مطالب

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Sandplay Therapy in reducing self-handicapping behaviors and improving the quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 children diagnosed with ASD, who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 15) receiving Sandplay Therapy or the control group (n = 15) receiving no intervention. The intervention consisted of eight 90-minute sessions conducted over eight weeks. Self-handicapping behaviors were measured using the Self-Handicapping Scale (SHS), and quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), both of which demonstrated established validity and reliability. Assessments were conducted at pre-test, post-test, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, with post-hoc comparisons conducted using the Bonferroni test. The results indicated a significant reduction in self-handicapping behaviors in the experimental group from pre-test (M = 42.85, SD = 4.31) to post-test (M = 31.76, SD = 3.76) and further at follow-up (M = 29.45, SD = 3.45), while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Similarly, quality of life improved significantly in the experimental group, with scores increasing from pre-test (M = 52.12, SD = 5.12) to post-test (M = 63.45, SD = 4.78) and follow-up (M = 67.32, SD = 4.50), whereas the control group remained stable. ANOVA results confirmed significant main effects of time and group, as well as a significant interaction effect (p < 0.05). Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons indicated that improvements were sustained at follow-up. Sandplay Therapy is an effective intervention for reducing self-handicapping behaviors and enhancing the quality of life in children with ASD, with sustained benefits observed at follow-up. These findings highlight the potential of nonverbal, expressive therapies in supporting emotional regulation and adaptive functioning in children with ASD.

Objective: This research was conducted to investigate the role of neuroticism, marital empathy, and marital forgiveness in predicting marital satisfaction in married women. Methods: The research method utilized in the present study was the correlation-regression method. The research population comprised married women residing in the geographical area of Lorestan province. The research sample was selected using the multi-stage cluster random sampling method, with a total of 840 participants. The instruments of the present study comprised standard questionnaires, including the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale, the NEO-FFI Questionnaire, the Marital Empathy Scale, and the Marital Forgiveness Scale. Employing SPSS software, the acquired data underwent comprehensive analysis. Results: Through multiple linear regression, the model explains 46% of marital satisfaction variance. Standardized coefficients highlight neuroticism's adverse impact, while empathy and forgiveness positively influence satisfaction. A unit increase in forgiveness and empathy corresponds to 0.349 and 0.285 satisfaction units, respectively, whereas neuroticism predicts a 0.324 unit decrease. Hierarchically, forgiveness exerts the greatest influence, followed by neuroticism and empathy. Conclusion: This research emphasizes the need to address neuroticism, encourage marital empathy, and promote forgiveness as essential factors enhancing marital satisfaction, offering valuable insights for individuals and professionals in family counseling, therapy, and policymaking.