Investigating the mediating influence of distress tolerance on the relationship between existential thinking, sense of coherence, and the severity of mourning among families who lost a loved one to COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: The objective of the current study was to examine how distress tolerance functions as a mediator in the relationship between existential thinking, sense of coherence, and the severity of mourning experienced by families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. Methods: The present study employed a descriptive correlational research design, targeting family members of those who passed away due to COVID-19 in the city of Mianeh in 2022. A sample of 160 individuals was selected for statistical analysis. The research instruments used in this study consisted of Flensberg's sense of coherence questionnaire (2006), Simmons and Gaher's emotional distress tolerance questionnaire (2005), Sugbart and Scott's grief experience questionnaire (1989), and Branton Scherer's existential thinking questionnaire (2006). The collected data were analyzed using path analysis, as well as SPSS and Amos software. Results: The findings of the study revealed a significant correlation coefficient between existential thinking (r = 0.465), sense of coherence (r = 0.401), and distress tolerance (r = 0.521) with the severity of mourning experienced by families who lost a loved one to COVID-19. Moreover, the results indicated a positive and significant relationship (p > 0.01) between distress tolerance and sense of coherence (r = 0.126), as well as between distress tolerance and existential thinking (r = 0.059) among the bereaved families. However, the bootstrap test results suggested that distress tolerance did not mediate the relationship between sense of coherence and the severity of mourning in the families of COVID-19 victims. Conclusion: Consistent with prior research, the current study's findings indicated that both existential thinking and sense of coherence had a direct impact on the severity of mourning experienced by families who lost a loved one to COVID-19. Additionally, the results revealed that the influence of existential thinking on the severity of mourning was mediated indirectly by increasing distress tolerance.

The Role of Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness, and Giving Meaning to Life in Psychosocial Adjustment: The Mediating Role of Self-Care in the Elderly.

Objective: In old age, people suffer from many mental and physical illnesses, which make it important for the elderly to pay attention to adapting to these diseases. So, the aim of this research was to study the role of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and giving meaning to life in psychosocial adjustment, as well as the mediating role of self-care in the elderly. Method : This research was descriptive and correlational, conducted through available sampling of 200 elderly people who lived in the city of Ardabil. After the necessary assessments in terms of mental disorders and inclusion criteria, they were chosen to conduct this investigation in 2020. The Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Psychosocial Adjustment Scale, Self-Care Questionnaire for the Elderly, and Interpersonal Needs scale were used to gather the data. The data were analyzed using SPSS25 and Amos24 software. Results: The findings showed that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness have a negative and direct effect on elderly self-care [ß = -0.25, P < 0.01] [ß = -0.20, P < 0.05] and psychosocial adjustment [ß = -0.0, P < 0.05] [ß = -0.12, P < 0.05]. Also, giving meaning to life has a positive and direct effect on elderly self-care [ß = 0.32, P = 0.01] and psychosocial adjustment [ß = 0.033, P < 0.01]. The variable of self-care can play a mediating role in the relationship between thwarted belongingness [ß = -0.174, P < 0.05], perceived burdensomeness [ß = -0.140, P < 0.05], and giving meaning to life [ß = 0.223, P < 0.05] with psychosocial adjustment. Moreover, among the exogenous variables, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness by change in self-care have been able to reduce psychosocial adjustment. Giving meaning through self-care, however, has increased psychosocial adjustment. Conclusion: The findings revealed that thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and giving meaning to life are important variables in health and adaptability of the elderly, which draws attention to family-centered interventions and individual therapies.

Self-care behavior prevention of COVID-19 in the general population based on Pender Health Promotion Model: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Coronavirus with its sudden and widespread outbreak has obviously imposed devastating consequences in various aspects of human life. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) structures in self-care preventive behavior against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the general population of Ardabil, Iran. Methods: The present retrospective descriptive-correlational study was conducted on citizens of Ardabil aged 18 years and over in 2021. After dividing the city of Ardabil into four parts, 50 people from each area of the city and a total of 200 people were selected through the available sampling method through social media. Data collection tools included a demographic profile, perceived self-efficacy scale, perceived emotional questionnaire, perceived social support questionnaire, perceived benefits and barriers questionnaire, researcher-made COVID-19 self-care questionnaire, and commitment to action questionnaire based on Pender's HPM structures in an online manner. Data were analyzed by Amos 22 software and using structural equation modeling. Results: According to the results, direct path analysis to COVID-19 self-care behavior indicated that the variables of perceived self-efficacy (ß = 0.18, p < 0.01), interpersonal effects (ß = 0.19, p < 0.01), positive emotion (ß = 0.15, p < 0.05) and perceived benefits (ß = 0.20, p < 0.01) are able to significantly predict self-care behaviors. Moreover, the bootstrapping test results in the indirect path analysis demonstrated that the variables of perceived self-efficacy (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.012, 0.066), perceived social support (95% CI, 0.002, 0.026), and perceived barriers (95% CI, -0.019, -0.002) and benefits (95% CI, 0.001, 0. 015) through the mediator variable of commitment to action are able to significantly predict COVID-19 self-care behavior. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be claimed that the proposed model of COVID-19 self-care behavior has an acceptable fitness in the general population. This model can be used in developing educational programs and intervention techniques to modify people's attitudes and behaviors.

Identifying themes relevant to sexual dissatisfaction of dual career couples: Design and effectiveness of a psycho-educational package - A mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: Today, dual-career couples are becoming increasingly prevalent around the world. Due to the nature of the life of this group of people, their sexual and marital life can be damaged. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a psycho-educational model based on the lived experiences of dual career couples who are dissatisfied with sexual relations and its effectiveness on sexual satisfaction. METHODS: This research was done based on a mixed (qualitative and quantitative) method. The qualitative part was performed using the phenomenological method and 13 couples were selected for semi-structured interviews using the purposive sampling method. In a small part of this study, a single case plan (AB plan) was used, and three couples were selected from those who referred to counseling centers in Ardabil and underwent counseling interventions. In a small part, the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire was used to measure the changes of couples during the implementation of the intervention program. The information obtained in the qualitative part was analyzed through content analysis and the quantitative part was analyzed using visual analysis, clinical significance and recovery percentage. RESULTS: Based on the results obtained in the qualitative analysis section, the experiences of sexual dissatisfaction of dual-career couples can be classified into 10 main themes, 20 sub-themes and 30 categories that affect the sexual satisfaction of dual-career couples. The results of the quantitative section indicate that the designed psycho-educational model has led to an increase in sexual satisfaction of dual-career couples. CONCLUSION: Achieving sexual and marital satisfaction and finally mental health and reducing divorce is a process that begins with pathology in the cultural context and is achieved by emphasizing indigenous culture through developing a counseling package for appropriate intervention by therapists and counselors.

Evaluation of knowledge and health behavior of University of Medical Sciences students about the prevention of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that have symptoms ranging from the common cold to severe respiratory syndromes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to provide appropriate strategies to raise knowledge and health behavior of students of the University of Medical Sciences to prevent COVID-19. METHODS: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional and descriptive study, and the online questionnaire was used by random sampling. Our sample size was 360 subjects and the statistical population was the students of the University of Medical Sciences. We used the nonparametric test (Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney U) and (Chi-Square & t-test) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The test results were statistically significant for students' health behavior (p < 0.01, df -99). The knowledge of women was higher than men (F = 5.32, p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: The results show that the Ministry of Health has acted well in promoting students' knowledge and health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended that such research be conducted in the public statistical population.