Spiritual/Religious Perfectionism Scale in Iran: Psychometric Evaluation.

This article introduces a new self-report measure of perfectionism: the Spiritual/Religious Perfectionism Scale (SRPS). Following preliminary psychometric evidence for a 20-item SRPS (Besharat, 2017),  the present investigation examined the structure of the SRPS using exploratory factor analysis in study 1 (368 students: 181 men, 187 women) and confirmatory factor analysis in study 2 (384 community adults: 189 men, 195 women) in Iran. After exploratory factor analysis, we retained 14 items. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the SRPS-14's unidimensionality and invariance across sex and sample type. The SRPS-14's internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity including criterion, convergent, incremental, and discriminant were examined. The results provided preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the SRPS-14 as a measure of spiritual/religious perfectionism. It should be noted that the English-language translation of the items presented in this paper has not yet been validated in an English-speaking sample, but should be validated in future research.

Values of College Students in Iran and the United States Who Admire Celebrities.

This study had two goals. The first goal was to compare scores on the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) and values of college students in Iran and the United States on how they differ in their admiration for their favorite celebrities. The second goal was to examine additional psychometric data on the Twenty Item Values Inventory (TWIVI). We administered the TWIVI, the CAS, and demographic items to 200 students at a university in Iran, and 199 students at one university and two colleges in the United States. The results revealed that Iranian students scored about the same as American students on the CAS, and both samples scored higher per item on Celebrity Attitude Scale Entertainment-Social, the entertainment or social subscale as compared with the two more problematic subscales of the CAS. Stepwise multiple regressions showed that Hedonism and Power predicted total CAS scores for Americans and Tradition and Stimulation predicted total CAS scores for Iranians. We found that the TWIVI performed reasonably well given its brevity. That is, predictions stemming from Schwartz's values theory were generally confirmed in both samples by data obtained from the TWIVI.

Introduce a New Intervention Model Based on Islamic Lifestyle for Decreasing the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in People at Risk: A Comparative Study.

The main purpose of the present study was designing and assessing the common lifestyle and Islamic lifestyle interventions and comparison of them. Sample of the study was thirty-nine subjects participated in a healthy lifestyle program. The Islamic group were received the Islamic healthy lifestyle program. In comparison with common, in the Islamic group the CVD risk was significantly lower; the psychological well-being was increased significantly; the psychological distress was decreased significantly; and the spiritual well-being was increased significantly. The most powerful element of Islamic lifestyle was to strengthen the spirituality that can positively affect the life.

Mediating Role of Perceived Stress in the Relationship between Facing Existential Issues and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the mediating role of perceived stress in anticipation of anxiety and depression on facing the ultimate concerns (death, loneliness, freedom, and meaningfulness). Method : A total of 389 students from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad participated in this study in 2017-18. The participants were selected using random sampling. The data were collected using the subscales of anxiety and depression in depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS), Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), the third edition of Loneliness Scale UCLA (UCLA-LS), the subscale of meaning in life in Meaningfulness of Life Questionnaire (MLQ), responsibility scale of California Psychological Inventory (CPI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Then, they were evaluated using Pearson correlation and path analysis. Results: The correlation between the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and death anxiety and loneliness was direct and significant with the perceived stress. The relationship between the perceived stress with meaningfulness of life and responsibility was significantly inverse. The analysis of the data path showed that the component dealing with existence (loneliness and death anxiety) predicted 20% of anxiety symptoms through perceived stress in the model that was fitted well with research data. Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be concluded that the relationship between dealing with ultimate concerns and anxiety symptoms was not linear. Dealing with ultimate concerns affects the anxiety symptoms through the perceived stress. Therefore, attention to the perceived stress management to promote health and prevent anxiety disorders is important.

Relationship between Worry, and Anger Rumination with Cardiovascular Disease Severity: Social Loneliness as a Moderator.

BACKGROUND: Biological and psychological factors contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to test the moderating effect of social loneliness in the relationship between worry and anger rumination, and CVD severity. METHODS: A total of 327 patients with CVD (138 women, 189 men) participated in this study. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), Social Loneliness Scale (SLS), and Gensini score as an indicator of CVD severity were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. RESULTS: The results of this study showed a significant positive correlation between worry (54.44 ± 12.31, r = 0.59, P < 0.01), anger rumination (46.54 ± 12.47; r = 0.36; P < 0.01), and social loneliness (28.22 ± 9.13, r = 0.65, P < 0.01) with CVD severity (15.07 ± 5.13). In other words, higher levels of worry, anger rumination, and social loneliness are associated with exacerbation of CVD. Social loneliness was a moderator in the relationship between worry and CVD severity (ΔR2 = 0.007, F= 4.2870, P < 0.05), suggesting the importance of worry in CVD severity, especially in lonely people. The main effects of worry and social loneliness on CVD severity were ß = 0.32, SE = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.2289, 0.4222, P < 0.001 and ß = 0.46, SE = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.3649, 0.5572, P < 0.001, respectively. The moderating effect of social loneliness on the relationship between worry and CVD severity was ß = 0.07; SE = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.0074, 0.1522; P < 0.001. Social loneliness was not a moderator in the relationship between anger rumination and CVD severity (ΔR2 = 0.006, F = 3.10, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that along with biological factors, attention to the role of psychological factors of worry, anger rumination, and loneliness in preventive and therapeutic interventions related to CVD is a special necessity.

Psycho-art-drama: development and testing a new integrated complementary method of psychiatric treatments for hospitalised children with cancer (a case study).

Objective: Art therapy as a psychotherapy method using art, and psychodrama as a therapeutic method using role play, have different roots, principles, techniques and different effect mechanisms and advantages. Integrated psychotherapies are aimed to maximise each of the component advantages, as well as minimising disadvantages. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop a new integrated psychotherapy method, named psycho-art-drama (PAD) for hospitalised children with cancer and testing its effectiveness.Methods: After designing the PAD protocol, five hospitalised children with cancer accompanied with their mothers selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria to participate in this single-subject study.Results: The results showed that PAD was significantly effective in reducing the bio-psycho-social expressions of incompatibility in the hospital (BPSEIH) in all of the five children.Conclusions: Findings of this study give preliminary support using the PAD model in similar conditions.

Spiritual health mediates the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of spiritual health in the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease. In total, 327 patients with coronary artery disease (138 women, 189 men) completed the Ego-Strength Scale, Adjustment to Illness Scale, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Results showed that both ego-strength and spiritual health had a significantly positive correlation with adjustment to heart disease. Results also revealed that spiritual health mediated the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease. More improvement in adjustment to heart disease requires more improvement in patients' spiritual health as well as to ego-strength.

Efficacy of an Attachment-Based Intervention Model on Health Indices in Children with Chronic Disease and Their Mothers.

Studies have shown significant relationship between health conditions and attachment. This study aimed to examine an attachment-based intervention model named mother-child-disease triangle (MCDT) on health indices in children with chronic disease and their mothers. This randomized trial study included 22 volunteer children aged 12-18 years undergoing medical treatment for a chronic disease and their mothers. After evaluation by 28-form General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), inventory of parent and peer attachment (IPPA), 28-form Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-28) and Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the mother-child dyads were paired on the basis of IPPA scores. These pairs were then randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received ten 90-min sessions of MCDT over a 7-week period. Meanwhile, the control group received ten simple conversational sessions as a dummy intervention. In accordance with this study's pre-test/post-test design, both groups were evaluated once again after completing their respective treatment. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed members of the experimental group to have significantly stronger attachment and better physiological and psychosocial health than those in the control group. These findings suggest that attachment-based interventions can be used to improve the effectiveness of treatment among children with chronic disease and their mothers.

Women's Perceptions and Feelings about Loss of Their Sexual Desire: A Qualitative Study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Reduced sexual desire leaves serious impacts on women's life. The current study aims to investigate the perceptions and concerns of Iranian women of reproductive age with female sexual interest and arousal disorder (FSIAD). METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted using content analysis approach. Data were collected through seventeen in-depth interviews from October 2015 to June 2016. Purposive sampling was carried out from among reproductive-aged women suffering from FSIAD who responded to female sexual function index (FSFI) with mean scores of ≤3.3 and ≤3.4 in desire and arousal domains, respectively and went through validation by a psychologist. Data analysis was performed using Granheim and Lundman's approach. MAXQDA 10.0 software was used for data organization. RESULTS: The three main themes that emerged in this study included: 1) "Spoiled feminine identity" with two categories of "deteriorated sexual self-esteem" and "deteriorated feminine position", 2) "Struggle in sexual issues" with two categories of concern about losing the relationship and spouse, and surrendering to sexual relationship, and 3) "Deterioration of the couple's relationship" with two categories of deteriorated marital interaction and sexual disharmony between the couple. CONCLUSION: Feeling inability to play gender role as a woman and fear of losing the spouse are the most important concerns of women with lack of interest in sex. Training communication skills for sexual talks with the spouse and expression of feelings are the first steps to help such women.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes Management: The Moderating Role of Coping Styles.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Evidence of the efficacy of existing psychological interventions for self-management in diabetes is limited. The current study aimed at assessing the effects of group-based ACT on self-management of patients with T2DM, considering the moderating role of coping styles. METHODS: One hundred and six patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned either to the education alone (n = 53) or to a combination of education and group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (n = 53) over a period of 10 sessions. In each group, 50 participants completed a 3 month follow-up assessment. RESULTS: After 3 months, compared to patients who received education alone, those in the group-based acceptance and commitment therapy condition were more likely to use effective coping strategies, reported better diabetes self-care, and optimum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in the target range. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of the role of coping style for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy may be a useful addition to services provided for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Emotional Intelligence: A Comparison between Medical and Non-Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: Emotional intelligence (EI) has recently been considered as one of the necessary elements for success and achievement in medical fields. The present study was conducted in Iran to compare the EI in medical and non-medical students adjusted for the other relevant factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2011 to January 2012 on 872 students of medicine, paramedical and non-medical groups in Tehran University and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran selected by multi-stage weighted cluster sampling. The Farsi version of revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence (FEIS) was used to estimate emotional intelligence. RESULTS: The mean of total EI was equal to 124.9 (SD=8.4) out of 205 and the means for its dimensions were as follows: regulation of emotions 39.3 (SD=5.1), utilization of emotions 26.7 (SD=3.6) and appraisal of emotions 33.5 (SD=5.3). While the paramedical and non-medical students' total EI score was significantly higher than the medical students', in the utilization of emotions dimension, the medical students scored significantly higher than the other two groups. CONCLUSION: The lower levels of the medical students' total EI score in comparison with paramedical and non-medical students in this study demands the relevant authorities to pay even more attention to the selection and training of medical students.

Predicting obsessions and compulsions according to superego and ego characteristics: A comparison between scrupulosity and non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive images or impulses and/or ritualistic and rigid behaviors. Symptoms of OCD have different contents including contamination, harming and symmetry. Religion is one of the themes that has been observed in the context of OCD frequently. The aim of the present study was to examine the power of superego and ego characteristics in predicting scrupulosity and non-religious obsessions and compulsions, as well as comparing the two sets of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Sixty six Iranian (19 men, 47 women) participated in the study. All participants were asked to complete Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity, Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory, the Multidimensional Anger Inventory, and Ego Strength Scale. Results showed that perfectionism and anger were positively correlated with scrupulosity and non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Ego control was negatively correlated with scrupulosity, while ego resiliency was not correlated with any of these two sets of symptoms. Regression analysis indicated that among these variables, anger was the best predictor of non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while perfectionism and ego control were the best predictors of scrupulosity.

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Interpersonal Problems and Psychological Flexibility in Female High School Students With Social Anxiety Disorder.

Social anxiety is a psychological disorder which has devastative and pernicious effects on interpersonal relationships and one's psychological flexibility. The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on interpersonal problems and psychological flexibility in female high school students with social anxiety disorder. With a semi-experimental design, the subjects were assessed using the Social Anxiety Scale and clinical interview. The statistical population of the research was high school female students studying in 5 areas of Isfahan. 30 individuals were purposively selected as the sample. The subjects of the research were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was given in 10 sessions of 90 minutes in the experimental group and the control group did not receive any treatment. Pre-test and post-test scores of Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance & the results showed that after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the scores of the subjects in the experimental and control groups. This means that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can influence interpersonal problems and their six dimensions and psychological flexibility as well.

The Mediational Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship of Ego-strength and Adjustment to Infertility in Women.

OBJECTIVE: Infertility is considered as an intense and prolonged stressful experience. Despite of high prevalence of infertility and its emotional burden for couples and especially for women, the knowledge regarding psychological factors influencing adjustment to it is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediational role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship of ego-strength and adjustment to infertility in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 275 women with primary infertility referring to Valie-asr Reproductive Health Research Center (Tehran Imam Khomeini Hospital) participated in the present study. Data was collected via demographic information questionnaire, Ego-Strength Scale (ESS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) and Adjustment to Illness Scale (AIS). Data were analysed using Pearson correlation and path analysis methods Using SPSS (18) and LISREL (8.5) software. RESULTS: RESULTS indicated there are significant positive correlation between ego-strength and adjustment to infertility (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). Also Adjustment has significant positive correlation withadaptive emotion regulation strategies (r = 0.38, p < 0.01) and significant negative correlation with non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies (r = -0.43, p < 0.01). RESULTS of path analysis indicated emotion regulation strategies mediate the relationship of ego-strength and adjustment. CONCLUSION: These results can be helpful in making preventive policies, identifying high risk patients and planning psychological interventions.

Self-care activities and glycated haemoglobin in Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes: can coping styles and social support have a buffering role?

BACKGROUND: Diabetes self-care is a key element in the overall management of diabetes. However, the importance of psychosocial factors for successful disease management is under investigated. This study aimed at exploring the role of coping styles and social support in the relationship between self-care activities and glycated haemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: One hundred adults (60% female, aged 40-70 years) with type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires assessing self-care activities, coping styles and social support. In addition, a blood test was performed to obtain glycated haemoglobin levels. RESULTS: Result showed significant relationships of glycated haemoglobin with self-care activities, coping styles and social support. Regression analysis indicated that social support had a moderating role on the relationship between self-care activities and glycated haemoglobin, such that, at very high levels of social support the association, between Self-Care and HbA1c disappears. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that health care providers, within the context of the Iranian social and cultural situation, should pay more attention to psychosocial factors when addressing self-care activities. Delineation of the role of coping styles and social support might be useful for identifying patients in need of particular counselling and support for improving self-care activities and HbA1c levels.

Risk factors associated with depressive symptoms among undergraduate students.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship of several cognitive and emotional variables including perfectionism, rumination, and attachment quality with depressive symptoms in a sample of Iranian undergraduate students. Two hundred and ninety nine undergraduate students (144 males, 156 females) from Urmia University of Technology, Urmia University, and Urmia University of Medical Sciences participated in this study. Participants were asked to complete Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (TMPS), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The results demonstrated that insecurity of attachment, socially prescribed perfectionism, and rumination could significantly predict the depressive symptoms in undergraduate students. Confirming predictive risk factors of depressive symptoms, results of the present study can produce an empirical basis for designing educational and health programs for people at risk. Accordingly, proper assessment of the risk factors of depressive symptoms in health care settings may provide invaluable information for prevention and management programs.

The relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia: mediating role of defense mechanisms.

This study examined the mediating role of ego defense mechanisms on the relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia. Four hundred and forty-three Iranian high school students (213 boys, 230 girls) participated in this study. Participants completed Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ-40), Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI), and Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20). Results showed a significant negative correlation between secure attachment style and alexithymia, while avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles showed significant positive associations with alexithymia. Regression analysis indicated that defense mechanisms have a mediating role between attachment styles and alexithymia. It can be concluded that a mediation role of ego defense mechanisms on the relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia was partial.

The effect of sociostructural and collaborative decision-making on diabetes self-management.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic self-management is important for controlling the diabetes complications and promoting health-related quality of life in these patients. The objective of this study was to examine a hypothetical model regarding influences of sociostructural determinants, collaborative decision-making and patient's beliefs system on diabetes self-management. METHODS: In a cross-sectional descriptive study from Dec 2010 to Mar 2010, 500 patients of Iranian adult patients with type II diabetes attended the outpatient diabetic clinics of the Shariati Hospital in Tehran were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected by The Demographical Information, Social- Economical Status and Diabetic History Questionnaire and eleven self-reported scales of this research. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with LIZREL software applied for data analysis. RESULTS: The modified model had a desirable fitness to the observed data. Patient's beliefs system directly influenced the diabetes self-management. Sociostructural determinants influenced diabetes self-management indirectly via collaborative decision-making and Patient's beliefs system. In addition, collaborative decision-making significantly influenced patient's beliefs system that thereby impacted diabetes self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Sociostructural determinants, collaborative decision-making and patient's beliefs system are integrated and cooperatively affect on diabetes self-management. Comprehensive intervention schedules required to improve these agents for encouragement the type II diabetes self-management.

Anger and major depressive disorder: the mediating role of emotion regulation and anger rumination.

Many studies have documented the existence of a close relationship between anger and depression. Furthermore, recent literature has emphasized the role of impaired emotion regulation and anger rumination in depression. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of emotion regulation and anger rumination on the relation between anger and major depressive disorder. Eighty-eight patients with major depressive disorder (20 males, 68 females) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS). Results illustrated that in clinically depressed people, there are positive relationships between anger, depression, emotion regulation, and anger rumination. Path analysis revealed that emotion regulation and anger rumination played a mediating role on the relation between anger and major depression. Anger was associated with depression via emotion regulation and anger rumination. Findings of the present study suggest that emotion regulation and anger rumination play an important role on the relation between anger and depression. The current study implicates the complicated nature of depression, and emphasizes the understanding and conceptualization of diverse variables that influence depression.

Cortisol-a Key Factor to the Understanding of the Adjustment to Childhood Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Malignancy and its treatments could cause disturbance in homeostasisof body such as cortisol secretion. The present study has investigated the effects of cortisol level imbalance in behavioral and emotional adjustments. METHODS: Seventy-eight children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) have involved in this study. Their salivary cortisol level, which were sensitive to pain and disruptive behaviors, have measured. RESULTS: CORTISOL LEVEL EFFECT IN DIFFERENT PERIODS: within duration of reaction to pain, sensitivity to pain and disruptive behaviors have evaluated. In addition abnormal regulation of cortisol levels have shown a very strong relationship between sensitivity to pain and the disruptive behaviors. Cortisol suppression was responsible for adjustment by the participants to stressful conditions. CONCLUSION: Previous investigations have shown that there is a low reaction to stressor which decreases the vitality as well as impairing a negative memory in low cortisol levels. The findings of the present study demonstrated a nonlinear relation between cortisol level and sensitivity to pain as well as disruptive behaviors. Therefore, regulation of cortisol- up and down- is predisposed to maladjustment.