Mindfulness

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the quality of life and resilience of women suffering from chronic pain. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study using a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The sample consisted of 120 women with chronic pain who visited medical centers in Tonekabon, from which 30 were selected through simple random sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group (15 per group). Data were collected using the Quality of Life Questionnaire (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (2003). The experimental group received eight weekly sessions based on the Kabat-Zinn protocol (2003). During this period, the control group did not receive any training. Data were analyzed using repeated measures and SPSS software version 22. Findings: The results indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly improved the quality of life (F=15.25, p<0.001) and resilience (F=38.86, p<0.001) of women with chronic pain. Conclusion: It can be concluded that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy enhances the quality of life and resilience of women with chronic pain and therefore, this therapy can be utilized to alleviate the problems faced by women with chronic pain.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group exercises and Emotion-Focused Group Therapy (EFGT) on the authentic happiness of critically ill inpatients and those recovered from COVID-19. Methods: The research utilized a quasi-experimental design with three groups (one control group and two experimental groups), conducted in three phases (pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up). The study population included all critically ill patients hospitalized and then recovered from COVID-19 during the second quarter of 2021 at Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad. A sample size of 15 patients per group, totaling 45 patients, was considered. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups using a convenience sampling method. The training group (1) received eight 45-minute sessions of Emotion-Focused Group Therapy by Greenberg, Warwar, and Malcolm (2008), and training group (2) underwent eight 120-minute sessions of MBSR by Kabat-Zinn (2005), while the control group did not receive any treatment. Data were collected using Rashid's (2008) Authentic Happiness Inventory and analyzed using mixed ANOVA with repeated measures through SPSS-23 software. Findings: Results indicated that although both treatments had an effect on authentic happiness and its components up to the follow-up stage (p < 0.01), no significant difference in the effectiveness of the two treatments on authentic happiness in patients was observed. Conclusion: This research could broadly benefit the psychological state improvement in critically ill inpatients and those recovering from acute or chronic illnesses.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of adolescent-specific psychological security training with adolescent-centered mindfulness training on the well-being of adolescents experiencing psychological insecurity. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases, involving two experimental groups and one control group. The population included all male students aged 14 to 16 years in the city of Isfahan. Sixty students were selected through convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to the study groups. The research instrument was the Ryff Well-Being Questionnaire (1989). All three groups were assessed at three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up using this instrument. The first experimental group received well-being training, while the second group received adolescent-centered mindfulness training. The control group was placed on a waiting list. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (repeated measures analysis of variance). Findings: The results indicated that both methods were effective in improving the well-being of these adolescents, and there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in this regard (P = 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that both methods can enhance the psychological well-being of this group of adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based compassion therapy and positive cognitive-behavioral therapy on ambiguity tolerance in female heads of households in Shahrekord. Methods: The research design was a quasi-experimental one, employing a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population included female heads of households in Shahrekord. Sixty participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (20 participants per group). The experimental groups underwent 8 sessions of mindfulness-based compassion therapy and positive cognitive-behavioral therapy, each lasting 120 minutes. To determine the effectiveness of the interventions, the McLain Ambiguity Tolerance Questionnaire (1993) was used, and the data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings: The findings showed that the effectiveness of mindfulness-based compassion therapy and positive cognitive-behavioral therapy compared to the control group on ambiguity tolerance in the post-test were (0.691) and (0.560), and in the follow-up were (0.755) and (0.632), respectively. Additionally, the results indicated that mindfulness-based compassion therapy was more effective than positive cognitive-behavioral therapy. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, mindfulness-based compassion therapy can be used as a more sustainable and effective intervention than positive cognitive-behavioral therapy to increase ambiguity tolerance in female heads of households.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group compassion training and group choice theory training on mindfulness and needs satisfaction in couples at risk of divorce in Rasht. Methods: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and control group, including a follow-up phase. The statistical population consisted of couples at risk of divorce who referred to counseling centers approved by the Welfare Organization of Rasht in 2023. A total of 60 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (compassion training and choice theory training) and one control group (20 participants in each group). The research utilized the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale as the main instruments. Both interventions were conducted in eight 90-minute sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS 26. Findings: The results revealed significant differences in the effectiveness of group compassion training and group choice theory training (p < .01). Group compassion training was found to be more effective than choice theory training in improving mindfulness and needs satisfaction. Both training types significantly impacted mindfulness and needs satisfaction in couples at risk of divorce (p < .01). Conclusion: Both group compassion training and group choice theory training were effective in improving mindfulness and needs satisfaction among couples at risk of divorce, with compassion training showing greater effectiveness. These findings suggest that compassion training may provide a more suitable approach for enhancing psychological well-being in couples facing marital challenges.