[Predictors of boredom in adolescents]

Boredom is a mental state that can have serious impact on different aspects of life, including: profession and education. The purpose of this study was to identify those factors associated with boredom in a sample of Persian adolescences. In a correlational study, 182 students [96 girls and 82 boys], aged between 12 to 18 years who were studying in secondary and high school level of education in Khoram Abad city, center of Lorestan [a western province of Iran] were selected using a cluster random sampling in 2009. The participants were asked to fill in boredom assessment scale [BSA] and boredom factor questionnaire [BFQ] included 4 components: home factors, school factors, community factors and educational items. Several Pearson correlation and regression analyses were applied on the data. It was shown that home factor [beta=0.23] and school factor [beta=0.24] were significantly correlated with boredom [P<0.01]. Home factor [beta=0.39] was a robust predictors of boredom in girls, while school factor [beta=0.30] was a strong predictor of boredom in boys [P<0.01]. Major components of home factor were: strictness of parents, parental dispute and conflict, more spare time without any job to do, and lack of pastime and recreational activities, and for school factor, component were: strict and serious behaviors of teachers and inappropriate homework. Inadequate interpersonal relationships and inflexible teaching or parenting style appeared to be the main predictors of boredom in adolescents. These variables should be taken in account while dealing with boredom in adolescents in order to prevent destructive consequences

Prevalence of mood disorders in Iran

To study the prevalence and demographic characteristics of mood disorders among Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study [age 18] in Iran, 25180 individuals were selected through a randomized cluster sampling method for a diagnosis using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [SADS]. They were then interviewed at home by 250 trained clinical psychologists. The estimated lifetime prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder [MOD] and Minor Depressive Disorder [mDD] were 3.1% and 0.3% respectively. Also, the estimated lifetime prevalence of Bipolar Mood disorder [BMD] type I and type II were 0.1% and 0.7% respectively. The current prevalence of MDD, mDD, BMD-I and BMD-II were 1.8%. 0.2%, 0.04%, and 0.3% respectively. Mood disorders were associated with female gender, lower education, being married, being middle-aged, living in cities, and not being a homemaker. The prevalence of mood disorders was lower among Iranian adults than reported in Western studies, and a number of demographic associations differed from those reported in Western studies: Important cultural differences in the nature or manifestation of depression are implied by these results