AI and Tech in Behavioral and Social Sciences

Objective: Chronic depression accompanied by high self-criticism remains difficult to treat and is often associated with persistent functional impairment. This study examined whether Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), delivered with digital support tools, reduced depressive symptoms and self-criticism in adults diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder (PDD). Method: The study used a randomized pretest-posttest-follow-up design. Sixty participants with PDD and elevated self-criticism were allocated to either CAT (16 weekly sessions) or a waitlist treatment-as-usual (TAU) condition. Outcomes were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (LSCS) at baseline, post-treatment, and 2-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using mixed-design analysis of variance. Results: Significant Group x Time interaction effects were observed for depression, F(2, 116) = 45.32, p < .001, eta_p^2 = .438, and self-criticism, F(2, 116) = 52.18, p < .001, eta_p^2 = .473. In the CAT group, BDI-II scores declined from 32.45 (SD = 4.12) at baseline to 18.20 (SD = 3.85) at post-test and 17.10 (SD = 3.90) at follow-up, whereas the TAU group showed only modest change. LSCS scores in the CAT group declined from 85.60 (SD = 8.45) to 58.30 (SD = 7.20) and 55.40 (SD = 6.95), while the TAU group remained comparatively stable. Conclusion: Within the limits of the present design, CAT supplemented with digital monitoring and self-help tools was associated with substantial and sustained reductions in depressive symptoms and self-critical thinking. The findings support CAT as a promising intervention for chronic depressive presentations marked by harsh self-relating.

Eating disorders (EDs) and body image disturbance remain major mental health concerns among adult women, and the persistence of shame, self-criticism, and relapse after standard treatment highlights the need for compassion-based interventions. This study investigated the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) integrated with digital tools in improving body appreciation and self-compassion while reducing eating disorder psychopathology in adult women with disordered eating symptoms. Using a semi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a two-month follow-up, 60 women from Tehran, Iran, were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving 12 weekly group CFT sessions with digital support or a waitlist control group; 53 participants completed the study (26 in the intervention group and 27 in the control group). Outcomes were assessed using the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF), and the data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA. The findings showed significant Time × Group interaction effects for all three outcomes, indicating superior improvement in the intervention group relative to controls. Body appreciation increased from 2.85 ± 0.71 at pretest to 3.92 ± 0.64 at posttest and remained stable at 3.88 ± 0.68 at follow-up, with a significant interaction effect, F(1.68, 85.64) = 42.35, p < 0.001, η² = 0.45. Eating disorder psychopathology declined markedly from 3.65 ± 0.89 to 2.10 ± 0.75 and was maintained at 2.15 ± 0.78, F(1.72, 87.72) = 55.18, p < 0.001, η² = 0.52. Self-compassion improved from 2.45 ± 0.62 to 3.55 ± 0.58 and remained at 3.50 ± 0.60, F(1.85, 94.35) = 38.92, p < 0.001, η² = 0.43. In contrast, the waitlist group showed no meaningful change across time. Overall, digitally supported CFT appears to be an effective and durable intervention for improving body image and reducing eating disorder symptoms in adult women.

This study presents a model for designing intelligent learning ecosystems that enhance the quality of digital education through the integration of artificial intelligence and blended learning, with Islamic Azad University as the empirical context. The research addresses persistent challenges in e-learning, including limited interaction, unequal access, and the need to respond to diverse learner profiles through technology-enhanced educational design. A mixed-methods approach was employed. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 experts in education and educational technology selected through purposive sampling. In the quantitative phase, data were collected from 384 faculty members and university staff using stratified random sampling across regions and academic fields. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis, while quantitative data were examined using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and the MABAC multi-criteria decision-making method. Findings revealed that the proposed ecosystem is built around three core dimensions: blended learning, artificial intelligence capabilities, and digital education quality. Blended learning was defined through flexibility, interaction, personalization, and infrastructure, while AI capabilities included educational data analysis, intelligent recommendation, intelligent support, and automated assessment. The quality of digital education was reflected in learner satisfaction, learning effectiveness, and educational interaction. The model demonstrated strong explanatory power (R² = 0.712). ANN results identified learner satisfaction and learning effectiveness as the most influential indicators, and MABAC ranked intelligent support as the highest-priority AI capability. The study concludes that integrating AI-driven support into blended learning environments can provide a practical pathway for strengthening digital education quality and informing future policy and implementation in higher education.

The purpose of this study was to design a qualitative model of school principals’ performance in the Department of Education of Karaj County based on a meritocracy approach. The research method was qualitative and based on grounded theory. The participants included organizational and academic experts related to the research topic, who were selected through purposive sampling. A total of 15 participants were interviewed until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. The findings indicated that the qualitative model of school principals’ performance in the Department of Education of Karaj County with a meritocracy approach consists of six dimensions: talent attraction and retention, sufficient job-related information, support for the meritocracy process, awareness and analysis of international educational systems, knowledge management, and facilitation of organizational learning. In addition, 20 components were identified, including creating a platform for knowledge production, improving the psychological climate and organizational atmosphere, increasing efficiency, optimizing processes, better resource management, achieving improved student outcomes, enhancing the learning environment, improving educational quality, increasing educational equity, enhancing the effectiveness and productivity of the educational system, reducing costs, moving toward strategic goals, viewing the school as a learning organization, preventing rent-seeking, promoting meritocracy, developing a culture of citizenship and social responsibility, strengthening trust in the educational system, fostering creativity and innovation, and increasing staff commitment. Overall, 168 indicators were extracted and categorized within the paradigmatic model of the research in the form of causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences.

The present study aimed to examine scientific authority indicators in Iranian sport management journals and compare them with international standards. A mixed-method design was employed. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 experts in scholarly publishing and sport management. Thematic analysis identified three core dimensions influencing scientific authority: content quality, structural quality, and developmental strategies. In the quantitative phase, seven bibliometric indicators—impact factor, H-index, total citations, cited half-life, acceptance rate, international collaboration, and indexing status—were analyzed across 13 Iranian and 11 international sport management journals. Independent t-tests were used to compare groups. Results revealed significant differences in impact factor (0.48 vs. 2.70, p < .01), H-index (8.5 vs. 56.8, p < .01), and acceptance rate (30.7% vs. 20.9%, p < .05), indicating a performance gap. Differences in cited half-life and international collaboration were not statistically significant. Findings suggest that while Iranian journals demonstrate growth in publication volume, structural and citation-based authority indicators remain comparatively lower. Policy recommendations include strengthening peer-review rigor, improving internationalization strategies, enhancing English-language publishing, and aligning evaluation practices with international frameworks such as DORA and the Leiden Manifesto. This study provides evidence-based guidance for improving the global visibility and scientific authority of sport management journals.

Abstract
This study aimed to design a model for improving the performance of sustainable sports product supply chains based on innovation and digitalization. The research employed a qualitative method and a grounded theory approach (Strauss & Corbin) to identify hidden processes and patterns within sports product supply chains in Iraq. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 key stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and consumers, and analyzed using three-stage coding to develop a theoretical model based on real data. The findings indicate that causal conditions or necessities include the adoption of emerging technologies and process innovations, which lead to digitalization, transparency, and improved decision-making in sports product supply chains. Additionally, contextual or facilitating factors, such as technological infrastructure and legal and policy support, facilitate the successful implementation of these technologies and innovations. However, intervening factors or barriers, including organizational resistance and poor coordination among supply chain components, can limit the execution of technological strategies. The core phenomenon of the study is the “performance of sustainable sports product supply chains,” which served as the focus of analysis, and the strategies identified include sports innovation management and supply chain collaboration. Ultimately, the outcomes indicate enhanced organizational performance and the achievement of sustainable competitive advantage in the sports industry. Therefore, implementing digital order management and smart warehousing systems, forming specialized innovation teams, and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders are recommended as practical strategies for improving performance and sustainability in sports product supply chains.

The present study was applied–developmental in terms of purpose and quantitative in terms of implementation. The statistical population consisted of all principals of primary schools under the Department of Education in Khuzestan Province. From a population of 1,688 individuals, approximately 322 participants were selected using cluster and random sampling methods. The research instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire on principals’ strategic thinking with a competitive advantage approach in education. Data analysis methods included a one-sample t-test using SPSS software, as well as confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that the causal factors influencing the development of strategic thinking among primary school principals with a competitive advantage approach in the education system of Khuzestan Province include the development of strategic thinking based on needs and motivation, analysis of competitive advantage in comparison with leading schools, vision and future orientation, and the reconfiguration of educational policies at the school level. Contextual factors include the climatic context affecting the strategic thinking of principals in Khuzestan Province, technological education as a facilitator of strategic thinking growth, situation-based management under the critical and diverse conditions of Khuzestan, and the localization of educational directives in the province. Intervening factors include “institutional and organizational support” from education authorities and the extent of “structural pressures and administrative bureaucracy,” which constitute the most significant interventions. The strategies identified in this study include “intelligent resource management,” “adaptive learning and educational innovation,” and “localization of communicated strategies.” Successful principals, by leveraging “parents’ social capital” and performing the role of a “facilitative leader,” achieve outcomes that include “strengthening social capital and school branding” as the first major result, leading to increased trust among families. At the internal level, this approach results in “professional empowerment of teachers” and “innovation in teaching methods.” Ultimately, “enhancement of organizational effectiveness” and the multidimensional development of students in a joyful and dynamic environment represent the most significant outcomes, stabilizing the school’s position within the educational system of Khuzestan Province.

Today, enhancing supply chain resilience has become one of the fundamental responsibilities of management, which can be improved through emerging Industry 4.0 technologies. This study aims to develop a resilient supply chain model based on Industry 4.0 within the circular printing industry. The study was conducted in two qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, the research method was hybrid content analysis (deductive–inductive), and in the quantitative phase, causal and correlational methods were employed. The research population in the qualitative phase included participants such as senior managers, senior experts, consultants from the printing industry, and university faculty members specializing in technology management, supply chain management, and environmental management. These participants were selected using purposive non-probability sampling, totaling 20 individuals. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population consisted of experts working in the printing company, and a complete census method was used to select 107 individuals. The findings of the qualitative phase indicated that the model variables included “transformational capacity,” “absorptive capacity,” “adaptive capacity,” and “continuity capacity.” According to the fuzzy DEMATEL results, the variable “transformational capacity” was identified as the most influential factor, which sequentially affects “absorptive capacity,” “adaptive capacity,” and “continuity capacity.” The results of testing the developed model showed that “transformational capacity” has a positive and statistically significant effect on “absorptive capacity,” “adaptive capacity,” and “continuity capacity.” Furthermore, the effect of “absorptive capacity” on “adaptive capacity” and “continuity capacity” was confirmed to be positive and statistically significant. Finally, “adaptive capacity” has a positive and statistically significant relationship with “continuity capacity.” The results of the study indicate the critical role of digital strategic transformation in enhancing supply chain resilience capacity within the circular economy.