Journal of Research and Health
Volume:13 Issue: 3, May-Jun 2023

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has stated that the world may face a food crisis with rising prices and products at risk due to the war in Ukraine. Food prices have already increased due to climate change and the coronavirus epidemic. After the war, the cost of wheat has risen more [1]. About a third of the world’s wheat is supplied by Russia and Ukraine, known as Europe’s breadbasket. Wheat shortages may occur as farmers in Ukraine cannot grow their crops [2].

Since positive parenting program (Triple-P) is one of the ways to improve parent-child interaction, conducting a meta-analysis will help determine its effect size. This study aimed to use meta-analysis to examine the effect of level 4 Triple-P on parent-child interaction with special needs in Iran.

The current study is a meta-analysis review study. Before analyzing the effect size of the mean differences, the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) method was used to investigate the decision tree model. Then, the effect size of Triple-P was investigated using the meta-analysis method. Twelve studies (out of the 37) were collected with the keywords “Triple-P” and “parent-child interaction” from Google Scholar, IranDoc, IranMedex, Magiran, and SID according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were conducted in Iran during 2012-2021 and were analyzed through meta-analysis. The inclusion criteria of the articles included written in Persian, having a control group, being interventional, and using original data. The exclusion criteria included duplicate articles and non-compliance with the title with Triple-P level 4. The study instrument was a meta-analysis checklist. Funnel plot, fail-safe number, and Cochran Q test were used to assess the publication bias, expected confidence, and effect size heterogeneity, respectively. The obtained data were analyzed by comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software.

Findings showed that the effect size of the mean difference rate of level 4 Triple-P on parent-child interaction was 0.59 (P<0.0001), which is medium according to the Cohen table. Fisher’s z indicated a low standard error and no publication bias. The value of the Q test is significant, and the effect sizes are heterogeneous (P<0.0001).

Given the moderate impact of level 4 Triple-P, this method of parenting program can play an important role in improving the interaction of parent-child with special needs.

Prenatal attachment affects maternal and infant health throughout life. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the variables that may affect prenatal attachment. This study was carried out to investigate prenatal attachment, health literacy, and coping styles with stress among Turkish pregnant women by structural equation modeling.

This is a descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional study. It was conducted via a face-to-face interview with 420 pregnant women in a university hospital in Southeastern Turkey between May 15 and July 2022. The research analysis used a structural equation modeling using SPSS software, version 22 and AMOS software, version 23.

We found that the prenatal attachment levels of the pregnant women had a weak positive relationship with seeking social support and submissive approach styles, a moderate positive relationship with the optimistic approach styles, and a strong positive relationship with the self-confident approach styles (P<0.001). Also, there was a weak positive correlation between the prenatal attachment levels of the pregnant women and the subscales of understanding the information and appraisal/evaluation of the health literacy scale (P<0.001).

There is a strong relationship between prenatal attachment, coping styles with stress, and the number of births. Also, health literacy and stress coping styles were effective variables in prenatal attachment. Therefore, it is very important to enrich the knowledge of women about their health during pregnancy.

Body image is an integral component of the self-concept that significantly shapes human functioning and people’s life outcomes. Although negative body image is well-studied, there is little research on positive body image. This study examined the basic characteristics of positive body image to standardize a scale for it.

We used an exploratory research design, a variant of mixed methods design. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 17 men and 18 women aged 21 to 30 years were selected according to the screening criteria based on the results of the body mass index and the Body Appreciation Scale. The semi-structured interviews were conducted, followed by their verbatim description of developing themes and basic descriptions of positive body image. The second phase involved 507 participants (268 males and 239 females) aged 20 to 35 years, who were administered the newly developed positive body image scale and general health and quality of life measures for validation.

Several theoretically sound and practically relevant positive body image characteristics were identified. The main themes identified in the first phase were a phenomenon with complex facets, connected to the self, social realities, life outcomes, health practices, and social relevance. The second phase led to developing a new 24-item positive body image scale that included two components: body appreciation and body effectiveness. It had desirable psychometric properties. Test-retest reliability showed significant levels, while correlation coefficients of the derived measure with general health and quality of life demonstrated its validity.

A positive body image is a multifaceted construct associated with self-enhancement, health, life success, and relationships. A psychometrically appropriate measure of positive body image was standardized. The study results can have implications for health research and practice.

Healthy lifestyle affects the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy. This study aimed to compare the effects of group discussion and multimedia package education interventions on healthy lifestyles among pregnant women.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 151 pregnant women during their 16-28 weeks of pregnancy who were referred to comprehensive health centers in Bajestan City, Iran. They were randomly allocated to three groups: Group discussion (n=50), multimedia package education (n=52), and control group (n=49). The demographic questionnaire and Walker’s health-promoting lifestyle profile II were used for data collection before and one month after the intervention. The educational intervention in the group discussion was held in 4 sessions. The multimedia package group received software consisting of text, video, animation, and audio materials. Finally, the control group received routine educational support in health centers. The study data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and at a significance level of 0.05.

The result showed no significant difference between the three groups before intervention (P=0.073) regarding their mean lifestyle scores. However, the mean lifestyle score was significantly lower in the control group compared to the other two groups one month after the intervention (P<0.001). However, the mean lifestyle score was significantly higher in group discussion and multimedia groups (P<0.001).

The findings showed that multimedia package and group discussion methods improved lifestyle in pregnant women. Therefore, we suggest that health providers use these methods for pregnant women regarding their rationales and facilitations.

Choice theory stems from psychological concepts like self-concept, successful identity, and quality of the world. The theory encourages adolescents to accept the responsibility for their choices on the one hand and predict the effect of such decisions on their lives on the other hand. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of choice theory-based group training in internalizing problems, empathy, and identity transformation among male adolescents.

This quasi-experimental study has a pre-test-post-test and 1.5 months follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all male adolescents studying in Qazvin City, Iran, in the 2020-2021 academic year. The sample included 28 male adolescents selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (n=14). The experimental group received 8 sessions of 90-minute group training based on choice theory, while the control group did not receive any intervention. We gathered data using the empathy scale, Achenbach system of empirically based assessment (ASEBA), and aspects of identity questionnaire. Mixed repeated analyses of variance, the independent t test, and the Chi-square test were used for data analysis in SPSS software, version 24.

The findings indicated that the group training based on choice theory was effective in promoting internalizing problems (F=30.61, P<0.001), empathy (F=21.35, P<0.001), and identity transformation (F=50.2, P<0.001). In addition, these effects were sustainable until the follow-up period.

This research indicated that group training based on choice theory was effective in internalizing problems, empathy, and identity transformation among male adolescents. It is recommended that school counselors consider the principles and concepts of this intervention as an educational mission and executive task for male adolescents.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders that cause chronic inflammation (pain and swelling) in the intestines. IBD includes Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Both types affect the digestive system. This study aims to compare coping strategies in people with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy people, according to internal and external sources of health control. 

The present study method was causal-comparative. The study population included all patients with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy people referred to the Bowel Department of the Jam Hospital in Tehran City, Iran, from April to September 2020. The research sample included 200 subjects (87 healthy people and 113 people with inflammatory bowel disease) selected by purposeful sampling. The participants completed the multidimensional health locus of control and the Folkman and Lazarus coping strategies inventory. For the data analysis, statistical indices of mean, standard deviation, distribution indices, and univariate and multivariate analysis of variance were performed in SPSS software, version 24.

The findings showed that of 8 coping strategies, two problem-oriented coping strategies, namely positive reappraisal, and responsibility, were seen more in people with IBD, and no difference was seen in other coping strategies between patients and healthy groups (P>0.05). About the variable of the source of health control, it was found that of 8 coping strategies, only the emotion-oriented coping strategy of avoidance was more common in people with an internal locus of control and in using other coping strategies between the two study groups with a source of control no difference was observed between internal and external control.

In the present study, according to research, coping strategies are statistically similar in 4 groups of inflammatory bowel disease patients and healthy people.

The COVID-19 disease has contributed to various psychological disorders, such as stress and anxiety, in patients and families. This study was conducted to determine the effect of family-based education on stress and anxiety in the caregivers of COVID-19 patients.

The present clinical trial was conducted on 50 caregivers of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Allameh Bohlool Gonabadi Hospital, Gonabad City, Iran, in 2022. Caregivers were selected through convenience sampling and were assigned to either the experimental or the control group (25 caregivers in each group). The former received a family-centered educational program for four days, but the control group received the usual education. The depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) was completed for both groups before and after the intervention. The obtained data were statistically analyzed in SPSS software, version 22.

The present study revealed no statistically significant difference between the two research groups in terms of the demographic variables (P<0.005). The independent samples t-test showed that the Mean±SD of COVID-19 caregivers’ stress in the experimental group decreased significantly compared to the pre-interventional phase. Yet, this change was insignificant in the control group (P<0.001). Also, the Mann-Whitney U test showed that after the intervention (in the post-test), the Mean±SD of caregivers’ anxiety in the experimental group decreased significantly compared to the pre-test, but this change was not significant in the control group (P<0.001).

According to this research, the family-based educational program can reduce the stress and anxiety of caregivers of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The medical staff working on the front-line battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are more exposed to mental health risks than the general population. Resilience is the ability to withstand challenging situations and help people defend their mental health against stressors. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Yalom and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on medical staff resilience in COVID-19 centers.

The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population includes all 600 medical staff of Hamedan City, Iran, caring for patients with COVID-19 in 2021. Based on the average variance of resilience obtained in previous studies, 45 people were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (each 15) and one control group (n=15). The experimental groups were divided into Yalom and ACT group psychotherapy, and all three groups responded to the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) before and after the intervention. The obtained data were analyzed by analysis of covariance in SPSS software, version 25.

Yalom group psychotherapy and ACT group therapy had different effects on the participants’ resilience and are statistically significant since the F statistics (106.722) was significant (P=0.001 and P=0.05, respectively). Based on the results, Yalom group psychotherapy has a better rate of improvement than ACT.

Considering the significant efficacy of Yalom group psychotherapy and its relative ease of implementation compared to ACT, it is possible to employ this intervention to protect the mental health of medical staff during severe epidemics of diseases such as coronavirus.