Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Aug 2023

The existence of extramarital relationships is one of the main causes of family breakdown and divorce. The current study aimed to formulate an extramarital relationship model based on early maladaptive schemas mediated by sensation-seeking in men.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all men with extramarital relationships visiting a counseling center in the west of Tehran (Hamkadeh) from March to September 2021. The sample for this study included 250 men with extramarital relationships within the age range of 28-45 who were selected via the convenience sampling method. Data gathering was carried out using the marital infidelity questionnaire of Yeniceri and Kökdemir (2006), Young's early maladaptive schema questionnaire (1998), and the Zuckerman Sensation-seeking questionnaire (2006). Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.

The results indicated that the assumed research model is fitted over the empirical data (RMSEA=0.056). The coefficient of a direct path between early maladaptive schemas and marital intimacy (β=0.28) was significant at 0.05 level. The indirect coefficient of early maladaptive schemas to extramarital relationships through flexibility was significant (P=0.001).

The early maladaptive schemas were correlated with extramarital relationships mediated by sensation-seeking. Therefore, it can be stated that the reduction of early maladaptive schemas and sensation-seeking will effectively mitigate extramarital relationships.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of problem-solving techniques based on Gestalt and Bandura's theories in training high school students.

All 6,000 female students in the first year of secondary school in Hamedan, Iran, were involved in the current semi-experimental study. The statistical sample size was 75 individuals (3 groups of 25) selected using the purposive sampling method. Moreover, the MANCOVA test and Scheffe's post hoc test were used to analyze the data.

The results showed that teaching problem-solving skills based on the two theories of Gestalt and Bandura affected students' five problem-solving strategies. The use of negative, avoidant, and impulsive orientation techniques by students was decreased as a result of this training, which increased logical and positive orientation techniques.

The benefits of training problem-solving skills based on these theories often varied on students' problem-solving methods. When compared to training based on Gestalt theory, Bandura's theory-based problem-solving training had a greater influence on logical and avoidance methods.

Adolescence is a critical period in a person's life since all the main characteristics of personality, career interests and desires, work values, and choosing a career path are formed in this period. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based therapy (ACT) and reality therapy in aggression, psychological flexibility, and self-efficacy in career path decision-making in secondary school girls in Yazd, Iran.

In this study, we adopted a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The research population included all second-grade high school female students in two districts of Yazd in the 2022-2023 academic year. Out of this population, three groups of 15 cases were selected by cluster sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (Therapy based on acceptance and commitment and reality therapy) and a control group. The data collection tools were Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, the Hayes Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire [2000], and The Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSES, Taylor & Betz, 1983), which were answered in two stages, pre-test and post-test. The subjects in the experimental group received acceptance and commitment-based therapy and reality therapy in a group [in the form of training and skills] for two months(one 60-minute session per week). Nonetheless, no training was provided to the control group during this period. The data were statistically analyzed in SPSS software (version 23) using multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance at a significance level of P<0.05.

Paying attention to the significance level of less than 0.05 for aggression and job self-efficacy variables and high observed power and eta squared contribution greater than 0.14 for these two variables was the significant effect of our intervention on aggression and job self-efficacy variables. The Bonferroni test was used to compare the two groups and the effectiveness of these three treatments. According to the significance level of 0.013 for the acceptance and commitment treatment method and 0.003 for the reality therapy treatment method, we found a significant effect of these two treatment methods compared to the control group in the aggression variable. In the variable of psychological flexibility, there was no significant difference between the mean of the control group and the two treatment approaches in this variable. Therefore, the treatment intervention's effect was insignificant, and the only significant difference between the reality therapy approach and the control group was in occupational self-efficacy, with a significance level of 0.01 (P<0.05). This significant mean difference of 5.990 is in favor of the reality therapy approach compared to the control group.

As evidenced by the obtained results, the treatment based on acceptance and commitment and reality therapy was effective in aggression and self-efficacy in career path decision-making, with a significance level of less than 1%. Nonetheless, it has been effective compared to the control group. Furthermore, it was revealed that ACT and reality therapy approaches were not significantly effective in psychological flexibility

Body image is a multidimensional structure broadly defining the mental and internal manifestations of physical appearance and bodily experiences. It is associated with weak self-esteem, weak gender identity, and depression. Therefore,  the current research aims to develop a structural model of body image based on the attitude towards eating with the mediation of dysfunctional beliefs in people with body deformity disorder referring to the beauty clinics of Mazandaran province.

The current research method is correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population of the research was made up of people who were referred to the beauty clinics of Mazandaran province (the cities of Amol, Babol, Sari, and Qaem Shahr). According to Klein's opinion, the sample size was 330 cases selected in a purposeful and random way. The data collection tools included Sooto and Garcia's (2002) body image satisfaction scale, Connor et al.'s (1979) eating attitude scale, and Wiseman and Beck's (1982) dysfunctional beliefs scale. In this research, SPSS (version 22) and Amose (version 23) software packages were used to analyze the information obtained from structural regression equation modeling.

The results of the research demonstrated a relationship between attitude toward eating and body image with the mediation of ineffective beliefs in people with body deformities. Moreover, the data analysis showed the appropriateness of the indicators and indicated a very good fit for the research model at a significant level.

One of the prerequisites of behavior is attitude; in other words, every behavior that comes from a person is associated with some kind of attitude. According to this point of view, any particular attitude towards a special subject or phenomenon creates a certain readiness in people to perform behavior. Many diseases, including body image disorder, are directly or indirectly caused by a person's attitude towards eating or are affected by it, or at least, a person's attitude plays a role in its aggravation and durability.

Internalized stigma (IS) is defined as negative stereotypes people hold about themselves and have accepted them. The purpose of this study was to determine IS among HIV/AIDS patients in Kermanshah, Iran.

This cross-sectional research was conducted on 200 HIV/AIDS patients in the Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran, in 2021. The required data were collected using a questionnaire and holding an interview. The gathered data were analyzed in SPSS-16 software using one-way analysis of variance, independent samples t-test, and bivariate correlation tests.

The average overall score of IS was obtained at 5.65 (score range: 0 to 6). The mean internalized stigma score was slightly higher among male patients, single individuals, those with primary education, unemployed patients, and those with poor economic status; however, it was not statistically significant.

It can be concluded that IS highly prevalent among HIV/AIDS patients in Kermanshah. Comprehensive interventions among patients are needed to reduce stigma.

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and general disability in 202, accounting for two-thirds of all diseases; therefore, the present research aimed to model structural equations in explaining the effect of the brain-behavioral system on diabetic women's psychological vulnerability with the mediating role of positive and negative emotions.

This descriptive study was conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the study included all women with diabetes in the specialized diabetes clinic of Karaj in the first half of 2011. Among this population, 380 cases were selected via purposive sampling and participated in the study. Data were collected using Carver and White's behavioral brain systems questionnaire, mental health questionnaire (SCL-25), and Watson et al.'s (1988) positive and negative emotions questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS (version 23) and Amos (version 18) software packages using Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling.
Results The results pointed out that the indirect path coefficient between the behavioral inhibition system and psychological vulnerability (P=0.001; β=0.188) was positive, and the indirect path coefficient between the behavioral activation system and psychological vulnerability (0.01>P; β=0.147) was negative and significant. Nonetheless, the coefficient of the indirect path between the behavioral inhibition system and psychological vulnerability through positive affect (P=0.003; β=0.066) was positive, and the indirect coefficient between the behavioral activation system and psychological vulnerability through positive affect (0.001 P=0.070, β=0.070) was negative and significant. However, the coefficient of the indirect path between the behavioral inhibition system and psychological vulnerability through negative emotion (P=0.001; β=0.126) was positive, and the indirect coefficient between the behavioral activation system and psychological vulnerability through negative emotion (0.007 P=0.081, β=0.081) was negative and significant.

As evidenced by the obtained results,  it can be concluded that among female patients with diabetes, positive and negative emotions positively medicated the effect of the behavioral inhibition system on psychological vulnerability and negatively mediated the effect of the behavioral activation system on psychological vulnerability.