psychological well

Hirsutism in many cases is a beauty problem in women, which is due to hormonal disorders such as malfunctioning of the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and non-endocrine hereditary characteristics or drug use.

This cross-sectional correlation study was done on 76 women aged 18 to 40 suffering from hirsutism who referred to laser therapy. The instrument prepared for the evaluation in this research was Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD-YBOCS). Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and defense mechanisms were studied through the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ). In the descriptive statistics section, mean, frequency, and standard deviation (SD) indices were used, and multiple regression tests were used in the inferential statistical section. For statistical analysis, data were analyzed using SPSS statistical analysis software.

The results of the multiple regression showed that there was a positive and significant relationship (P < 0.05) between the investigated characteristics of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) (r = 0.46), psychological distresses (r = 0.33), and defense mechanisms (r = 0.46), with hirsutism and based on the results of the studied components, stress with 11%, BDD with 21%, and developed defense mechanisms with 17% were able to explain the changes related to hirsutism disease in this research samples.

The present study showed that there was a significant relationship between hirsutism and BDD, stress, and mature defense mechanisms, which directly and indirectly indicates the importance of two-way communication between specialists in other fields and mental health specialists to improve the quality of life (QOL) as much as possible, and also to diagnose and treat the disorders associated with hirsutism

Domestic violence has significant psychological consequences for women, with limited research available on the mental health effects faced by battered women in the Babylon Governorate, Iraq. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among battered women in the Babylon Governorate and to examine the relationship between these psychological conditions and demographic factors.

A descriptive correlational study in Al-Hilla City, Iraq, involved 180 battered women seeking healthcare services. Participants were selected through a non-probability (convenience) sampling method. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation analyses.

The study revealed that 48.9% of the participants experienced moderate psychological violence, 38.9% reported low physical violence, and 48.9% experienced moderate sexual violence. Severe levels of depression and stress were noted in 49.4% and 55.6% of the participants, respectively, with 55.0% experiencing moderate anxiety. PTSD was predominantly mild, with 73.4% of the participants showing low levels. A significant positive correlation was found between domestic violence and psychological health issues (P = 0.033). Significant relationships were also identified between domestic violence and demographic factors, such as education, marital status, cohabitation, occupation, and economic dependence (P ≤ 0.05), except for age and residency.

The findings highlight the growing prevalence of domestic violence and its severe psychological impact on women in the Babylon Governorate, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to provide rehabilitation and empowerment services.

The employment rates of women are on the rise in numerous countries worldwide. Likewise, the level of self-compassion, personality capacity, and psychological capital that women possess might play a significant role in determining their status in today's society. Thus, the present study was conducted to compare self-compassion, character strength, and psychological capital between working women heads of households and housewives.

The research was a causal-comparative study. The study population included all working women who were heads of households and housewives in Tehran City, Iran, from July to September 2023. Purposive sampling was used to select 116 samples. The data collection tools included Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), and Values in Action-Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). Data analysis was performed using an independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by SPSS software.

The difference between groups for the self-compassion variable was significant (P < 0.001) and the F value was equal to 79.261. Likewise, the difference in the average character strength variable of the two groups was significant (P < 0.001) and the F value was equal to 135.650. Moreover, the observed difference in the mean of the psychological capital variable of the two groups was significant (P < 0.001) and the F value was equal to 79.875.

The research showed that women could conquer their obstacles by employing three factors: self-compassion, personal qualities, and psychological resources. In addition, relevant professionals should teach and strengthen women's psychological abilities, including self-compassion, character strength, and psychological capital.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological abnormalities and emotional interactions with emotional divorce, with the mediating role of religious beliefs in couples experiencing marital conflicts.

The research method was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of this study included all couples visiting counseling centers in the city of Neka (Neda-e-Zendegi Counseling Center, Phoenix Counseling Center, Amin Counseling Center, Imam Ali Social Work Counseling Center, and Mental Health Counseling Center) during the first six months of 2022, totaling 686 individuals (343 couples). Using the Krejcie and Morgan table, the sample size was calculated to be 246 individuals, and through a convenience sampling method, those who were interested in participating in the study were selected as the sample. They responded to questionnaires on psychological abnormalities by Najarian and Davoodi (2001), emotional interactions of couples by Brok and Bretman (1995), emotional divorce by Gottman (1995), and religious beliefs by Najafi (2006). Data analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson correlation test, and structural equation modeling with SPSS and AMOS software.

The findings showed that psychological abnormalities had a positive effect on emotional divorce and a negative effect on religious beliefs. Additionally, emotional interactions had a negative effect on emotional divorce and a positive effect on religious beliefs. Furthermore, religious beliefs had a negative effect on emotional divorce in couples. On the other hand, the results indicated that religious beliefs played a mediating role in the relationship between psychological abnormalities, emotional interactions, and emotional divorce in couples.

This study highlights the indirect effect of psychological disorders and emotional interactions on emotional divorce, with religious beliefs playing a mediating role among couples experiencing marital conflicts. The findings suggest that strengthening religious beliefs may help reduce emotional divorce, emphasizing the need for interventions that promote emotional well-being and healthy marital dynamics.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy on psychological functioning and self-control in married women.

Methods and Materials: 

The research method was a quasi-experimental design (pre-test and post-test with a control group). The statistical population included all married female students of the Islamic Azad University, Garmsar branch, in the year 2023. Considering the statistical population, 30 participants (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) were selected purposefully and assigned randomly. Data collection instruments included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), the Tangney Self-Control Scale (2004), and the sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol.

The results indicated that sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy had a significant effect on psychological functioning (P < 0.001) and self-control (P < 0.001) in married women.

It can be concluded that sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective in improving psychological functioning and self-control in women, and thus, it can be used to enhance psychological functioning and self-control in women.

The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on psychological flexibility and psychological hardiness in female heads of household.

Methods and Materials:

 This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest setup, including an experimental group and a control group. The study population consisted of 140 female heads of household who referred to the Welfare Organization in Sari during the second half of 2023 and registered their cases. The sample included 30 female heads of household, selected using a non-random purposive sampling method and subsequently randomly assigned to either the experimental group (15 participants) or the control group (15 participants). Data collection was conducted using questionnaires on psychological flexibility and psychological hardiness. The experimental group underwent eight sessions of group CBT, each lasting 120 minutes. Following the completion of group CBT sessions, a posttest was administered to both the experimental and control groups.

The findings indicated that the mean scores of psychological flexibility and psychological hardiness in the posttest for the experimental group were significantly higher compared to the pretest.

Therefore, group CBT has a positive impact on psychological flexibility and psychological hardiness in female heads of household.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on psychological capital, perceived social support, and learned helplessness in women with psoriasis.

Methods and Materials: 

The research method was semi-experimental, with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population of the study included all women with psoriasis who visited counseling centers in District 5 of Tehran in 2023. The sample consisted of 30 individuals, selected through convenience sampling, and were then randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of MBCT, while the control group remained on a waiting list. The data collection tools included the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Luthans, 2007), the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (Zimet et al., 1988), and the Learned Helplessness Questionnaire (Peterson et al., 1982). Content validity was used to assess the validity of the instruments, with the questionnaires being approved by relevant experts. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-v26 software, with both descriptive and inferential statistics (analysis of covariance) being employed.

The results indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy significantly increased psychological capital and its components in women with psoriasis. MBCT also led to improvements in perceived social support and its components. Furthermore, the results revealed that MBCT effectively reduced learned helplessness in women with psoriasis. The

The findings suggest that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has a significant positive impact on psychological capital, perceived social support, and learned helplessness in women with psoriasis.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing negative affect, improving emotional processing, and enhancing psychological hardiness in women experiencing domestic violence.

Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants, divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group underwent eight 90-minute ACT sessions over eight weeks, while the control group received no treatment. Outcomes were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up stages using validated tools for Negative Affect, Emotional Processing, and Psychological Hardiness. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, with SPSS-27.

Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group across all variables. For Negative Affect, mean scores decreased from 3.52 (SD = 0.45) at pre-intervention to 2.89 (SD = 0.39) post-intervention and 2.45 (SD = 0.33) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 30.19, p = 0.001, η² = 0.52). Emotional Processing scores increased from 3.20 (SD = 0.40) to 3.80 (SD = 0.37) post-intervention and 4.25 (SD = 0.31) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 34.38, p = 0.001, η² = 0.55). Psychological Hardiness improved from 3.15 (SD = 0.38) to 3.95 (SD = 0.35) post-intervention and 4.10 (SD = 0.32) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 36.57, p = 0.001, η² = 0.58). The control group showed minimal changes across all measures.

ACT was highly effective in reducing negative affect, improving emotional processing, and enhancing psychological hardiness in women experiencing domestic violence. The results suggest that ACT is a valuable therapeutic approach for this population, with sustained benefits over time.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bowen intergenerational family therapy on reducing marital conflicts and enhancing interpersonal forgiveness.

This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases, incorporating a control group. The statistical population consisted of families who visited the counseling and psychology center in District 1 of Karaj in 2023. Eight families were selected through convenience and voluntary sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, each comprising four families. Data were collected using the Differentiation of Self Inventory, the Forgiveness Questionnaire, and the Marital Conflict Questionnaire. The intervention, based on Bowen intergenerational therapy, was conducted over eight weekly group sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. Data analysis involved univariate and multivariate covariance analyses using SPSS software.

The findings revealed that Bowen intergenerational therapy significantly impacted both marital conflicts and interpersonal forgiveness. Specifically, the experimental group showed a marked decrease in marital conflict scores from 154.1 (SD = 11.3) in the pre-test to 139.4 (SD = 10.9) in the post-test, which remained stable at 139.2 (SD = 10.3) in the follow-up phase. Similarly, interpersonal forgiveness scores increased from 78.4 (SD = 5.7) in the pre-test to 114.2 (SD = 9.9) in the post-test and remained at 111.1 (SD = 8.9) during the follow-up phase. These changes were statistically significant compared to the control group, which showed no significant changes.

The study concludes that Bowen intergenerational family therapy is effective in reducing marital conflicts and enhancing interpersonal forgiveness. The findings align with previous research, underscoring the therapy's potential to address relational issues and improve emotional regulation within families.

This study aims to explore the psychological effects of chronic exercise on mood and well-being in adults.

A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from Iran who engage in regular exercise routines for at least six months. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 58 years and represented a variety of occupations and exercise preferences. Data were collected until theoretical saturation was reached and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes related to the psychological effects of exercise.

The analysis revealed several key themes: psychological benefits, barriers to exercise, motivational factors, and challenges in sustaining exercise. Participants reported significant improvements in mood, self-esteem, emotional resilience, and cognitive functions such as focus and memory. Barriers to exercise included time constraints, physical barriers, lack of motivation, environmental factors, and financial constraints. Motivational factors were primarily health benefits, personal goals, social influence, psychological benefits, and habit formation. Challenges in sustaining exercise included monotony, physical fatigue, balancing life demands, health setbacks, lack of immediate results, and accessibility issues.

Regular physical activity is associated with numerous psychological benefits, including improved mood, reduced anxiety, and enhanced cognitive function. However, barriers such as time constraints, lack of motivation, and financial constraints must be addressed to sustain these benefits. Community-based exercise programs, educational support for instructors, and public health campaigns can help overcome these challenges. Future research should include larger, more diverse samples and explore the long-term psychological effects of chronic exercise.

The aim of the present study was to develop a predictive model of antisocial personality traits based on social media addiction, considering the mediating role of psychological flexibility among students in Shahrekord.

Methods and Materials: 

The research method was correlational, using structural equation modeling, and the study was applied in terms of its objective. The statistical population included students from Shahrekord Islamic Azad University (7,787), Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences (2,385), and Shahrekord Public University (8,200), amounting to a total of 18,372 individuals. A sample size of 384 participants was determined based on the research objectives, variables, and Cochran's formula, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The research instruments included the Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire by Robinson and O’Leary-Kelly (1998), the Social Media Usage Questionnaire by Rasoolabadi (2015), and the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire by Dennis and Vander Wal (2010). To test the research model, the two-step approach proposed by Anderson and Gerbing (1988) was employed, and the study's model was developed accordingly. All analyses were performed using AMOS 24 for structural equation modeling. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and frequency) and inferential statistics (correlation matrix, regression, and fit indices) were utilized.

The findings indicated that model validation was assessed using goodness-of-fit indices. Results from the fit indices demonstrated that the measured model exhibited an acceptable level of fit.

It can be concluded that the predictive model of antisocial personality traits based on social media addiction, considering the mediating role of psychological flexibility among students in Shahrekord, has a satisfactory fit.

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between trauma exposure and suicidal ideation among adults in the United States.

Methods and Materials: 

A descriptive correlational design was used with a sample of 379 adult participants from the United States, selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, and the Self-Compassion Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis using SPSS-27, and structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS-21 were employed to analyze the data and evaluate the proposed mediation model.

Descriptive results indicated moderate levels of trauma exposure (M = 12.47, SD = 4.63), moderately high self-compassion (M = 81.35, SD = 13.92), and low to moderate suicidal ideation (M = 8.23, SD = 5.41). Trauma exposure was positively correlated with suicidal ideation (r = .48, p < .001) and negatively correlated with self-compassion (r = −.41, p < .001). Self-compassion was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation (r = −.52, p < .001). SEM results confirmed that self-compassion significantly mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and suicidal ideation (indirect effect: β = −0.16, p < .01), with model fit indices indicating a good overall fit (χ²/df = 2.35, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.059).

The findings suggest that self-compassion plays a significant protective role in reducing suicidal ideation among individuals exposed to trauma. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-compassion may serve as effective strategies to mitigate the psychological effects of trauma and reduce suicide risk in diverse adult populations.

The present study aimed to determine the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between academic self-efficacy, academic engagement, and academic meaningfulness with academic achievement.This study is descriptive in nature and employs a correlational-structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population consists of middle school students in Wasit, Iraq, during the spring of 2024. A total of 174 students were selected as the sample through convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Luthans, 2007), the Academic Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (Midgley et al., 2000), the Academic Engagement Questionnaire (Fredricks et al., 2004), the Academic Meaningfulness Questionnaire (Henderson-King & Smith, 2006), and the Academic Achievement Questionnaire (Wells, 2010). The collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling through SPSS 22 and AMOS 19 software. The results indicated a significant and positive direct relationship between academic self-efficacy, academic engagement, academic meaningfulness, and psychological capital with academic achievement (p < .01). Additionally, the relationship between academic self-efficacy, academic engagement, and academic meaningfulness with psychological capital was also found to be significantly positive and direct (p < .01). Furthermore, the results of structural equation modeling demonstrated that psychological capital mediates the relationship between academic self-efficacy, academic engagement, and academic meaningfulness with academic achievement (p < .01).

The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of psychological flexibility and emotional flexibility in the relationship between metacognitions and emotional schemas with rumination.

This research was done in the form of structural equation modeling (SEM). Participants were 578 people from the non-clinical population residents of Tehran who were selected by voluntary sampling method. Then they completed the Ruminative Response Scale, Positive Beliefs about Rumination Scale, Negative Beliefs about Rumination Scale, Emotion Schemas Scale - Persian version, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, Emotional Flexibility Scale.

The results of the model evaluation indicated that metacognitions, emotional schemas, psychological flexibility and emotional flexibility directly have a significant effect on rumination. The mediating role of psychological flexibility and emotional flexibility was significant in the relationship between metacognitions and rumination. The mediating role of emotional flexibility in the relationship between emotional schemas and rumination was not significant, but the mediating role of emotional flexibility in the relationship between metacognitions and rumination was significant.

 Based on the findings of this study, modifying metacognitions along with increasing psychological flexibility and emotional flexibility, as well as modifying maladaptive emotional schemas along with increasing psychological flexibility, can be effective in creating preventive strategies and rumination management.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Imago therapy and cognitive-behavioral couple therapy on the dimensions of care in relationships and psychological capital in working couples.

Methods and Materials: 

This study employed an experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, control group, and follow-up. The statistical population comprised all working teacher couples in Tuyserkan, located in Hamadan Province, who were employed during the 2021–2022 period. From this population, 40 individuals were randomly selected and distributed into four groups (two experimental groups and two control groups), with 20 participants in the experimental groups and 20 in the control groups. The experimental groups received training through 10 sessions of Imago therapy and 10 sessions of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy, with each session lasting 90 minutes. The control groups did not receive any training. Data were collected using the Dimensions of Care in Relationships Questionnaire and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the study findings.

The results of the data analysis indicated that both Imago therapy and cognitive-behavioral couple therapy had a significant effect on the dimensions of care in relationships and the psychological capital of working couples (p < 0.05).

The findings of this study demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of Imago therapy and cognitive-behavioral couple therapy on the dimensions of care in relationships and psychological capital.