International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume:12 Issue: 3, Autumn 2018

  The aim of the current study was to investigate the mediating role of self-differentiation between family-of-origin health and attachment styles with marital commitment. The present study was a descriptive correlational research. The population included all couples from the city of Kerman. A sample of 223 married people was selected through convenience sampling method. The data was collected through Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (DCI), Family of Origin al Scale (FOS), Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), and Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). To analyze data, structural regression was used as one of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of this study showed that the family-of-origin health and attachment styles can only predict marital commitment via the mediating role of self-differentiation. In other words, the variable of self-differentiation, between the family-of-origin health and attachment styles with marital commitment plays a full mediator role. Although changing some basic characteristics such as family-of-origin and attachment styles is difficult, marital commitment can enhance via enhancing of self-differentiation.

Overweight is a major public health concern that results in a decreased quality of life. While most of the studies conducted on weight loss strategies have concentrated on issues related to why people gain weight, still little is known about the meaning and the perception of overweight. This study aimed to clarify the perception and experience of women with overweight. This qualitative content analysis study was carried out in 2017-2018 in Tehran, Iran. A total of 18 women with overweight and obesity were purposefully chosen. To collect the data, unstructured and semi-structured interviews were conducted. An inductive content analysis approach was used for the data analysis. The data analysis led to the formation of three categories: obesity concerns, undesirable self-image perception, and psychological pressure and also seven subcategories: inactivity, disorders caused by overweight, body image dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, social stigma, being socially rejected and stressfulness, and sadness. The results showed that overweight and obesity are perceived as a negative experience. As the present study showed, Iranian women have unpleasant and upsetting experiences of their overweight. The findings reveal the needs to develop strategies for helping women with the problem of overweight to have a better feeling of themselves and society.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the common acute diseases that should be controlled; otherwise, it leads to inevitable consequences for the patient. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of self-compassion training on the reduction of anxiety, stress, and depression of patients with type 2 diabetes referring to the Taleghani Diabetes Clinic in Kermanshah City. In the present semi-experimental study, 20 types 2 diabetes patients referring to the Taleghani Diabetes Clinic in Kermanshah City were enrolled through a simple randomized sampling method in 2017. The selected subject was divided into two treatment and control groups (10 subjects in each group). The treatment group participated in a self-compassion training class for 8 sessions (90 min), but the control group did not receive any training. In order to collect data, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) was used. In addition, to analyze data, ANOVA and t-test methods were done using SPSS V.22 software. The results showed that in the treatment group, the mean score of anxiety, stress, and depression was significantly reduced compared to the control group (P<0.001). In diabetic patients, self-compassion group training is one of the effective method on the reduction of anxiety, stress, and depression. Therefore, it is suggested employing self-compassion group training method to the reduction of anxiety, stress, and depression in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes by therapists, counselors, and psychologists.

  The purpose of this study was to predict disorders in the elderly with respect to psychological disorders. The method used for the research was descriptive correlational analysis. The statistical population of this study included all the Tehran's elderly during 2018, among which 300 were selected by stratified random sampling method. The measurement instruments were the psychological Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90-R) and the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire of Wells (MCQ). Multiple regression analysis was used as the statistical method to analyze the data. Results revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the components of meta-cognition and psychological disorders. The components of positive beliefs, uncontrollable beliefs and cognitive beliefs were significant for all the components of psychological disorders. However, the components of negative beliefs did not have a significant effect on physical complaints and aggression, and the cognitive component had no significant effect on sensitivity in relationships and aggression. According to the findings of this research, it is concluded that metacognitive beliefs play an important role in the prediction of mental disorders in the elderly.

  Earlier studies have shown that illness perception and self-care behaviour change based on the existence of comorbidity / no comorbidity conditions. The present study investigates the role of comorbidity in Type II diabetic patients' level of personal control, treatment control, illness coherence and self-care behaviour in the Indian context.  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among (N=303) type II diabetic patients in southern India, of whom 43.56% reported having one comorbidity condition or more comorbid conditions. Participants’ illness perception has been assessed using Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) and self-care behaviour has been assessed through Diabetic Self-Care Management Questionnaire (DSMQ).  Patients with no comorbid conditions had higher beliefs of personal control, treatment controland illness coherence, and also showed better self-behaviour than their counterparts. Patients with comorbidity conditions perceived diabetes as a chronic disease and seemed to have more consequences in their lives. They also tend to be emotionally affected and to have a lower belief of personal control, treatment control and illness coherence. Besides this, self-care behaviour was also found to be significantly different based on the patients' level of personal control, treatment control and illness coherence beliefs between diabetics who had comorbidity and those with no comorbidity conditions. Significant difference in self-care behaviour of patients with comorbidity indicates the necessity of interventions to enhance their self-care behaviour to manage their diabetes as well as their comorbid conditions. Abstract Earlier studies have shown that illness perception and self-care behaviour change based on the existence of comorbidity / no comorbidity conditions. The present study investigates the role of comorbidity in Type II diabetic patients' level of personal control, treatment control, illness coherence and self-care behaviour in the Indian context.  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among (N=303) type II diabetic patients in southern India, of whom 43.56% reported having one comorbidity condition or more comorbid conditions. Participants’ illness perception has been assessed using Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) and self-care behaviour has been assessed through Diabetic Self-Care Management Questionnaire (DSMQ).  Patients with no comorbid conditions had higher beliefs of personal control, treatment controland illness coherence, and also showed better self-behaviour than their counterparts. Patients with comorbidity conditions perceived diabetes as a chronic disease and seemed to have more consequences in their lives. They also tend to be emotionally affected and to have a lower belief of personal control, treatment control and illness coherence. Besides this, self-care behaviour was also found to be significantly different based on the patients' level of personal control, treatment control and illness coherence beliefs between diabetics who had comorbidity and those with no comorbidity conditions. Significant difference in self-care behaviour of patients with comorbidity indicates the necessity of interventions to enhance their self-care behaviour to manage their diabetes as well as their comorbid conditions.

  Comorbidity among the generalized anxiety disorder is common and may negatively impact treatment outcomes. This study aimed to examine whether the Unified Protocol (UP), a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy for emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety, mood, and related disorders), is efficacious in the treatment of co-occurring disorders and symptoms Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The research method is semi-empirical pretest-posttest and follow-up plan with a control group. In this randomized clinical trial, 24 GAD patients with comorbid disorders and symptoms of depression, social anxiety and health anxiety have been treated with pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual or pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual with 12 sessions of transdiagnostic therapy. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Social Anxiety Inventory (SIAS) and the Short Form of Health Anxiety (SHAI) were used for assessing comorbidities in pre-test, post-test and 2-month follow-up. Data analysis were done using the SPSS V20. Significant differences were observed between the two groups. In the treatment group for pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual and UP, GAD Patients, showed a significant decrease in the comorbid disorders and symptoms of depression, social anxiety and health anxiety compared to the pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual. The findings of this study validated the effectiveness of the UP in decreasing comorbid disorders and symptoms of the generalized anxiety disorder. This protocol has a high clinical value in treating emotional disorders and other related disorders.

  Mentoring as a social and an interactive strategy for student development has attracted attention in recent decades. Despite the confirmation of the positive role of mentoring, the application of the obtained results from such studies in Islamic societies requires paying attention especially in regards to its socio-cultural context. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the predictability of developing academic skills in Ph.D. students at medical sciences universities based on Islamic mentoring. In this correlational study, samples were selected among the Ph.D. students of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences and also Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A total of 213 students were randomly selected using “the ratio of sample size to number of variables" calculation method. Academic skills and mentoring were assessed by professional development and Islamic mentoring questionnaires (IMQ), respectively. Total Islamic mentoring and academic skills values averaged 3.74 and 3.65, respectively, for the studied universities indicating the proper situation of the students. Results of correlation test showed significant relationships among all nine components of Islamic mentoring with academic skills. Regression analysis results revealed the model significance suggesting that about 8.8% of changes in academic skills are explained by the "care and reverence" dimension of Islamic mentoring. Compatible with existing literature, mentoring has the ability to predict the academic skills of students. Such interactions provide the students with the opportunity to continuously observe scientific and professional behaviors, which facilitate learning, moderation, and modification. This is because it is expected to provide students with the development of scientific and cognitive skills and positive identities through provision of psychological, scientific and emotional relaxation supports.