredictable clinical events, and emotionally demanding encounters with patients and families. These conditions can affect staff mental health, quality of life, professional functioning, and patient safety. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the relationship between the work environment, workload, and mental health outcomes among healthcare staff working in critical care settings. The review was structured according to the main reporting principles of PRISMA 2020. English and Persian literature was searched and verified through PubMed, Google Scholar, journal websites, SID, Magiran, and related databases. Eligible studies examined healthcare workers in critical care or comparable crisis settings and reported work-environment factors, workload, job stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, quality of life, coping, or patient-safety-related outcomes. Given the heterogeneity of study designs, settings, instruments, and outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively rather than statistically. The evidence consistently shows that high workload, insufficient staffing, rotating or night shifts, limited decision latitude, poor team communication, inadequate physical environments, and repeated exposure to death or ethical dilemmas are associated with poorer mental health. Burnout, emotional exhaustion, depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbance, moral distress, reduced quality of life, and lower perceived patient-safety culture were the most commonly reported outcomes. Protective factors included supportive leadership, meaningful teamwork, supervisor and peer support, resilience, fair scheduling, structured reflection, access to psychological support, and organizational attention to rest, staffing, and safety culture. Mental health in critical care staff is…
subject: Public Health
  topic: section
subject: critical care
  topic: keywords
subject: intensive care
  topic: keywords
subject: work environment
  topic: keywords
subject: workload
  topic: keywords
subject: job stress
  topic: keywords
subject: burnout
  topic: keywords
subject: mental health
  topic: keywords
subject: healthcare workers
  topic: keywords
subject: nurses
  topic: keywords
subject: systematic review
  topic: keywords
creator: Fezeh Rezaeian
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Fezeh Rezaeian (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/

Prediction of Self-Harming Thoughts Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas and Mindfulness
type: item
description: Self-harming thoughts are among the most important psychological warning signs associated with emotional dysregulation, maladaptive coping, and vulnerability to self-injurious behaviors. The present study aimed to examine the predictive role of mindfulness and early maladaptive schemas in self-harming thoughts among adults referring to psychological clinics in Tehran. This applied study used a descriptive-correlational cross-sectional design. The statistical population consisted of individuals over 18 years of age who referred to private or public psychological clinics in Tehran during the third quarter of 2025 due to anxiety, depression, or other psychological difficulties. Using simple random sampling and based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, 300 participants were selected. Data were collected using the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills, Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form, and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and simultaneous multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 22. The results showed that total mindfulness was negatively and significantly associated with self-harming thoughts (r = −0.556, p = 0.001), whereas the total maladaptive schema score was positively and significantly associated with self-harming thoughts (r = 0.455, p = 0.002). In the regression analyses, the mindfulness model and schema model significantly predicted self-harming thoughts. Among mindfulness components, only describing without labeling remained a significant predictor (β = 0.244, p = 0.004). Among schema domains, only impaired autonomy and performance significantly predicted self-harming thoughts (β = 0.307, p = 0.002). In the simultaneous model, mindfulness and early maladaptive schemas together explained approximately 40% of the variance in self-harming thoughts (R² = 0.402). These findings suggest that self-harming thoughts are shaped by the combined effects of reduced mindfulness skills and dysfunctional cogni…
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: self-harming thoughts
  topic: keywords
subject: early maladaptive schemas
  topic: keywords
subject: mindfulness
  topic: keywords
creator: Shohrehalsadat Filsouf
creator: Tayebe Ardi
creator: Elham Mahmodiyan
creator: Sevin Esmaelzadeh
creator: Hanieh Forghani Heris
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Shohrehalsadat Filsouf, Tayebe Ardi, Elham Mahmodiyan, Sevin Esmaelzadeh, Hanieh Forghani Heris (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Pain Catastrophizing, Pain Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Flexibility in Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Quasi-Experimental Study
type: item
description: Background: Chronic pain is a persistent biopsychosocial condition in which pain-related thoughts, behavioral avoidance, emotional distress, and perceived coping ability can interact to maintain disability and suffering. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is designed to increase psychological flexibility and help individuals engage in valued action even when pain and distress are present. Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of ACT on pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy, and psychological flexibility in adults with chronic pain. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up was used. Thirty adults with chronic pain were recruited through online platforms and purposively selected according to eligibility criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to an ACT group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The ACT group received eight weekly 90-minute online group sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention during the active study period. Measures included the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni comparisons. Results: The ACT group showed marked improvement from pretest to posttest and follow-up. Pain catastrophizing decreased from 37.80 to 26.07 at posttest and 26.80 at follow-up. Pain self-efficacy increased from 30.40 to 42.27 at posttest and 43.47 at follow-up. Psychological flexibility improved as AAQ-II scores decreased from 31.33 to 19.80 at posttest and 19.20 at follow-up. Significant time, group, and time by group effects were reported for all outcomes. Conclusion: ACT was associated with sustained reductions in pain catastrophizing and improvements in pain self-efficacy and psychological flexibility among individuals with chronic pain. Larger randomized trials with active controls and longer follow-up periods are recommended.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; chronic pain; pain catastrophizing; pain self-efficacy; psychological flexibility; online intervention
  topic: keywords
creator: Fatemeh Moqbeli
creator: Fateme Mohebi Rezaei
creator: Elnaz Seyyedbaglou
creator: Parisa Fatahi
creator: Javad Adeldoust
creator: Mohammad Amin Roustaei Hossein Abad
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Moqbeli, Fateme Mohebi Rezaei, Elnaz Seyyedbaglou, Parisa Fatahi, Javad Adeldoust (Author); Mohammad Amin Roustaei Hossein Abad (Corresponding Author)
date: 2026-01-05
publication date: 2026-01-05
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/

Parental Emotional Intelligence and Emotion Regulation in Children Aged 6–12: A Cross-Sectional Study
type: item
description: Emotion regulation is a central developmental capacity during childhood and is closely related to children’s psychological adjustment, interpersonal functioning, and behavioral adaptation. Parents play a major role in children’s emotional development through modeling, emotional communication, parenting responses, and the emotional climate of the family. Parental emotional intelligence may therefore be associated with children’s ability to understand, manage, and regulate emotional experiences. This study examined the relationship between parental emotional intelligence and emotion regulation in children aged 6–12 years. Specifically, it investigated whether the main components of parental emotional intelligence—self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, empathy, and social skills—were positively associated with children’s emotion regulation. This applied, descriptive, cross-sectional survey study was conducted among parents of children aged 6–12 years in Tehran, Iran. Based on Cochran’s formula for an unlimited population, 384 parents were included. Data were collected using the Schering Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire developed by Garnefski and Kraaij. Internal consistency coefficients for the parental emotional intelligence components ranged from .76 to .80 in the present sample. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation coefficients, and multiple regression model summary statistics. The findings showed positive and statistically significant associations between all parental emotional intelligence components and child emotion regulation. The strongest reported correlation was observed for parental self-awareness (r = .50), followed by parental social skills (r = .45), self-motivation (r = .41), self-regulation (r = .38), and empathy (r = .37). The combined model showed a multiple correlation of R = .470. Because the originally reported R² value was not mathematicall…
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: emotional intelligence; emotion regulation; parents; children; family; psychological adjustment
  topic: keywords
creator: Milad Nik Andish
creator: Nafise Kianersi
creator: Ghazaleh Mohammadkhani
creator: Horie Asadzade
creator: Elham Kalantari
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Milad Nik Andish, Nafise Kianersi, Ghazaleh Mohammadkhani, Horie Asadzade, Elham Kalantari (Author)
date: 2026-05-04
publication date: 2026-05-04
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/

The Effectiveness of Schema-Reconstruction-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Rumination in Patients With Depression: A Quasi-Experimental Study
type: item
description: Depression is frequently maintained by repetitive negative thinking, particularly rumination, and by deeper maladaptive cognitive structures that shape how individuals interpret themselves, their emotions, and life events. This quasi-experimental study examined the effectiveness of schema-reconstruction-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing depressive symptoms and rumination components among patients with depression. Thirty patients with depression who attended treatment clinics in Isfahan, Iran, in 2025 were selected from eligible volunteers and allocated to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Ruminative Response Scale before and after the intervention. The experimental group received eight 45-minute group sessions of schema-reconstruction-based CBT, while the control group received no psychological intervention during the active study period. The intervention focused on psychoeducation, identification of automatic thoughts, recognition of early maladaptive schemas, links between schemas and developmental experiences, cognitive restructuring, emotional and cognitive exposure to schemas, behavioral practice, and relapse prevention. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of covariance in SPSS version 22. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed lower posttest scores for depression, distraction, reflection, and brooding/absorption in thought. Group effects were significant for depression, F = 52.74, p <= .01; distraction, F = 10.73, p <= .01; reflection, F = 15.75, p <= .01; and brooding/absorption in thought, F = 16.89, p <= .01. Schema-reconstruction-based CBT was associated with meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms and all measured components of rumination. The findings support the value of targeting deeper cognitive schemas when treating depression characterized by repetitive negative thinking. Larger trials with follow-up assessmen…
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: cognitive behavioral therapy; schema reconstruction; rumination; depression; Beck Depression Inventory; Ruminative Response Scale
  topic: keywords
creator: Elahe Ghorbani
creator: Arezoo Zarei
creator: Zeinab Panahian
creator: Zohreh Nazemi
creator: Mahdieh Abdollahi Vand Nodeh
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Elahe Ghorbani, Arezoo Zarei, Zeinab Panahian, Zohreh Nazemi (Author); Mahdieh Abdollahi Vand Nodeh (Corresponding Author)
date: 2026-05-02
publication date: 2026-05-02
starting page: 1
ending page: 9
doi: 10.61838/

https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/view/5328
type: item
title: The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Marital Commitment, Marital Intimacy, and Marital Forgiveness Among Couples Affected by Extramarital Relationships: A Quasi-Experimental Study
description: Background: Extramarital relationships can produce a severe relational rupture that weakens trust, emotional accessibility, marital commitment, intimacy, and the capacity to forgive. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) is an attachment-oriented intervention designed to restructure negative interaction cycles and restore emotional responsiveness between partners. Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of EFT on marital commitment, marital intimacy, and marital forgiveness among couples affected by extramarital relationships. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with an experimental group and a control group was used. Thirty-two participants who had attended family counseling clinics in Tehran because of distress related to a spouse's extramarital relationship were selected through purposive sampling and assigned equally to an EFT intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received eight 90-minute EFT sessions, whereas the control group received no EFT intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Marital Commitment Questionnaire, the Walker-Thompson Marital Intimacy Scale, and the Rye Forgiveness Scale. Descriptive statistics, assumption testing, multivariate analysis of covariance, and follow-up univariate analyses of covariance were applied. Results: After controlling for pretest scores, a significant multivariate difference was observed between groups at posttest, Wilks' Lambda = .489, F = 37.49, p = .008, partial eta squared = .56. Follow-up analyses indicated significant posttest improvements in marital commitment, marital intimacy, and marital forgiveness in the EFT group compared with the control group. Conclusion: EFT appears to be a useful intervention for couples experiencing injury after extramarital relationships, particularly when clinical work targets attachment needs, emotional disclosure, responsiveness, and reconstruction of safe interaction cycles.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Public Health
  topic: category
subject: Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy; extramarital relationships; marital commitment; marital intimacy; marital forgiveness; attachment injury; infidelity
  topic: keywords
creator: Saba Sadat Basirat
creator: Mohammad Sina Yaghoubnejad
creator: Mehdi Basirt
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Saba Sadat Basirat (Author); Mohammad Sina Yaghoubnejad (Corresponding Author); Mehdi Basirt (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 8
doi: 10.61838/

The Role of Parental Support in Restoring Neurocognitive and Physiological Regulation Following Childhood Grief: An Emotion-Regulation-Based Interventional Study
type: item
description: Parental death during childhood is a major developmental adversity that may disrupt emotion regulation, executive functioning, autonomic regulation, and grief adaptation. Because children depend heavily on surviving caregivers for co-regulation, family-based interventions may be especially important for reducing prolonged grief symptoms and supporting recovery of cognitive and physiological functioning. This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study evaluated an eight-session Emotion Regulation and Parental Support (ERPS) program among 60 bereaved children aged 8-12 years. Participants were allocated to an intervention group (n = 30) or waitlist control group (n = 30). Outcomes included executive functioning (Stroop interference), working memory (Digit Span Backward), physiological arousal (systolic and diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate), emotion regulation (Emotion Regulation Checklist), and prolonged grief symptoms (PG-13-C total score). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare posttest outcomes between groups while controlling for baseline scores. The intervention group showed substantially greater improvement than the control group across all outcome domains. Significant adjusted between-group effects were found for Stroop interference, F(1, 57) = 68.42, p < .001, η² = .55; Digit Span Backward, F(1, 57) = 32.18, p < .001, η² = .36; systolic blood pressure, F(1, 57) = 14.55, p < .001, η² = .20; diastolic blood pressure, F(1, 57) = 11.20, p = .001, η² = .16; resting heart rate, F(1, 57) = 19.85, p < .001, η² = .26; ERC emotion regulation, F(1, 57) = 95.40, p < .001, η² = .63; ERC lability/negativity, F(1, 57) = 58.30, p < .001, η² = .51; and prolonged grief symptoms, F(1, 57) = 82.10, p < .001, η² = .59. Reductions in Stroop interference were correlated with reductions in resting heart rate (r = .48, p < .01), and improvements in Digit Span Backward were correlated with reductions in grief symptoms (r = -.52, p < .01). The findings suggest…
subject: Public Health
  topic: section
subject: Public Health
  topic: category
subject: childhood bereavement; parental support; emotion regulation; prolonged grief; executive function; autonomic regulation; family intervention
  topic: keywords
creator: Hanieh Abbasi
creator: Fakhri Sadat Hosseini
creator: Nastaran Madankan
creator: Elham Dehghan
creator: Zahra Sadat Mohseni Nia
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Hanieh Abbasi (Author); Fakhri Sadat Hosseini (Corresponding Author); Nastaran Madankan, Elham Dehghan, Zahra Sadat Mohseni Nia (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 11
doi: 10.61838/

Effects of Schema Therapy and ISTDP on Resilience, Emotion Regulation, and Self-Compassion in Women with a History of Trauma
type: item
description: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on resilience, emotion regulation, and self-compassion in women with a history of trauma. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up, including a control group. The statistical population consisted of women aged 20 to 45 years in Hamadan, Iran, in 2025. A total of 60 participants were initially selected using purposive sampling and assigned to three groups (schema therapy, ISTDP, and control), each consisting of 20 participants. Due to attrition, the final sample included 49 participants. The experimental groups received 15 sessions of intervention (90 minutes each), while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF; Raes et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures analysis of variance. The results indicated that both schema therapy and ISTDP significantly improved resilience, emotion regulation, and self-compassion compared to the control group (p < .001). Additionally, the interaction effect of time and group was significant for all variables, indicating different patterns of change across groups. The findings also showed that ISTDP was more effective than schema therapy in improving emotion regulation, while no significant difference was observed between the two treatments in resilience and self-compassion. Overall, the findings suggest that both schema therapy and ISTDP are effective interventions for improving psychological functioning in women with trauma. However, ISTDP may be particularly beneficial for enhancing emotion regulation.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: schema therapy, intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy, resilience, emotion regulation, self-compassion, trauma, women
  topic: keywords
creator: Alireza Ahangaran
creator: Pardis Tadayon
creator: Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paidar
creator: Hossein Mohagheghi
creator: Javad Moshfeghi Vahed
creator: Fatemeh Mirzai
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Alireza Ahangaran (Author); Pardis Tadayon (Corresponding Author); Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paidar , Hossein Mohagheghi , Javad Moshfeghi Vahed , Fatemeh Mirzai (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 11
doi: 10.61838/

https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/view/5267
type: item
title: Comparative Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Neurofeedback on Executive Functions in Female Senior High School Students with Internalizing and Externalizing Behavioral Disorders
description: Internalizing and externalizing behavioral disorders are common problems during adolescence and may adversely affect students’ executive functions. The present study compared the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and neurofeedback on executive functions in female upper secondary school students with internalizing and externalizing behavioral disorders in Tehran. This applied study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a one-month follow-up and included two experimental groups and one control group. The study population comprised female upper secondary school students in Tehran during the 2024-2025 academic year. Forty-five students were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: EMDR, neurofeedback, and control. Data were collected using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc tests in SPSS version 27. Both EMDR and neurofeedback significantly improved executive functions compared with the control group, and these improvements remained stable at follow-up. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups in the post hoc comparisons, although both interventions outperformed the control group. These findings suggest that both EMDR and neurofeedback are effective interventions for enhancing executive abilities in students with behavioral disorders and may be considered in therapeutic and educational programs.
subject: Public Health
  topic: section
subject: Public Health
  topic: category
subject: EMDR; neurofeedback; executive functions; internalizing disorders; externalizing disorders; adolescents
  topic: keywords
creator: Seyedeh Golzar Razavi
creator: Ali Zadehmohammadi
creator: Mohammadreza Bigdeli
creator: Hossien Bigdeli
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Seyedeh Golzar Razavi (Author); Ali Zadehmohammadi (Corresponding Author); Mohammadreza Bigdeli, Hossien Bigdeli (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/

Modeling the Design of Therapeutic Environments for Patients with Schizophrenia Based on Environmental Cognitive Patterns and Its Effect on Anxiety Reduction
type: item
description: The aim of this study was to develop a model for designing therapeutic environments for patients with schizophrenia based on familiar cognitive patterns and to examine its effect on reducing patient anxiety. This study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach (quantitative–qualitative). In the quantitative phase, 30 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia at Omid Farda Center were interviewed and were asked to report their level of anxiety, based on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, after viewing images of designed environments. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 architecture experts. The results of statistical analysis indicated that environmental design incorporating familiar cognitive elements such as lighting, color, furniture, and surface materials had a significant effect on reducing patients’ anxiety. The findings suggest that an environmental psychology-based approach can contribute to the development of effective and human-centered therapeutic environments for psychiatric patients.
subject: Public Health
  topic: section
subject: Public Health
  topic: category
subject: therapeutic design, schizophrenia, anxiety, environmental psychology, healing architecture, cognitive patterns
  topic: keywords
creator: Mohammad Kaveh Baghbahadorani
creator: Hamidreza Ameri Siyahoyi
creator: Vahdaneh Fooladi
creator: Mastooreh Sedaghat
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Kaveh Baghbahadorani, Hamidreza Ameri Siyahoyi, Vahdaneh Fooladi, Mastooreh Sedaghat (Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 17
doi: 10.61838/

Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Mindfulness and Psychological Flexibility in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
type: item
description: This study compared the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for improving mindfulness and psychological flexibility in women with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group and follow-up assessment was used. Forty-five women with GAD who attended counseling and psychological service centers in Tehran in 2025 were selected through purposive sampling and then randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15 per group): CBT, EFT, and control. Interventions were delivered online in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions. Measures included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance in SPSS version 26. Both active treatments produced significant improvements compared with the control group, but CBT showed the strongest effects. For mindfulness, the CBT group increased from M = 31.46 (SD = 5.12) at pretest to M = 54.06 (SD = 5.00) at posttest and M = 55.53 (SD = 8.41) at follow-up, whereas the EFT group increased from M = 32.73 (SD = 4.51) to M = 47.73 (SD = 4.72) and M = 47.20 (SD = 4.75). For AAQ-II scores, where lower scores indicate greater psychological flexibility, the CBT group improved from M = 33.80 (SD = 3.23) to M = 17.60 (SD = 4.08) and M = 18.26 (SD = 4.31), while the EFT group improved from M = 36.06 (SD = 3.43) to M = 23.40 (SD = 3.45) and M = 22.93 (SD = 4.69). The repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant time, group, and time × group effects for both mindfulness and psychological flexibility (all p < .001). Both CBT and EFT were effective in women with GAD, but CBT yielded greater gains in mindfulness and psychological flexibility and maintained these gains at follow-up.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: generalized anxiety disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness, psychological flexibility
  topic: keywords
creator: Alireza Ahangaran
creator: Hasan Fathi
creator: Negin Sadat Azimi
creator: Aliyeh Ghorbani
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Alireza Ahangaran, Hasan Fathi, Negin Sadat Azimi, Aliyeh Ghorbani (Author)
date: 2026-07-01
publication date: 2026-07-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 8
doi: 10.61838/

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Enhancing Post-Traumatic Growth in Adolescent Survivors of Sexual Assault
type: item
description: Sexual assault during adolescence is associated with profound psychological sequelae, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet traumatic exposure may also be followed by post-traumatic growth (PTG). This study evaluated whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) could simultaneously reduce PTSD symptoms and strengthen PTG in adolescent survivors of sexual assault. The study used a randomized controlled, pre-test/post-test/follow-up design. Forty-two adolescent girls aged 13–18 years who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after sexual assault were recruited from counseling centers, forensic medicine clinics, and welfare-related services in Tehran and randomly assigned to ACT or treatment as usual (TAU). The ACT condition involved 12 weekly 90-minute sessions adapted for trauma-exposed adolescents and focused on acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action. Outcomes were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for DSM-5 (CPSS-5), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children–Revised (PTGI-C-R). Data were analyzed with mixed-design analysis of variance. Thirty-nine participants completed the study (ACT, n=19; TAU, n=20). A significant Time × Group interaction was found for PTSD symptoms, F(2,74)=45.32, p<0.001, ηp2=0.55, showing a marked reduction in the ACT group from pre-test to post-test that was maintained at follow-up. A similarly significant Time × Group interaction emerged for PTG, F(2,74)=38.91, p<0.001, ηp2=0.51, indicating substantial gains in growth-related outcomes in the ACT group, with further improvement at the two-month follow-up. The control group showed no significant change in either outcome. ACT appears to be an effective intervention for adolescent survivors of sexual assault. Beyond symptom reduction, it may also support constructive post-traumatic adaptation by helping adolescents respond m…
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: acceptance and commitment therapy; post-traumatic stress disorder; post-traumatic growth; sexual assault; adolescence; trauma therapy.
  topic: keywords
creator: Seyedeh Nafiseh Mohseni Mansour
creator: Mahboubeh Abdollahzade Ata Abadi
creator: Zeinab Es’haqian
creator: Mehdi Babajanzadeh Barforoushi
creator: Nasim Samadifard
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Mahboubeh Abdollahzade Ata Abadi, Seyedeh Nafiseh Mohseni Mansour, Zeinab Es’haqian, Mehdi Babajanzadeh Barforoushi, Nasim Samadifard (Author)
date: 2026-03-20
publication date: 2026-03-20
starting page: 1
ending page: 9
doi: 10.61838/kman.hn.5146

Sports Activity Level and Behavioral Maladjustment Among Male Secondary School Students in Tehran Province, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Survey
type: item
description: Behavioral problems during adolescence can disrupt academic performance, social adjustment, and long-term wellbeing. Sport and physical activity have been proposed as modifiable school-based factors that may support healthier psychosocial development. This study examined the association between sports activity level and behavioral maladjustment among male secondary school students in Tehran Province, Iran. The study used an applied, descriptive-survey design. The statistical population comprised 20,513 male students from selected counties of Tehran Province. Using two-stage cluster sampling with proportional allocation based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, 377 students were required; 400 questionnaires were distributed and 361 were analyzed. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire that included demographic and sports-activity items and a behavioral maladjustment scale. Face validity was confirmed by 10 experts in psychology and sport management, and internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.81). Students were classified into four groups: no sports activity, low activity, moderate activity, and high activity. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc tests were used. More than half of the students (52.9%) were in the low-activity group, whereas 15.0% were in the high-activity group and 6.4% reported no sports activity. Football was the most common preferred sport, followed by bodybuilding. Mean behavioral maladjustment scores differed markedly across activity levels: no activity 3.20 ± 0.85, high activity 2.02 ± 0.41, moderate activity 2.27 ± 0.32, and low activity 3.62 ± 0.62. The between-group difference was statistically significant, F(3, 357) = 190.54, p < 0.001. Tukey comparisons showed that the high-activity group had significantly lower maladjustment scores than the no-activity, moderate-activity, and low-activity groups. Higher sports activity was associated with lower behavioral maladjustment scores among…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: category
subject: sport participation; physical activity; behavioral maladjustment; male adolescents; secondary school.
  topic: keywords
creator: Reza Omidi Ghanbari
creator: Mooud Bonyadifard
creator: Morteza Soleimani
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Reza Omidi Ghanbari, Mooud Bonyadifard, Morteza Soleimani (Author)
date: 2022-10-03
publication date: 2022-10-03
starting page: 116
ending page: 121
doi: 10.61838/kman.hn.5145

Effects of Continuous Aerobic Training on Body Composition in Primary School Boys
type: item
description: The prevalence of sedentary lifestyles among children has increased significantly in recent decades, leading to higher rates of overweight, obesity, and reduced physical fitness. School-based exercise programs are considered an effective strategy to improve body composition and promote health in children. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of a structured continuous aerobic training program on body composition among primary school boys aged 10–12 years in Shahriar County, Iran. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measurements and included a control group. Twenty students were randomly assigned to two groups: a continuous training group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). Body composition variables, including body fat percentage, fat-free mass, and basal metabolic rate, were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody 0.3, Korea). Anthropometric variables such as waist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference, and thigh circumference were also recorded. The training program lasted 12 weeks and consisted of three weekly sessions with progressive intensity ranging from 60% to 75% of maximum heart rate. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests for normality, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed a significant improvement in body composition in the training group compared with the control group (p = 0.002). Participants who completed the exercise intervention demonstrated reductions in body fat percentage and improvements in lean body mass. These findings suggest that continuous aerobic training programs implemented within school settings can effectively improve body composition and promote physical health in children. The results highlight the importance of integrating structured physical activity into school curricula to prevent childhood obesity and improve long-term health outcomes.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: continuous training, body composition, primary school students, body fat percentage.
  topic: keywords
creator: Reza Omidi Ghanbari
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Reza Omidi Ghanbari (Author)
date: 2022-09-27
publication date: 2022-09-27
starting page: 110
ending page: 115
doi: 10.61838/kman.hn.5137

The Mediating Role of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in the Relationship of Stressful Life Events and Childhood Maltreatment with Gastrointestinal Symptoms
type: item
description: Psychosomatic disorders, particularly gastrointestinal complaints, are a major health concern among university students, as they can impair physical health, academic performance, psychological well-being, and social functioning. This study examined the mediating role of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms in the relationship between stressful life events, childhood maltreatment, and gastrointestinal symptoms. This descriptive correlational study was conducted among undergraduate and graduate students of Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur Branch, during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 300 students were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Child Abuse Self-Report Scale, the GAD-7, the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire, and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS 26 and AMOS using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and structural equation modeling. The results showed significant associations among GAD symptoms, stressful life events, childhood maltreatment, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The structural model showed acceptable fit. Stressful life events positively predicted GAD symptoms (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal symptoms (β = 0.24, p < 0.01). Childhood maltreatment also positively predicted GAD symptoms (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal symptoms (β = 0.37, p < 0.01). GAD symptoms partially mediated these relationships.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: childhood maltreatment
  topic: keywords
subject: stressful life events
  topic: keywords
subject: generalized anxiety disorder symptoms
  topic: keywords
subject: gastrointestinal symptoms
  topic: keywords
creator: Erfan Khalili Moghadam
creator: Sepideh Pourheydari
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Erfan Khalili Moghaddam (Author); Sepideh Pourheydari (Corresponding Author)
date: 2026-03-08
publication date: 2026-03-08
starting page: 1
ending page: 8
doi: 10.61838/kman.hn.5136

Learning Styles, Brain Dominance, Emotional Intelligence, and Second Language Learning Motivation and Anxiety in Secondary Students
type: item
description: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between learning styles, brain quadrant dominance, and emotional intelligence with anxiety and enthusiasm for second language learning among male and female students in lower and upper secondary schools in Alborz Province. In terms of purpose, this research was applied, and in terms of data collection, it was descriptive and correlational in nature. The statistical population included all lower and upper secondary school students in Alborz Province during the 2023–2024 academic year. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select the sample, and 300 students were ultimately chosen as participants. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires, including Kolb’s Learning Styles Questionnaire (1985), Bradberry and Greaves’ Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (2004), Herrmann’s Brain Dominance Instrument (1980), and Knowles et al.’s Second Language Learning Questionnaire (2000). The collected data were analyzed using inferential statistical methods, including correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis, through SPSS version 26. The findings indicated that learning styles, brain quadrant dominance, and emotional intelligence had a significant negative relationship with amotivation in second language learning at the 0.05 significance level (p < .05). Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between learning styles, brain quadrant dominance, and emotional intelligence with both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for second language learning at the same significance level (p < .05). In addition, the results showed that learning styles, brain quadrant dominance, and emotional intelligence respectively explained 68% of the variance in amotivation, 68% of the variance in intrinsic motivation, and 73% of the variance in extrinsic motivation for second language learning among students.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Emerging Technologies in Health
  topic: category
subject: Anxiety and enthusiasm for second language learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Brain quadrant dominance
  topic: keywords
subject: Learning styles
  topic: keywords
subject: Emotional intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Students
  topic: keywords
creator: Soudabeh Ershadi Manesh
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Soudabeh Ershadi Manesh (Corresponding Author)
date: 2026-04-01
publication date: 2026-04-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/

Effects of Structured Play Interventions on Self-Esteem, Physical Competence, and Psychological Well-Being in Children
type: item
description: Abstract Structured play has been proposed as an effective approach to enhance both physical and psychological health in children; however, evidence from school-based interventions examining self-esteem, perceived physical competence, and psychological well-being simultaneously remains limited. This study examined the effects of an eight-week structured play intervention on self-esteem, perceived physical competence, and psychological well-being in children aged 8–11 years. In this quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study, 68 children were recruited from primary schools in Tehran, Iran, and conveniently allocated to a structured play intervention group (n = 34) or a control group (n = 34). The intervention comprised two 45-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, including skill-based activities, cooperative games, and reflection periods. Outcomes were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (child-adapted), the Physical Self-Perception Profile for Children, and the KIDSCREEN-27 (total score). Pre- and post-intervention data were analyzed using ANCOVA, controlling for baseline scores, with effect sizes reported as partial eta squared (η²p). The results revealed significant intervention effects on all outcomes. Self-esteem improved significantly in the intervention group compared with controls (F(1, 65) = 18.42, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.22). Similarly, perceived physical competence (F(1, 65) = 32.15, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.33) and psychological well-being (F(1, 65) = 24.87, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.28) increased significantly. Paired-sample t-tests confirmed pre- to post-intervention improvements in the intervention group (all p < 0.001), whereas changes in the control group were non-significant. An 8-week structured play program delivered in schools was associated with meaningful improvements in self-esteem, perceived physical competence, and psychological well-being in children aged 8–11 years, supporting its potential for promoting holistic development in educational and com…
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: section
subject: Sports Sciences
  topic: category
subject: Child, Play Therapy, Self Concept, Physical Fitness, Mental Health
  topic: keywords
creator: Anastasia Molodanova
creator: Victoria Zaborova
creator: Elena Budanova
creator: Amir Dana
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Anastasia Molodanova, Victoria Zaborova , Elena Budanova (Author); Amir Dana (Corresponding Author)
date: 2026-03-05
publication date: 2026-03-05
starting page: 1
ending page: 10
doi: 10.61838/kman.hn.5121

Effects of Structured Play Interventions on Self-Esteem, Physical Competence, and Psychological Well-Being in Children
type: item
description: Structured play has been proposed as an effective approach to enhance both physical and psychological health in children. However, empirical evidence on its impact on self-esteem, physical competence, and psychological well-being remains limited. Objective: This study examined the effects of an eight-week structured play intervention on self-esteem, physical competence, and psychological well-being in children aged 8–11 years. A total of 68 children were recruited from primary schools and assigned to either a structured play intervention group (n = 34) or a control group (n = 34). The intervention consisted of twice-weekly 45-minute sessions incorporating skill-based activities, cooperative games, and reflection periods. Outcomes were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (child-adapted), Physical Self-Perception Profile for Children, and KIDSCREEN-27 for psychological well-being. Pre- and post-intervention data were analyzed using ANCOVA, controlling for baseline scores, with effect sizes reported as partial eta squared (η²p). ANCOVA revealed significant intervention effects on all outcomes. Self-esteem improved significantly in the intervention group compared to controls (F(1, 65) = 18.42, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.22). Similarly, perceived physical competence (F(1, 65) = 32.15, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.33) and psychological well-being (F(1, 65) = 24.87, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.28) increased significantly. Paired-sample t-tests confirmed pre- to post-intervention improvements in the intervention group (all p < 0.001), whereas changes in the control group were non-significant. Structured play interventions are effective in enhancing self-esteem, physical competence, and psychological well-being in children, highlighting their potential for promoting holistic development in school and community settings.
subject: Psychology
  topic: section
subject: Psychology
  topic: category
subject: Child
  topic: keywords
subject: Play Therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: Self Concept
  topic: keywords
subject: Physical Fitness
  topic: keywords
subject: Mental Health
  topic: keywords
creator: Anastasia Molodanova
creator: Victoria Zaborova
creator: Elena Budanova
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Anastasia Molodanova (Author); Victoria Zaborova (Corresponding Author); Elena Budanova (Author)
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 11
doi: 10.61838/kman.hn.5114