Iranian Journal of Practice in Clinical Psychology
Volume:9 Issue: 2, Spring 2021

The birth of the first child and the couple’s transition to parenthood can significantly change individuals’ marital life. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify psychological challenges to transition to parenthood in first-time parents.

The present study employed a qualitative approach based on the content analysis method. The research population included all first-time parents who were referred to the Amjadieh Khaghani Community Counseling Center in District 7 of Tehran City, Iran, from May to August 2020. Besides, the studied couples had a child aged <4 years old. The study participants were 17 couples (n=34 subjects) who were selected using the purposive sampling technique and based on the theoretical saturation criterion. The required data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with the research participants. The interviews were recorded, then transcribed verbatim. eventually, after the extraction, the obtained data were coded and categorized using a content analysis method in MAXQDA.

Analyzing the obtained data revealed that the transition to parenthood can typically be considered either a positive or negative experience. The most serious challenges faced by couples in the transition to parenthood included ambiguity and changes in the spousal role; duality and conflict in the motherhood role; feeling restricted and prevented from pursuing personal goals; psychological and emotional support from the family and husband; parenting disagreements; changes in sexual relations; fear of the failure to financially support the child; dissatisfaction with the appearance and weight change, and differences in parenting practices. The core theme was the transition to parenthood; from couples to parents.

Transition to parenthood seems to be a vital change in the lives of couples; thus, some measures are required to prepare couples for such a transition. The insights from this study can help family counselors, midwives, and family nurses to develop and hold training and preparation programs for couples; such services should be provided to the couples before experiencing parenthood. This could prepare parents for the challenges of their new life.

Active memory is the search engine of the mind. Active memory is a cognitive function responsible for preserving instant information, its manipulation, and its use in thinking. This study aimed at investigating the effects of active memory practices on intelligence profiles in students with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD).

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a control group design. The population of the study included elementary students of the East Bandpey region in Babol City, Iran, in 2019. The study participants were randomly divided into the experimental (21) and control (20) groups. The experimental group performed sixteen 45-minute active memory program sessions for 8 weeks, twice a week. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was employed for data analysis.

Research findings suggested that educational interventions on the verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, active memory, and overall scale have led to a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (P=0.280); however, there was no significant difference concerning the processing speed scale between the study groups (P=0.280).

The present study data suggested that educational interventions were the most influential factor on active memory and overall scale. Furthermore, applying active memory exercise, as a non-pharmacological approach, is recommended to improve the intelligence profile in children with SLD.

Cognitive theories and research have focused on the relationship between emotions, particularly anxiety, and the positive symptoms of psychosis. The aim of this study, based on Beckchr('39')s cognitive theory, was to compare dysfunctional attitudes and cognitive insight between patients with anxiety disorders and those with delusion.

The study sample consisted of 90 participants in 3 groups (anxiety=30, delusion=30, healthy=30). The study subjects were interviewed using Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Then, they completed Beck Anxiety Inventory (BDI), Peters et al.’s Delusions Inventory (PDI), General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale-26 (DAS-26), and Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS).

The present research results indicated that anxiety and delusion groups presented significantly greater dysfunctional attitudes than the healthy subjects (P<0.001); however, there was no significant difference between the clinical groups. The anxiety group had significantly higher cognitive insight than the delusional (P<0.05) and normal groups (P<0.01); however, there was no significant difference between the last two groups.

Dysfunctional attitudes can be considered as a common aspect and cognitive insight as a differentiating aspect of anxiety and psychosis.

Successful and healthy aging is the most critical outcome and policy of decisions in the elderly population. Paying attention to the elderly as well as their life satisfaction and wellbeing can be beneficial for this stratum. Among the influencing characteristics of successful aging and life satisfaction in the elderly is their ability to having active social relationships and feeling useful. Accordingly, the ability to regulate emotions can affect wellbeing and life satisfaction and reduce procrastination in the elderly. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between procrastination, Psychological Wellbeing (PWB), and Life Satisfaction (LS) mediated by Emotion Regulation (ER) in the elderly.

The study participants included 260 elderly in Tehran City, Iran, who were selected by convenience sampling method. The research tools included the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Ryffchr('39')s Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) Scale, the Tuckman Procrastination Scale (TPS), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ).

The obtained results signified the mediating role of ER in the direct and indirect relationship between procrastination and LS, and enhanced PWB in the explored elderly. Structural equation modeling analyses data demonstrated the fit of the proposed model (IFI=0.94, CFI=0.94, GFI=0.95, AGFI=0.95, RMSEA=0.07).

Solutions can be provided to reduce procrastination and increase offer skills in the elderly; accordingly, their LS and PWB could be improved by practical training and holding workshops in this respect.

Marital conflict can be described as the state of tension or stress between couples. Accordingly, couples who are unable to regulate their negative emotions experience fragile relationships. This study aimed to compare the effects of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Cognitive Emotion Regulation (CER) strategies and marital conflict.

The study sample included 28 married women who were randomly assigned to the EFCT and ACT groups. The questionnaire battery included the Questionnaire of Marital Conflicts, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Second Edition of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (SCID-II).

The result of the Independent Samples t-test indicated no difference in pretest scores of the study participants. However, significant differences were determined between the study groups in the posttest phase (P<0.001). Additionally, the Paired Samples t-test results revealed significant differences between pretest and posttest scores between the EFCT (P<0.001) and ACT (P<0.028 for marital conflict, P<0.001 for adaptive CER strategies, & P<0.031for non-adaptive CER strategies) groups. Moreover, EFCT was clinically more effective than ACT. Accordingly, the effect size of EFCT and ACT for marital conflict was measured as  2.33 and 0.83; respecting adaptive and non-adaptive CER strategies, these values were computed as 2.89 and 2.02 as well as 2.89 and 0.88, respectively.

Overall, EFCT and ACTT were effective in improving marital conflict and CER strategies. Besides, EFCT was clinically more effective than ACT in this regard.

The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between mindfulness, anxiety, and procrastination in high school students.

The study sample consisted of 350 high school female students in Rasht City, Iran. The study subjects responded to the Academic Procrastination Scale (APS), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), the Cattell Anxiety Scale (CAS), and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Data analysis was performed by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling technique in SPSS and AMOS. Bootstrap in Preacher and Hayeschr('39') Macro program (2008) was also used to test the indirect relationships between the study variables.

There was a direct and significant relationship between academic procrastination, anxiety, and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (P<0.0001). There was an inverse and significant relationship between procrastination, adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and mindfulness (P<0.0001). Mediation analysis data revealed that the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies exacerbated the effects of anxiety on academic procrastination; the indirect effect of anxiety on procrastination through adaptive strategies was significant.

Procrastination in students could be reduced by minimizing anxiety, correcting maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and strengthening adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Anxiety may aggravate academic procrastination by generating maladaptive mechanisms.

The negative impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)outbreak on public mental health are enhancing the number of individuals requiring psychotherapy. Besides, anxiety is becoming more frequent than any other mental health issue among individuals. Similar to other anxiety types, coronavirus anxiety is associated with elevated attentional bias. The present study aimed to examine the effects of Attentional Bias Modification (ABM) on attentional bias towards coronavirus-related stimuli, and coronavirus anxiety.

This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest-follow-up and a control group design. The research participants were 37 adults (aged 18 to 38 y), who were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=18) and control (n=19) groups. The experimental group received ABM, while no intervention was delivered to the controls. Attentional bias and coronavirus disease anxiety were assessed at pretest, posttest, and 2 months follow-up stages using the Dot-Probe Task (DPT) and the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS). The collected data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Fisher’s least significant difference in SPSS.

After receiving online ABM, the study participant’s coronavirus-related attentional bias decreased, leading to a significant reduction in coronavirus anxiety (P<0.05). These significant changes were evident at the posttest and maintained until the follow-up step. However, no significant changes occurred in the control group (P>0.05).

The presented ABM could decrease coronavirus anxiety; thus, its online implementation is a suitable approach to treat individuals with this anxiety while observing social distancing.

The emotion dysregulation model by Mennin and Fresco considers the high comorbidity of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder and pays special attention to their comorbidity. Additionally, due to the high comorbidity of social anxiety disorder as well as anxiety and mood disorders, this disorder was considered along with the last two disorders. This study aimed to assess a conceptual model of emotion dysregulation symptoms based on sensitivity to punishment and reward and the intensity of positive and negative emotions mediated by emotion regulation strategies in students.

In total, 189 students affiliated with the Sharif University were selected by random sampling method. Then, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), the Sensitivity to Punishment/Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Attention Control Scale (ATTC), the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Responses to Positive Affect questionnaire (RPA) were distributed among them to collect the necessary data. The obtained data were analyzed by LISREL using structural equation modeling.

Pearson correlation coefficient data indicated a significant relationship between motivation components, positive and negative emotion regulation strategies, and the symptoms of emotion dysregulation. Chi-squared, GFI, AGFI, CFI, RMSEA, NFI, IFI, and SRMR indices signified that the conceptual model of the research fitted with the collected data; accordingly, the positive and negative strategies of emotion regulation mediated the relationship between motivation and the symptoms of emotion dysregulation.

The present research results supported the main hypothesis of the study. Thus, positive and negative emotion regulation strategies mediated the relationship between sensitivity to punishment and reward and the intensity of positive and negative emotion with the symptoms of emotion dysregulation.