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Objective : This study examined the effectiveness of a group counseling program based on Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in reducing interpersonal sensitivity and enhancing perceived self-efficacy among male high school students with social anxiety. Methods : A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used. Thirty male students from District 1 of Mashhad, Iran, who met criteria for social anxiety, were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). Participants completed the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), Perceived Competence Scale for Children (PCSC), and Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised (SASC-R) before and after the intervention. The experimental group received an eight-week CFT-based counseling program, held once weekly for 90 minutes and facilitated by a licensed psychologist trained in CFT, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA. Results : The CFT-based program significantly reduced interpersonal sensitivity (F(1, 27) = 18.215, p< .001, η² = 0.403) and improved cognitive competence (F(1, 27) = 6.67, p = .015, η² = 0.198). No significant effects were observed for social or physical competence. Conclusion : These findings provide evidence that CFT reduces interpersonal sensitivity and enhances cognitive competence among adolescents with social anxiety. Although effects did not extend to social or physical competence, the results highlight the potential of CFT as a feasible school-based intervention. Future studies should examine whether integrating behavioral components can extend benefits to externally validated competence domains. This research supports CFT as a culturally adaptable, school-friendly intervention for non-Western contexts.
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Objective: Marital conflicts negatively affect couples’ emotional, communicative, and social functioning, ultimately leading to the deterioration of their relationships. The present study aimed to predict the occurrence of marital conflicts based on forgiveness, humor, and intimacy. Methods: This research employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all women with marital conflicts in the city of Rasht, among whom 150 individuals were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), and the Marital Forgiveness Scale (MFS). Data analyses were conducted using Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise regression analysis in SPSS-22. Results: The findings indicated that marital conflicts had a significant negative relationship with forgiveness, humor, and emotional intimacy. Additionally, the stepwise regression analysis showed that the predictor variables explained 22.6% of marital conflicts in the first step, 30.4% in the second step, and 35.5% in the third step (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that increasing forgiveness, humor, and emotional intimacy between couples can reduce the level of marital conflicts.
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Objective : This study aimed to assess the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and public speaking anxiety among students at Mizan-Aman Health Science College, South West Ethiopia. Methods : An institutional-based cross-sectional survey design was employed. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents from each stratum, resulting in a total of 320 participants (154 males and 166 females). Data were collected using the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) scale and the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Percentages, independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to address the study's specific objectives. Results : The analysis revealed that the prevalence of public speaking anxiety was 28.1%. The mean public speaking anxiety scores for female students (M = 54.15, SD = 10.99) were significantly higher than those of male respondents (M = 47.90, SD = 11.04), t(318) = -5.07, p = 0.01. Significant mean differences was reported among students with different year level. A moderate to low negative correlation was observed between the Big Five personality traits and public speaking anxiety, except for agreeableness, which showed a positive correlation. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that 20.5% of the variance in public speaking anxiety could be explained by personality traits. Conclusion : The findings suggest that the Big Five personality traits significantly correlate with public speaking anxiety. Gender differences were also reported in this study. Thus, special consideration should be given to female students in speaking classes.
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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of intimacy and sexual knowledge in predicting marital quality, with attachment style as a mediator, among Iranian couples.
Methods: This research employed a correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The population consisted of couples referred to psychotherapy and welfare centers in Tabriz in 2023, from which 250 participants were selected via multistage random sampling. Data were collected using the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), Intimacy Scale (IS), Sexual Knowledge Questionnaire (SKQ), and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R). For data analysis, SPSS version 26 was used for descriptive and correlation analyses, and AMOS version 24 was applied for structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships between variables.
Results: The sample size was found to be adequate for structural equation modeling (KMO=0.89). Intimacy (β=0.41, P<0.001) and sexual knowledge (β=0.20, P<0.01) had direct effects on marital quality, while attachment style significantly mediated these relationships (P<0.001). The proposed model showed a good fit to the data (χ²/df=2.15, RMSEA=0.06).
Conclusions: They suggest that counselors and therapists should prioritize integrating these essential elements into their therapeutic approaches and interventions to promote healthier, more fulfilling partnerships.
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Objective : The present research, conducted in two complementary studies, aimed to explore the meaning of life and aspirations among the elderly. Methods : The first study adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach, and the second a quantitative descriptive-survey method. Participants were elderly residents of Rasht in 2024. In the qualitative phase, 10 individuals were selected purposefully based on theoretical data saturation and interviewed through semi-structured questions. In the quantitative phase, 100 participants were selected through convenience sampling and completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and Aspiration Index (AI). Data in the first study were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Findings : Three main themes emerged: safety, self-transcendence, and love and affection. Safety included subthemes of physical health, recreation and vitality, peace, and financial independence. Self-transcendence comprised satisfaction and personal growth, while love and affection included constructive interaction with others and wishing happiness for them. The quantitative results supported the qualitative findings, indicating that elderly individuals tend toward intrinsic aspirations such as maintaining health, spiritual connection, and social cooperation. No significant gender differences were found in meaning of life and aspirations (P > 0.05). Conclusion: As age increases, inner satisfaction, spirituality, and concern for others’ well-being become central to the meaning of life and aspirations in old age.
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Objective: This study aimed to explore women’s lived experiences regarding the psychosocial consequences of oocyte cryopreservation.
Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted. Through employing purposive sampling, 15 women with oocyte cryopreservation experience were selected. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. The study’s population consisted of women aged 26–40 years who had undergone oocyte cryopreservation. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit participants from obstetrics and gynecology centers specializing in fertility preservation.
Findings: The analysis revealed two main categories: psychological consequences and social consequences. Psychological consequences included five subcategories: anxiety, reduced fear of the future, mental order, reduced financial worries, and decreased psychological pressure. Social consequences comprised three subcategories: criticism and opposition from others, cultural pressures, and social role and identity.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that women who chose oocyte cryopreservation generally made informed decisions and experienced relative internal satisfaction. However, they often faced social challenges, including cultural resistance and opposition from their social circles. It is essential to promote broader cultural awareness and acceptance to reduce social interference and support women’s autonomous reproductive choices.
