A qualitative exploration of depressed female Iranian adolescents' attachment narratives.

It is assumed that depressed and suicidal adolescents struggle with issues reflecting insecure attachment. However, less is known about which insecure attachment-related themes characterize depression and suicidality in adolescents. To explore this further, semi-structured in-depth interview were conducted with 18 Iranian female adolescents (Mage = 16.6 ± 0.70), with depression and/or suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, who self-reported being insecurely attached. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified from the data: (1) quality of parenting, (2) attachment representation, and (3) attachment behavior. The theme parenting quality included the subthemes "emotionally absent", "emotionally supportive", "psychologically controlling", "overprotective", "punitive", "aggressive", and "passive". The theme attachment representation comprised: "not accepting", "not feeling loved", "not feeling understood", "lack of intimacy", "unreliable", "reliable", "mixed emotions", "hatred", and "dismiss and devaluation". The theme attachment behavior included "aggression", "relational avoidance", and "emotional role reversal". Findings point to the possible usefulness of attachment-based interventions to treat suicidal adolescents and their families in Iran. However, the results also showed culture-specific themes, pointing at the father-daughter relationship's unique importance, which deserves special attention in attachment-based interventions.

Conceptualization of Breast Cancer and Attitudes toward Breast Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study on Iranian and Australian Women.

OBJECTIVE: Regular screening can lead to early diagnosis of breast cancer. Australia is one of the countries with a high rate of participation in breast cancer screening, while in Iran, most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages. This qualitative study used a thematic analysis method to examine the attitudes and beliefs of Iranian and Australian women toward breast cancer and breast cancer screening. METHOD: In-depth interviews were conducted with eight Iranian and seven Australian women. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with an inferential approach. RESULTS: According to the results, four main themes were extracted for the perceptions of breast cancer, including "the meaning of breast cancer", "causes of breast cancer", "prevention of breast cancer" and "effects of significant people in life". Considering the perceptions of breast cancer screening, three themes were identified, including "beliefs about breast cancer screening," "sources of information about breast cancer screening," and "barriers to breast cancer screening." CONCLUSION: Cultural and social factors influence women's perceptions of breast cancer and screening. Therefore, investigating the cultural meaning of breast cancer and breast cancer screening for women can be useful for screening and prevention purposes.

Function of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Iranian University Students: A Factor Structure Analysis.

Emerging non-Western studies indicate new patterns in the functionality of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) warranting further investigation in different cultures. The current study aims to investigate the function (etiology and underlying mechanism) of NSSI among a sample of university students in Tehran, Iran, using the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS). The ISAS was administered to 63 students who self-injured (52.4% female; Mage = 22.15). An exploratory factor analysis using the Bayesian estimation method was conducted. A three-factor model of NSSI functions emerged including an intrapersonal factor representing within-self functions (e.g., self-punishment); a social identification factor consisting of functions establishing a sense of self/identity (e.g., peer bonding); and a communication factor representing an influencing/communicating functionality (e.g., marking distress). Intrapersonal and social identification factors were associated with greater severity of NSSI method and increased anxiety. Findings support the use of the ISAS among an Iranian sample and revealed additional patterns beyond the commonly referenced two-factor model (intrapersonal and interpersonal functions) in a culturally novel sample. The results are situated within the sample's sociocultural context.

Dehumanization in female victims of intimate partner violence.

BACKGROUND: Dehumanization is a psychological construct meaning denying a person's humanity. The present study has investigated the process of dehumanization in female victims of intimate partner violence using the grounded theory approach. METHODS: For this purpose, 130 women in Tehran were selected through the convenience sampling method, and after completion of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2), 60 female victims were identified. In-depth interviews started with these women, and the data reached theoretical saturation by interviewing ten victims. RESULTS: The data analysis shows the role of dehumanization in the experiences of female victims of intimate partner violence in the form of two models. The first model showed that from the victim's perspective, dehumanization plays a crucial role in intimate partner violence. The second model showed that dehumanization was experienced by these women and is involved in developing strategies in their response to the violence. The combination of these two models showed that dehumanization and violence in the context of domestic violence have a reciprocal relationship, forming a cycle between cognitions, emotions, and negative behaviors between couples. CONCLUSIONS: Data analysis demonstrated that dehumanization might have a role in experiencing intimate partner violence and contribute to IPV recurrence.

Cultural differences in conceptual representation of "Privacy": A comparison between Iran and the United States.

Culture consists of shared conceptual representations in an individual's cognition. Thus, there may be cultural differences in the representation of a concept. To assess this possibility, we compared the subjective semantic structure of "privacy" in Iran and the United States. Participants were 200 adults, 100 from Iran and 100 from the United States. In the first phase of the experiment, using the associative terms task, we detected nine of the most frequent terms that were associated with the concept of "privacy" in each culture. In the second phase, using the judged-similarity task, we asked participants to rate the degree to which each of the nine terms from the previous phase was associated with every other term and with the concept of "privacy." Results from a correspondence analysis model suggest similarities in the mapping of terms related to "privacy" along the dichotomous dimension of physical vs. informational concerns. However, cultural differences emerged in a second dimension, the extent to which individualism vs. collectivism was stressed. While "personal privacy" and an individual's relationship with the government was important for American adults, the main focus for Iranian adults was "familial privacy" and family-centered living.

Beyond the Couple: A Qualitative Analysis of Successful In-law Relationships in Iran.

In-laws can play a significant role in the success or failure of marriages around the world. In the Middle East, recent quantitative research indicates that having trouble with in-laws is a major predictor of divorce in Iran. To explore this further, we undertook a qualitative (grounded theory) analysis of in-depth interviews with 17 Iranian daughters-in-law, five sons-in-law, three mothers-in-law, three fathers-in-law, and three expert family clinicians. Emergent concepts, themes, and coding categories were consistent with a Family Triad Model (FTM) of successful marital and in-law relationships, wherein each spouse must (a) form we-ness with their partner, (b) establish flexible boundaries between themselves and their families of origin, and (c) join their in-laws. A higher-order core category suggested that optimal couple and family functioning depends on the coherence or balance of these functions across the triadic role components of spouse, child-in-law, and family-in-law (or family-of-origin). In the changing cultural context of Iran, where blood relations have traditionally held primacy over marital relations, such triadic coherence appears crucial to marital success, at least from the perspective of many women. Our FTM results also highlight the importance of taking in-laws into account when planning educational, preventative, or clinical interventions.

Los parientes políticos pueden desempeñar un papel importante en el éxito o en el fracaso de los matrimonios de todo el mundo. En el Oriente Medio, investigaciones cuantitativas recientes indican que tener problemas con los parientes políticos es un indicador principal de divorcio en Irán. Para analizar esto con mayor profundidad, realizamos un análisis cualitativo (teoría fundamentada) de entrevistas detalladas con 17 nueras, 5 yernos, 3 suegras y 3 suegros iraníes, y 3 clínicos familiares especializados. Los conceptos emergentes, los temas y las categorías de codificación coincidieron con un modelo triádico familiar de relaciones políticas y conyugales armoniosas, en las cuales cada cónyuge debe (a) formar una nostredad con su pareja, (b) establecer límites flexibles entre ellos mismos y sus familias de origen, y (c) unirse a sus familiares políticos. Una categoría de orden superior sugirió que el funcionamiento óptimo de la pareja y la familia depende de la coherencia o el equilibrio de estas funciones en todos los componentes de los roles triádicos de cónyuge, yerno o nuera y familia política (o familia de origen). En el contexto cultural cambiante de Irán, donde los parentescos de sangre tradicionalmente han tenido supremacía sobre las relaciones conyugales, dicha coherencia triádica parece fundamental para el éxito conyugal, al menos desde la perspectiva de muchas mujeres. Nuestros resultados del modelo triádico familiar también destacan la importancia de tener en cuenta a los familiares políticos cuando se planifican intervenciones educativas, preventivas o clínicas.

Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in abused children and their families.

Background: Child abuse is a significant public health and social problem worldwide. It can be described as a failure to provide care and protection for children by the parents or other caregivers. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in abused children and their families. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the psychosocial support unit of a pediatric hospital in Bandar Abbas, Iran, from 2012 to 2013. The participants consisted of child abuse cases and their parents who referred to the psychosocial support unit to receive services. Services delivered in this unit included parenting skills training, psychiatric treatments, and supportive services. The effectiveness of the interventions was assessed with Child Abuse Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ). Participants were assessed at baseline, at 3, and 6 months follow-ups. ANOVA with repeated measures and Friedman test were used to evaluate the effect of the interventions. Results: A total of 68 children and their parents enrolled in this study, of whom 53% were males. Post-intervention follow-ups revealed significant changes in mothers' general health questionnaire (p<0.001), and children's conduct problem (p<0.05), hyperactivity (p<0.001), and peer problems (p<0.05). Physical and emotional abuses significantly decreased (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that psychosocial interventions effectively improved child-parents interaction and mental health of parents. The effectiveness of interventions based on subgroup analysis and implications of the results have been discussed for further development of psychosocial interventions in the health system.

Living with Addicted Men and Codependency: The Moderating Effect of Personality Traits.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the moderating effect of personality traits on the relationship between living with an addicted man and codependency. METHODS: We selected 140 women (70 wives of addicted men and 70 wives of non-addicted men) through convenience sampling method and asked them to complete Spann-Fischer Codependency Scale and NEO-Five Factor Inventory. FINDINGS: Codependency score was significantly higher among addicted men's wives. In addition, for these women, there was a strong positive correlation between codependency and neuroticism as well. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the significant interaction effects of being an addict's wife and personality traits of neuroticism, openness and agreeableness on codependency. CONCLUSION: Not all addicts' wives experienced codependency; women with a high level of neuroticism and low level of openness and agreeableness were more vulnerable to the stress of living with an addict and to codependency.

Factors Associated With Suicidal Attempts in Iran: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Suicide prevention is a health service priority. Some surveys have assessed suicidal behaviors and potential risk factors. OBJECTIVES: The current paper aimed to gather information about etiology of suicide attempts in Iran. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc as well as gray literature were searched. STUDY SELECTION: By electronic and gray literature search, 128 articles were enrolled in this paper. Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc were searched for electronic search. After reading the abstracts, 84 studies were excluded and full texts of 44 articles were reviewed critically. DATA EXTRACTION: Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc as well as gray literature were searched to find any study about etiologic factors of suicide attempt in Iran. RESULTS: Depressive disorder was the most common diagnosis in suicide attempters that is 45% of the evaluated cases had depression. One study that had used Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI) found that Histrionics in females and Schizophrenia and Paranoia in males were significantly influential. Family conflicts with 50.7% and conflict with parents with 44% were two effective psychosocial factors in suicidal attempts. In around one fourth (28.7%) of the cases, conflict with spouse was the main etiologic factor. CONCLUSIONS: According to the methodological limitations, outcomes should be generalized cautiously. Further studies will help to plan preventive strategies for suicidal attempts; therefore, continued researches should be conducted to fill the data gaps.

Parental self-efficacy as a determining factor in healthy mother-child interaction: a pilot study in iran.

OBJECTIVE: Parental self-efficacy is associated with increasing mental health in children. There is a paucity of research in Iran on the role of parental self-efficacy in increasing mental health status of children. In this preliminary study, we studied the effectiveness of the World Health Organization international child development program (2002) for children aged 3 years and younger in increasing positive interaction between child and mother as an important component of mental health. METHODS: Forty mothers from a central hospital child-caring center in Mashhad participated in the study and were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group received the World Health Organization international child development program for 6 consecutive weeks while the control group remained without manipulation. The Parenting Self-Agency Measure (PSAM) was administered at pre-test, post-test and at 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: The study findings indicated that parental efficacy in the experimental group increased after 6 consecutive weeks of training and remained unchanged after 1 month of follow-up while the control group showed no difference regarding scores obtained at three stages of the study. CONCLUSION: International programs such as the World Health Organization international child development program can increase positive child-mother interaction as an important factor which contributes to mental health in early years of life but further studies with larger samples in longer terms and with more follow-up periods in Iran are suggested. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.irct.ir. Unique identifier: IRCT2012073010445N1.

Family function and social support in Iranian self-immolated women.

AIM: The significance of family function and social support in Iranian self-immolated women was investigated in this study. METHODS: In a prospective design, we selected 53 cases (31 self-immolated women and 22 women with unintentional burn) from Tehran and Shiraz burn centre (Motahari and Ghotbeddin Shirazi, respectively). The average age of the experimental group was 26.19 (S=7.11) with a burn percentage of 46.11 (S=25.52), and the average age of the control group was 29.15 (S=5.12) and their burn percentage was 43 (S=25.98). Along with Demographic Information Questionnaire, participants were administered Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Social Support Scale (SSS). To analyse data, we used chi-square test (χ(2)), t-test, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and also logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Data showed that the difference of Family Function sub-scales between the experimental and control groups was not significant (Wilk's lambda=0.75, F=1.67, df=(8, 51), P<0.05). On the other hand, two independent sample t-tests showed a significant difference of Social Support between the two groups (t=-3.31, df=51, P<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous studies, this research showed that the less Social Support one perceives the more one at risk for self-immolation. Although the mean scores of FAD sub-scales in control group were more than experimental group, there was no significant difference between the two groups.