KMAN Counseling & Psychology Nexus

Cancer is one of the leading causes of disorders, mortality, and disability worldwide and represents a prevalent and increasing disease that demands a significant portion of healthcare efforts. Consequently, this study examines and compares the effectiveness of life therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on mental pain and zest for life in patients with leukemia. The present study is experimental. The statistical population included all male patients who visited Imam Hospital in Sari in 2023 and had received a confirmed diagnosis of leukemia. From this population, 45 patients with leukemia were selected through non-random convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (life therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy) and one control group (15 participants in each group) using simple random allocation. Data were collected using the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Questionnaire (OMMP) and the Zest for Life Questionnaire by Hassan Zadeh (HLEQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 25. The study findings revealed that both life therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy are effective in reducing mental pain (P < 0.001) and increasing zest for life (P < 0.001) in patients with leukemia. It can be concluded that life therapy, compared to acceptance and commitment therapy, has a greater impact on reducing mental pain and increasing zest for life in patients with leukemia. Life therapy appears to be more effective in enhancing zest for life and fostering positive emotions among these patients.

The objective of this study was to test the structural model of psychological vulnerability based on object relations and adverse childhood experiences, considering the mediating role of internalized shame in individuals seeking cosmetic surgery. This study was fundamental and quantitative, using a descriptive-correlational and structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population included all individuals residing in Tehran who were seeking cosmetic surgery and visited aesthetic clinics during the years 2023-2024. A sample of 304 self-volunteered participants from this population was selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Psychological Vulnerability Questionnaire by Derogatis (2001), the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Kaiser Foundation (2018), the Object Relations Questionnaire by Bell (1986), and the Internalized Shame Questionnaire by Cook (1993). Data analysis was conducted using correlation matrices and structural equation modeling. The data analysis results indicated that the proposed model’s indices demonstrated an acceptable fit. The pathways from adverse childhood experiences to psychological vulnerability (β = 0.115, P = 0.000), from adverse childhood experiences to internalized shame (β = 0.294, P = 0.000), from internalized shame to psychological vulnerability (β = 0.723, P = 0.000), from object relations to psychological vulnerability (β = 0.113, P = 0.000), and from object relations to internalized shame (β = 0.486, P = 0.000) were significant. Additionally, the mediating role of internalized shame was confirmed at a 0.95 confidence level. Thus, it is recommended that the role of these variables be considered significant in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Relevant organizations should also consider implementing potential preventive programs.

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy on psychological well-being and resilience in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with hypertension visiting Shahid Rajaei Hospital. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up, including a control group. The statistical population of this research consisted of all individuals with coronary heart disease and hypertension. The research sample included 30 of these patients, selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. To collect data, the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale (1989) and the Bond Resilience Scale (2011) were used. The mindfulness-based therapy intervention was conducted over eight 90-minute weekly sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance with SPSS-26 software. The findings indicated that mindfulness-based therapy is effective in improving the psychological well-being and resilience of coronary heart disease patients with hypertension (p < .05). It is concluded that mindfulness-based therapy enhances the psychological well-being and resilience of coronary heart disease patients with hypertension. Therefore, this approach can be employed alongside medical interventions in healthcare settings for these patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fear of childbirth, maternal-infant attachment, and postpartum depression. This research employed a descriptive correlational method, with the study population consisting of all mothers who attended healthcare centers in the city of Hamedan to receive prenatal services. From this population, a sample of 153 individuals was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling and responded to the Childbirth Fear Questionnaire (Wijma, 2001), the Maternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (Condon & Corkindale, 1991), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Cox, Holden, & Sagovsky, 1991). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23. Findings showed that regression coefficients indicated that fear of childbirth could explain 33% of the variance in maternal-infant attachment. Additionally, fear of childbirth explained 34% of the variance in postpartum depression. Consequently, fear of childbirth is associated with maternal-infant attachment and postpartum depression, suggesting that by controlling fear of childbirth, it may be possible to positively impact postpartum depression and maternal-infant attachment.

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Imago therapy on anxiety, sexual self-efficacy, and emotional expression in women affected by marital infidelity. This research utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group. The statistical population included all women referred to family counseling centers in Mashhad in 2022. A total of 40 participants were selected from the population using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (17 participants in the experimental group and 23 in the control group). The experimental group received ten 60-minute Imago therapy sessions (two sessions per week). Research instruments included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) by Beck et al. (1988), the Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) by Vaziri and Lotfi Kashani (1999), and the Emotional Expression Questionnaire (EEQ) by King and Emmons (1990). Results from covariance analysis indicated that, after controlling for the pre-test effect, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of anxiety, sexual self-efficacy, and emotional expression in the experimental and control groups at the 0.01 level, and this difference was maintained in the follow-up phase. The findings suggest that emotion-based skills provide an effective approach to enhancing meta-emotion and reducing fear of intimacy and hostile attribution.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of storytelling on academic engagement and academic buoyancy among male elementary school students in the city of Babol. This applied research was a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population of this research included all male elementary school students in Babol in 2022, totaling 18,900 individuals. Out of this population, 30 students were selected through convenience sampling and divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The intervention consisted of twelve two-hour sessions over a period of 60 days, based on the protocol by Mousavi and Baghuli (2019). Data collection tools included the standardized Academic Engagement Questionnaire by Fredricks, Blumenfeld, and Paris (2004), and the standardized Buoyancy Questionnaire by Martin and Marsh (2006). Both questionnaires demonstrated high validity and reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.88 and 0.86, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques (frequency tables, bar charts, central tendency indicators such as mean and mode, and dispersion indicators like standard deviation) and inferential statistics (ANCOVA and MANCOVA models) in SPSS 22 software. The results of this study indicated that storytelling positively impacts the academic engagement and academic buoyancy of male elementary school students in Babol.

The consequences of addiction include physical, psychological, social, and economic problems for the individual dependent on drugs and their family. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy on empathy and marital conflicts among women whose spouses are recovering from drug addiction. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population consisted of women with spouses in recovery from drug addiction in all addiction treatment centers in Isfahan in 2023. The sample was selected through convenience sampling from addiction treatment centers in Isfahan and then randomly assigned to two groups of 20 participants each (experimental and control groups). Mehrabian and Epstein's Empathy Questionnaire (1972) and Sanaei’s Marital Conflict Questionnaire (2008) were administered to both groups. The experimental group received compassion-focused therapy according to Gilbert’s Compassion-Based Therapy (2010) in a group setting, while the control group did not receive any training. After the completion of the training sessions for the experimental group, both groups completed the questionnaires again. The results of data analysis indicated that compassion-focused therapy significantly affected the variables of empathy (F = 29.06) and marital conflicts (F = 16.09) in women whose spouses are recovering from drug addiction. Based on the findings of the study, compassion-focused therapy is recommended for improving empathy and reducing marital conflicts in women whose spouses are recovering from drug addiction.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive functioning workshops in reducing anger and moral disengagement among adults. By integrating cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, and social skills training, the intervention seeks to enhance participants' emotional regulation and ethical decision-making capabilities. A randomized controlled trial design was employed, involving 30 participants randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). The intervention group attended twelve 60-minute sessions over three months. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up, using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) and the Moral Disengagement Scale (MDS). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27. The intervention group showed significant reductions in anger and moral disengagement scores compared to the control group. ANOVA results indicated a significant interaction effect between time and group for both anger (p < .05) and moral disengagement (p < .05), with post-hoc tests confirming sustained improvements at the three-month follow-up. The intervention was effective in enhancing cognitive control, emotional regulation, and ethical behavior among participants. Cognitive functioning workshops are an effective intervention for reducing anger and moral disengagement. The combination of cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and social skills training provides a comprehensive approach to improving emotional and ethical functioning. These findings support the integration of such workshops in therapeutic settings to enhance psychological well-being and promote ethical behavior.