فصلنامه روان شناسی افراد استثنایی
پیاپی 7 (پاییز 1391)

This study is aimed at examining the relationship between coping strategies and social support and mental wellbeing scales in parents. In this applied and correlational research, the population consists of all parents with exceptional and normal children in Kermanshah City. The sample consists of 800 parents who were selected by random and multi-stage sampling. Coping Strategies Scale (CISS-SF, Cohen, 2006), Social Support Scale (MSPSS, Zymt, 1988), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS, Diener, 1985), and positive and negative affect schedule (Watson, 1988) are used for data collection. Results show that there is a significant positive relationship between scores of multiple dimensions of social support, life satisfaction, and positive effect, and there is a negative significant relationship between the scores of the above said with the negative effect. Also, the relationship between the problem-oriented coping strategy and satisfaction with life is found to be positive and insignificant, while the said coping strategy has a positive significant relationship with positive and negative effect. Moreover, there is a significant positive relationship between avoidance coping strategy, life satisfaction, and positive effect, and there is a negative insignificant relationship between the scores of the above said with the negative effect. It can therefore be concluded that since social support and coping styles are related to mental well-being of parents, responsible organizations are recommended to provide timely and free-of-charge psychological services for parents.

This study is aimed at comparing the criteria of friendship and making friends in people with Down syndrome aged between 14 and 24 and other educable mentally retarded groups in Vali-e Asr Rehabilitation Center of Tehran in 2009-2010. In this field research, the statistical population consists of all educable individuals who have Down syndrome and are mentally retarded aged between 14 and 24 in the above said center. 25 persons with Down syndrome and 25 educable mentally retarded people are selected using convenience sampling and are homogenized in terms of particulars such as age, sex, and social-economic class. A test containing 28 questions designed by the researcher is applied and four fields of leisure time, cooperation, positive and negative communicative features are evaluated. The two groups are compared and an independent T test is performed for statistical analysis. Results show that with a reliability of 95%, there is no significant difference between the two groups with regard to spending leisure time together, cooperation and negative communicative features. However, they are significantly different when it comes to positive communicative features, and criteria of friendship and making friends. In other words, people with Down syndrome had a better performance than other educable mentally retarded people in this regard. In centers and schools special for children with mental disability and Down syndrome, issues about education and career are more emphasized, whereas these children need social skills including friendship and making friends. Therefore, these centers are recommended to pay attention to the social skills as well as educational aspect.

The goal of this study is to develop a training program for parents of children with attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and to examine the effect of this program on reduction of ADHD symptoms and family function. In this quasi-experimental research, 24 parents of children with ADHD are selected through a cluster random sampling method and are assigned randomly into two experiment and control groups (12 in each group). ADHD, parental stress, and parenting styles are respectively evaluated utilizing DSM-IV (2000) criteria, PSI/SF (Abidin, 1983, cited in Strachan, 2005), and Robinson’s et al., (2000) Parenting Styles Questionnaire. The data analysis using ANCOVA and MANOVA revealed that this program could improve stress level and parenting styles. No significant difference was observed for reduction of ADHD symptoms. Accordingly, it can be concluded that this program is useful for improving family function.

The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study is to investigate the relationship between goal orientations in mathematics and dimensions of creativity among students of schools for the gifted and talented, public schools for high achieving students, and ordinary public schools. To this end, 410 high school junior students (216 girls and 194 boys) are selected by stratified-cluster sampling. Mathematics Goal Orientations Scale and Multiple-Choice Paper-Pencil Questionnaire of Creativity are used as measuring instruments. The components of Mathematics Goal Orientations Scale include mastery goal-orientation, performance-approach goal-orientation, and performance-avoidance goal-orientation. Fluency, elaboration, originality, and flexibility are the four dimensions of Multiple-Choice Paper-Pencil Questionnaire of Creativity. Previous investigations in Iran have revealed validity and reliability of these instruments. Also, internal validity of these instruments is confirmed in the present study. The results are indicative of positive correlations between mastery goal-orientation, performance-approach goal-orientation and dimensions of creativity. In contrast, there is a negative relationship between performance-avoidance goal-orientation and dimensions of creativity. Multiple regression analysis revealed that mastery goal-orientation is the most important predictor of creativity dimensions and total creativity. Also, performance-approach goal-orientation positively predicted flexibility of creation. Increase in performance-avoidance goal-orientation reduces creativity in terms of fluency. This investigation revealed that students of regular public schools, achievers are less mastery goal-oriented compared to students of public schools for high. In contrast, these students are more performance-avoidance goal-oriented compared to high achievers. In addition, students of schools for the gifted and talented and public schools for high achievers are more fluent in thinking. Students of public schools for high achievers showed more fluency and elaboration in comparison with students of ordinary public schools.

The aim of this study is to predict adaptive behaviors of students with intellectual disabilities on the basis of parenting styles. The statistical population of this research includes all mothers of students with intellectual disabilities in Shiraz city, out of which 101 mothers are selected by random cluster sampling. Parenting styles questionnaire (Robinson et al., 1995) is used for measuring parenting styles and Lambert's Adaptive Behavior Inventory is applied for measuring the adaptive behavior of students with intellectual disabilities. The data analysis done by using multiple regression test shows that authoritarian and permissive parenting styles is a significant positive predictor of antisocial, outburst behavior, violent and disruptive, and stereotypic behaviors, isolation and psychological distress, spleeny and socially inappropriate behaviors (p<. /.1). Moreover, the research showed there are no significant relationship between authoritative parenting style and adaptive behaviors of students with intellectual disabilities. According to the finding of this research, designing family training workshops for enhancing knowledge and awareness of parents about parenting styles and their effects on children is necessary so as to improve the adaptive behavior of students with intellectual disabilities by changing the mothers’ attitudes and improving family relationships.

This research is aimed at assessing and comparing the degree of emotional intelligence, self- esteem, and depression in crime victim and non-victim girls aged between 15 and 18. The sample includes 31 crime victims living in the Welfare and Rehabilitation Organization of Tehran and 31 non-victim girls who have interaction with them as visitors. They are selected via convenience sampling and homogenized in terms of age and education. The data are gathered by applying Cooper's Emotional Intelligence, Beck's Depression Inventory, Cooper Smith Self- Esteem Questionnaire. The results indicated that girls who are crime victims have high depression, low self-esteem and emotional intelligence scores, though the scores are not pathologically low. Based on the findings of this research, parents are recommended to learn about emotional intelligence abilities and apply them on their daughters who are likely to be victims of social harms.

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of aerobic exercises on improving the visual and auditory attention of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In this quasi-experimental study, 30 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are selected from among the six year-old preschool children of Isfahan city via random cluster sampling method and are then randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (each group consists of 15 children). The experimental group performed aerobic exercises. The instruments used include the neuropsychological test of NEPSY, (SNAP-IV) parent rating scale and clinical interview. The gathered data are analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The findings indicate that aerobic exercise can improve visual and auditory attention of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The purpose of this study is to investigate personality traits and adjustment of mothers of normal and mentally retarded children in Tehran. The statistical population includes all mothers who in Tehran. The sample consists of 200 mothers (100 mothers with mentally retarded children and 100 with normal children) that were selected by convenience sampling method. For data collection, Bell’s social adjustment scale and Cattell’s 16 personality factor questionnaire are used in this study. The data are analyzed by using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance and T test. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between mothers of mentally retarded children and those of normal girls in terms of personality traits and adjustment. It means that mothers of mentally retarded children have lower adjustment level compared with mothers of normal girls. Also mothers of normal children have shown higher level of personality factors in general intelligence, emotional stability, creating a strong and stable temperament than mothers of mentally retarded children. According to the research findings, it is suggested that providing special trainings for parents can reduce stress, increase adaptability and is generally effective in improving mental health.