Effects of Knowledge of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) on Life Changes in People without NDEs.

Background and Objective: Near-death experiences (NDEs) greatly change the lives of Near-death experiencers (NDErs); however, the influence of the knowledge of these experiences on other people is unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of knowledge of NDEs on various aspects of life and the sleep quality of those without NDEs. Methods: The research population consisted of people aged 12-60 years living in a number of different cities in Iran during 2021. A total of 766 out of 800 individuals who met the inclusion criteria completed the self-report questionnaires. Also, 466 respondents (60.8%) were women. Results: The findings of the study indicated that 57.6%, 58.1%, 72.1%, 79.6%, and 70.9% of the respondents acquired knowledge about NDEs through reading books and articles, watching movies and clips, using social media and networks, listening to lectures, and chatting with friends, respectively. Data analysis showed that 40% of the respondents reported a drastic change in their views or feelings and 57% experienced positive effects in their lives after learning about NDEs. Overall, the data in this study confirmed that most individuals were profoundly affected after exposure to NDEs. Conclusion: Knowledge of NDEs improves the quality of life, mental health, sleep quality, and the understanding of the life and death of most individuals without NDEs. Although there are some changes that are not necessarily positive and in some cases changes have been associated with negative consequences, later in this paper, the relevant associations and cautions are discussed.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Spence Children's Anxiety Scale in Iranian Adolescents.

The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is a tool for measuring anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. In this study, the psychometric properties of the Persian version of SCAS were investigated in an Iranian adolescents. This study was conducted on a sample of 684 adolescents. For standardization of SCAS, first- and second-order confirmatory factor analyses wereperformed. Also, to evaluate convergent and divergent validity, Fornell and Larcker criteria (1994), along with the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS)and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), was used. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performedto determine the cut-off point. The model fit of the correlated six-factor model was good however, a second-order model provided a statistically superior fit to the data. The reliability coefficients for the total scale and its dimensions were satisfactory (α > 0.7). Therefore, it can be concluded that the Persian version of SCAS has acceptable reliability and validity and can be used as a useful tool for early screening of anxiety in Iranian adolescents due to its easy use and specific design for children and adolescents.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Children's Depression Inventory in Iranian Adolescents.

Objectives: Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) is a self-report tool for measuring depression in children and adolescents. In this study, the psychometric properties of the Persian version of CDI were investigated in an Iranian adolescent population. Methods: This study was conducted on a sample of 480 adolescent boys and girls in the age range of 12-18 years. The results showed that 23.6% of the study population were 11-13 years old, 62.1% were 14-16 years old, and 14.3% were 17-18 years old. Also, 48.5% of the sample were girls, and 51.5% were boys. To investigate the convergent and divergent validity, Beck's Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) and Teenage Inventory of Social Skills were used, respectively. Results: The reliability coefficient of CDI, based on Cronbach's alpha, indicated the relatively high internal consistency of the items (0.907). The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that CDI has a saturated factor, explaining 50.11% of the variance in the data. Also, goodness-of-fit indices of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model is well suited for explaining depression. The present results also showed a negative correlation between children's depression and the social skills subscale and a positive correlation between children's depression and BDI-II score. Conclusions: The construct validity of the questionnaire was confirmed. It can be concluded that the Persian version of CDI has adequate reliability and validity. Therefore, it can be used as a useful tool for early screening of depression in adolescents due to its easy use and specific design for children and adolescents.

Five-factor model trait profiles of narcissistic grandiosity and narcissistic vulnerability in Iranian university students.

This study examined the relationship between pathological narcissism, narcissistic grandiosity, narcissistic vulnerability and the five-factor model of personality. Participants consisted of 290 undergraduate students from four universities in three different cities in Iran, recruited by available sampling, Instruments, including, Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) were also completed for the participants. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that narcissistic grandiosity was positively associated with extraversion and openness, while narcissistic vulnerability and overall pathological narcissism were positively associated with neuroticism and negatively related to agreeableness and openness (only for narcissistic vulnerability). The results are consistent with prior research in Western cultures (e.g., United States, Germany) and revealed that neuroticism is a common factor in narcissistic vulnerability and pathological narcissism which suggested pathological narcissism may be a distinct dimension from normal narcissism. Also, there were various contributors of personality traits for narcissistic grandiosity and narcissistic vulnerability which can be considered as a support for the distinction of two phenotypes of pathological narcissism.

Psychometric Properties of the Abdominal Pain Index (API) in the Iranian Adolescent Population.

Considering the high prevalence of abdominal pain in children and adolescents in Iran, it is essential to use appropriate screening tools. One of the most comprehensive, yet concise, tools for this purpose is the Abdominal Pain Index (API). This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the self-report API in adolescents. In this descriptive study, A total of 162 Iranian adolescents in the age range of 12 to 18 years were considered as the sample group, which included two groups of school students (n = 125) and adolescent patients with abdominal pain (n = 37). Clinical sample was selected by the available sampling method, and nonclinical sample was selected by the cluster sampling method. Adolescents in the sample group were selected from both clinical and nonclinical groups in order to evaluate differential validity. Instruments, including API, somatic symptoms subscale of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), were also completed for the participants. Also, to evaluate the construct validity of API, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods were applied. The exploratory factor analysis identified one general factor, and the confirmatory factor analysis results show the model's satisfactory fitting. Also, the researchers' hypothesis, i.e., API is a single-factor model (with five items), was approved. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was satisfactory for the total scale (α < 0.7). This study showed that API could be used with considerable confidence for Iranian children and adolescents with chronic pain.