دکتر محمد صادق زمانی زارچی

The purpose of this study was to compare sexual function, body image concern, and sexual self-esteem in women after natural delivery with episiotomy and cesarean delivery. 

This research was causal-comparative. The statistical population included all women referring to medical centers affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2021, of whom 200 participants (100 women with natural delivery and 100 women with cesarean delivery) were selected as a sample using the available sampling method. The female Sexual Function Index, Body Image Concern Inventory, and Sexual Self-Esteem Index were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed via independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance.

The results showed a significant difference between sexual function and sexual self-esteem in women with a natural delivery and cesarean delivery (P=0.05). In addition, although both groups experienced body image concerns, no significant difference was found between the scores in the two groups (P=0.05). 

The evidence indicates that although women with natural delivery experience better sexual function than women with cesarean delivery, they may suffer from lower sexual self-esteem and appearance dissatisfaction compared to the other group.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the efficacy of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy on cognitive flexibility and self-esteem among women who had experienced the trauma of infidelity. The research method was experimental, and the design was quasi-experimental, utilizing pre- and post-test with a control group. In 2017, the statistical population included women in Tehran, Iran who had experienced the trauma of infidelity and sought help from counseling centers and family courts. On the basis of the study’s criteria, thirty couples were selected using a method of purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy, while the control group received no training. The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI; Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010) and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES; Rosenberg, 1965) were administered to all participants. SPSS 22 software was used to conduct a multivariate analysis of covariance on the data. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) results indicated that group-based acceptance and commitment therapy significantly increased the average post-test scores of self-esteem and cognitive flexibility in the experimental group (p<0.05). Based on the findings, family counselors and therapists can use acceptance and commitment therapy to enhance self-esteem and cognitive flexibility in women who have experienced the trauma of infidelity.

COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine have led to many problems for families. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and strategies of mothers with pre-school and primary school children during the coronavirus epidemic. In order to do this phenomenological study and based on the data saturation principle, 21 mothers having pre-school and primary school children in Tehran in 2021 were interviewed and then, the data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. In terms of challenges, 15 sub-themes were extracted, that were classified into 5 main themes, "children's behavioral problems", "children's educational concerns", disruption of life routines"٬ "mother's individual problems" and "health concerns". In the second domain, which dealt with Strategies, 10 sub-themes were obtained in the form of 3 main themes: "creating fun and entertainment for children", "Applying solutions in confronting with the child's behavioral and educational challenges", "other people cooperation with the mother in upbringing". The results showed that the coronavirus epidemic caused challenges for mothers with pre-school and primary school children, which affected some aspects of their lives. On the other hand, mothers have adopted various strategies in confronting new conditions. The results of this study may help to better understand the experiences of mothers of preschool and primary school children and also to reduce the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on families by providing the necessary support.

The present study aimed to compare parenting stress, externalizing and internalizing problems of preschool children in working and non-working Mothers. This descriptive study is causal-comparative. In this study, all mothers of preschool children aged 4 to 6 years old in nurseries of Tehran City were considered as the statistical population. The sample size consisted of 230 subjects (115 working and 115 non-working), who were selected via multistage cluster sampling method. In order to collect the data, all participants were asked to complete Abidin's Parenting Stress Index (PSI, 1990) and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL, 1991). Iindependent t-test, multivariate analysis of variance and SPSS22 software were used to analyze the data. The results showed that both groups of working and non-working mothers showed a high level of parenting stress; however, there was no significant difference between parenting stress in the two groups (P <0.05). Regarding the externalizing problems, there was a significant difference between the two groups. In terms of internalizing problems, although there was no significant difference between the total scores of two groups, the scores of two components i.e. emotional reactivity and sleep problems were significantly different (P <0.05).Based on the results, both working and non-working mothers face parenting stress and children's problems. Accordingly, it is recommended to design and provide therapeutic and preventive interventions to improve maternal stress and children's problems.

Infertility has been recognized worldwide as a stressful, critical and threatening experience of personal, marital, family and social stability throughout the world and across cultures. But the key question is, does emotion-focused therapy affect perceived social support and the loneliness of infertile couples?

The effect of emotion-focused couple therapy on perceived social support and loneliness in infertile couples.

This study was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design with control group. The statistical population consisted of infertile couples referring to private centers for women and infertility in Qom in the second half of 2015 and the first half of 2016. Thirty couples were selected by purposive sampling and were randomly divided into two groups (15 couples) and control (15 couples). Research instruments include the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (Zimet, Dahlm, Zimet & Farley, 1988), the Adult Social Emotional Loneliness Scale (Ditomas, Bernen & Bast, 2004) and the Johnson Couple Training Program (2004). Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of covariance.

The results showed that emotion-focused couple therapy significantly increased the mean scores of perceived social support variable and its subscales (friends support, family support and support). Specific individuals) in the test group (P<0/05). The results also showed that the mean of post-test scores of variable sense of loneliness and its subscales (romantic loneliness, family loneliness and social loneliness) were significantly different in the experimental and control groups (P<0/05).

Couple-based training in emotion-focused therapy improved perceived social support in couples and reduced their sense of loneliness.

Marital infidelity is a painful and complicated phenomenon that causes numerous problems, such as shock, confusion, anger, depression and reduced self-esteem in a betrayed person. Given the importance of identity as a traumatic event, the purpose of this study was to address the various dimensions of betrayal of the spouses. The methodology used in this research is descriptive-analytic, and the data is provided in a library method using tools such as books, articles, previous research, and the Internet. At first, the concept of infidelity was dealt with and followed by theoretical perspectives, antecedents, consequences, and influencing factors. Based on the ideas and views mentioned in this research, marital infidelity has various forms, including emotional, sexual and virtual, and can be triggered by social, psychological and biological factors.
Additionally, the phenomenon of marital infidelity may have different consequences at individual, social and functional levels. In the end, while discussing and concluding, strategies for prevention and treatment were presented. The results of this research can be a guide for counselors and family therapists and community health professionals to help vulnerable people.

Infidelity is one of the most harmful interpersonal issues in family, which in many cases can lead to the development of emotional and behavioral symptoms in the person who has been betrayed. In this regard, the present study was undertaken with the aim to identifying the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group counseling on feeling of loneliness in women suffering from the trauma of infidelity. The research method was experimental and the design was quasi-experimental using pretest-posttest with control group. The statistical population included women victims of infidelity referring to counseling centers and family courts in Tehran, Iran, in 2017. Thirty couples were selected via purposeful and available sampling method based on the study’s criteria and randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15) (finally were investigated through dual assessment of pretest-posttest). All participants were asked to complete UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, Peplau & Cutrona, 1980). In addition, the participants in the experimental group attended 8 sessions of 90-minute acceptance and commitment group counseling and the control group received no training. The results of univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that acceptance and commitment group counseling significantly decreased the post-test average scores of feeling of loneliness in experimental group. Thus, it could be concluded that acceptance and commitment group counseling is an effective method in reducing feeling of loneliness in women suffering from the trauma of infidelity and can be used by counselors and therapists in the field of family therapy.

Divorce is a reality in the lives of many people around the world. This phenomenon is affecting people's lives in many ways and is the origin of complex emotional, cognitive and physical changes in the family, especially children. In this regard, this study was conducted to explore the lived experience of children of divorce about their emotional experiences. In this qualitative study, a phenomenological framework was adopted. The population under study was 17 adolescents aged 12-18 years old; who had experienced the separation of their parents. The participants were selected purposively, and selection continued until data saturation. Data collected by semi-structured and face-to-face individual interviews. The data were analyzed using the Colaizzi`s proposed stages. The thematic analysis resulted in three sub-themes for emotional experiences including anger and hate, fear and feeling of defenseless. According to findings, the adolescents participating in the study faced with a variety of emotions and experiences during the divorce and thereafter. Based on the results, children of divorce have numerous mental and environmental perceptions and experiences which in some cases can affect their well-being and mental health. The results emphasize the need for a deeper explanation of the lived experience of these people by psychologists and social workers and implementing therapeutic interventions based on the content derived from the present study, focusing on improving their emotional states.

Self-differentiation is one of the most important concepts in family studies, which plays an essential role in creating conflicts and problems in marital relationships. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of emotionally-focused couple group therapy on self-differentiation of couples with conflict. The research method was quasi-experimental using pretest, posttest, and a control group. The study population included all couples referring to counseling center of psychology faculty of Tehran University in 2016. The study sample consisted of twenty couples who were selected via the available sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups; ten couples each. To collect the data, the Skowron and Smith’ self-differentiation questionnaire(2003) was used. Participants in the experimental group attended eight sessions of ninety-minute emotionally focused couple group therapy and the control group received no intervention. In the end, both groups completed the tests. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance. Results indicated that emotionally focused couple group therapy has decreased “Emotional Cutoff” and strengthened “I Position” in the experimental group. However, it has not created a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in two components “Emotional Reactivity” and “Fusion with Others”. Results of this research showed that the emotionally focused couple group therapy has a significant positive effect on the self-differentiation of conflicted couples. Accordingly, the emotionally focused couple group therapy is an effective way of increasing the self-differentiation in conflicted couples and can be used by therapists in the field of family therapy

This study aimed to compare perceived style of parenting¡ general styles of decision-making and occupational tendencies in two groups of professors from faculties of humanities and basic sciences of Shahid Beheshti University. The research sample is constituted by 67 faculty members from basic sciences (physics¡ chemistry¡ and mathematics) and 53 professors from humanities who have been classified using random sampling. The data was collected via perceived parenting style questionnaire by Arrindell. (S-EMBU¡ 1999) and general decision-making styles questionnaire developed by Bruce and Scott (1995). Professors’ specialized major was considered as their occupational tendency. The collected data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient¡ multivariable regression¡ and variance analysis. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean¡ standard deviation) and multivariate variance analysis. The results showed that there are significant relations between the perceived styles of parenting and occupational tendencies. Regarding decision-making styles¡ there was seen a considerable difference between rational decision-making style and occupational tendency such that this style was more noticed among basic sciences faculty members. As for other components¡ no significant difference was observed. Hence¡ rational decision-making style and rejected parenting are useful ways of predicting one’s occupational tendency.