فریبرز باقری

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of schema therapy on reducing sexual aversion and enhancing sexual self-efficacy. Methods: The research utilized a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments. Thirty couples experiencing sexual aversion and low sexual self-efficacy were selected from counseling centers in Karaj, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to either a schema therapy group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). The schema therapy group received 8 to 10 sessions of intervention. Two standardized questionnaires, the Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and the Sexual Aversion Inventory, were used to measure outcomes. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), and follow-up tests were conducted to assess the stability of the intervention effects over time. Findings: The findings revealed that schema therapy significantly improved sexual self-efficacy and reduced sexual aversion in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < .01). These improvements were sustained during the follow-up phase, with no significant decline in outcomes. The post-test and follow-up results demonstrated that schema therapy had a lasting positive impact on participants’ sexual health. The control group, in contrast, showed no significant changes across the measurement phases. Conclusion: Schema therapy was found to be an effective intervention for reducing sexual aversion and increasing sexual self-efficacy. The sustained improvements suggest that schema therapy offers long-term benefits for individuals struggling with these sexual issues. This study highlights the importance of addressing early maladaptive schemas to improve sexual health and relationship satisfaction.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mentalization-based training and positive thinking for parents of children with autism on their reflective functioning and their children's aggression. Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population included all parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) enrolled in day centers for education and rehabilitation of individuals with ASD in Tehran during the 2022-2023 academic year, and their children. A total of 32 parent-child pairs were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (16 parents) or the control group (16 parents). Data collection tools for parents included the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (Fonagy, 2016), and for children, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist Aggression Scale (2001) Parent Form. Initially, a pretest was administered to both groups, and the Aggression Scale was completed by the parents for their children. The mentalization-based and positive thinking training package (Fonagy) was then conducted in 12 sessions of 120 minutes each for the experimental group. Subsequently, a posttest was administered to both groups, and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire and Positive Beliefs Questionnaire were completed by the mothers, while the Aggression Scale was again completed by the parents for their children. A follow-up phase occurred three months later. Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings: The results indicated that the impact of mentalization-based and positive thinking training on the components of reflective functioning (F = 14.35) and aggression (F = 7.17) in children was significant (P < 0.01), and this effect persisted through the follow-up phase. Conclusion: Given the results, it appears that mentalization-based and positive thinking training, by enhancing reflection on mental states, emotional regulation, and the ability to enjoy pleasant events, provides a suitable context for reflective functioning. This, in turn, leads to a reduction in aggression in children with autism.

 Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of reality therapy on improving psychological capital and sense of cohesion among Iranian Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Method: This study was performed in Tehran in 2021. Sampling was employed to select 36 participants who completed the Psychological Capital Questionnaire and Sense of Cohesion Scale in the pretest, posttest, and onemonth follow-up stages. The participants of the experimental group underwent eight weekly 90-minute sessions to receive the online reality therapy; However, the control group received no intervention. Results: Data analysis showed a significant difference in psychological capital and sense of cohesion in the experimental group compared to the control group (P< 0/05). There was a significant difference in three subscales of psychological capital (i.e., self-efficacy, resilience, and hope) and two subscales of the sense of cohesion (i.e., perceptibility and controllability) in Patients with MS in the experimental group (P <0.05), but no significant difference in optimism (a subscale of the psychological capital) and significance (a subscale of sense of cohesion) (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Due to the effects of reality therapy on patients with multiple sclerosis, this psychological therapy can be employed to improve the psychological capital and sense of cohesion.