Iranian Journal of Practice in Clinical Psychology
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Autumn 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of our lives and even the scientific fields. Most of the COVID-19 preventative strategies, such as basic hygiene, are similar to concerns of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially those with contamination fears. The obsessive-compulsive (OC) questionnaires typically have several items about basic hygiene. The contamination/cleaning/washing subscales of all well-known OC questionnaires were inspected in terms of their similarity to the COVID-19 preventative strategies. In this paper, I discussed the way this similarity may threaten the validity of OC questionnaires along with the potential solutions.

Given the prevalence of divorce and the growing trend of marital problems, it is necessary to investigate the factors that affect the interpersonal relationships of couples. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in explaining the causal relationship between communication skills and emotional expression with empathy in divorce applicants.

This was a descriptive-correlational study with path analysis. The statistical population consisted of all men and women who applied for a divorce (age range: 30-50) and were referred to the counseling centers of the Judiciary in Tehran City, Iran, during 2020-2021. The sample size included 396 cases and it was selected via the convenience sampling method. To collect the data, standard questionnaires of self-compassion, communication skills, couple empathy, and emotional expression were used. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, v. 21, and AMOS v. 24.

The results showed the fitness of the model (comparative fit index=0.953, goodness of fit index=0.954, adjusted goodness of fit index=0.895 and root mean square error of approximation=0.082). The model explained about 34% of the variance of a couple’s empathy in divorce applicants.

Based on these findings, the relationship between a couple’s empathy with communication skills and emotional expression is not a direct relationship and various factors, such as marital empathy can strengthen or weaken this relationship.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of people worldwide. Considering that no specific pharmaceutical treatment exists for this disease, the best way to deal with it is through prevention. However, many people in the community do not implement preventive behaviors. The study investigates the risk perception of infectious diseases following psychological factors and social variables, such as age, gender, family structure, occupation, income, and saving as social factors. 

A sample of 371 adults in the age range of 18 to 60 years (224 females and 147 males) was selected via the convenience sampling method from Karaj City. They answered questions about social variables, vulnerability to infectious diseases questionnaire, and questions about protective behaviors according to the World Health Organization protocol on COVID-19. 

The results showed that in the psychological dimension, self-risk assessment and vulnerability to infectious diseases can predict COVID-19-related preventive behaviors. In the social dimension, the family structure, gender, and familial and social relationships of individuals predicted protective behaviors in individuals. 

prevention is essential for controlling the pandemic and it is necessary to consider the risk factors in every society.

Pregnancy is one of the most fundamental and challenging periods in a woman’s life. It is associated with significant physical and psychological changes in pregnant women. These changes, combined with COVID-19 disease, can make life much more challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the lived experience of pregnant women with COVID-19 disease.

This research is a phenomenological qualitative study. We used the content analysis method to identify the mental experiences of pregnant women with COVID-19. In the present study, in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women affected with COVID-19. The semantic units were identified after careful analysis and coded under the headings of concepts, subcategories, main categories, and core categories.

In the current study, the generalized fear of harm to the fetus was the most important issue these women had experienced. Another stressor was the fear of childbirth in a contaminated hospital setting. COVID-19 quarantine, reduced ability to care for themselves and family members and loneliness caused them to lose motivation. Restlessness, guilt, rejection, suffering, and efforts to get rid of discomfort were also the main characteristics of this period.

Getting coronavirus is an unexpected event for pregnant women that puts a lot of stress and pressure on them and can make them psychologically suffer.

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of parental non-involvement in relation to goals of progress with academic dishonesty in students.

This is a correlational study in which the relationships between the variables of the proposed model were investigated using the structural equation modeling method. The statistical population included all female high school students in Semnan City, in the academic year 2020. Using the convenience sampling method, 350 people were selected as the sample. The academic dishonesty questionnaire, goals of progress questionnaire, and family non-involvement questionnaire were used as measurement tools. Correlation coefficients (using the SPSS software) and structural equation modeling analysis (using AMOS statistical software) were employed to investigate the variables of the academic dishonesty prediction model.

The findings indicated that the data fit the model, and the results showed that goals of progress had a direct effect on academic dishonesty and family non-involvement. In addition, family non-involvement had a direct effect on academic dishonesty. Finally, goals of progress through the mediating variable had an indirect effect on academic dishonesty.

To increase students’ academic honesty, a set of internal, external, individual, and family factors of students should be considered.

This study aims to investigate the model of the relationship between differentiation and moral justice in sexual satisfaction.

This descriptive and applied research was done based on structural equations. The statistical population consisted of 300 individuals who were selected via the convenience sampling method. The differentiation questionnaire moral justice questionnaire were distributed to the individuals online.

The results indicated that differentiation (0.243) (P<0.01), and moral justice (0.175) (P<0.01) are related to sexual satisfaction.

The individual and interpersonal dimensions of human beings can affect sexual satisfaction. According to different human dimensions, it is suggested that cognitive issues, interpersonal relationships, and moral dimensions be trained even before starting marital life as a model. Meanwhile, conditions can be provided to promote sexual satisfaction and its continuation in a safe and healthy environment to help maintain this path.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and dysfunctional reactions with marital intimacy among married men and women in Mashhad City, Iran. 

The data collection tools in this study included the Persian version of the Toronto alexithymia scale-20, the dysfunctional attitude scale (Weissman and Beck), and the intimacy scale (Walker and Thompson). The statistical population included all married men and women who lived in Mashhad City in the second half of 2019. The sample of this study consisted of 171 married individuals (100 women and 71 men) who were selected via the convenience sampling method.

he results indicated a negative and significant relationship between marital intimacy and alexithymia (P<0.05, β=-25.258) and dysfunctional reactions (P<0.01, β=-0.0318). Alexithymia accounted for about 6% and dysfunctional reactions for about 10% of the dispersion of marital intimacy. Also, a positive and significant correlation existed between alexithymia and dysfunctional reactions (P<0.01, r=0.553) among married couples. In addition, alexithymia and dysfunctional reactions could be a predictor of marital intimacy.

Paying attention to variables, such as alexithymia and dysfunctional reactions can ensure marital intimacy. The results of this study have implications for improving marital intimacy and its positive outcomes in families.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and depression with the mediating role of executive functions (EFs) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). 

The statistical population of this descriptive correlational study included all patients with RRMS who were referred to Tehran neurologists in the summer of 2021 and among them, 208 samples who were eligible to enter the study, were selected via available sampling methods. To collect data, Krupp et al.'s (1988) fatigue severity scale (FSS), Nejati's cognitive abilities (NCA), and Beck depression inventory (II-BDI) were used. Pearson correlation method and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to analyze the data. 

Of seven subscales of EFs, the subscales of working memory, inhibitory control, selective attention, planning, and cognitive flexibility, which are called "cold" processes of EFs, were approved as mediators at the level (P<0.001), but the subscales of cognitive functioning, decision-making, and controlled attention, which are hot functions and require emotional awareness and regulation of personal social behaviors and decision-making with emotional and personal interpretation and empathy, were not approved as mediating roles. The results also showed that in patients with RRMS, there was a significant relationship between CFS and depression, between CFS and EFs, and between EFs and depression (P<0.001). 

The results of the present study can be used in cognitive rehabilitation to improve EFs and consequently improve depression in patients with MS.