Iranian Journal of Practice in Clinical Psychology
Volume:11 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral disorders in children. This study aims to investigate the effect of baseball training on motor and psychological performance and behavioral characteristics of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

To experiment, the sample group was randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. Fitness and motor test measures, behavioral measures, and neuropsychological tests are performed as a pre-test for both experimental and control groups. Then, the experimental group received baseball training for one month in 12 sessions with an average of 30 minutes, and the control group received no training. After the end of the course, the tests were re-administered on both experimental and control groups. The results of the study show that the mean of the two groups in pre-test is not significantly different; however, in the post-test, a big difference was found between the two experimental and control groups.

Comparing the groups in post-test by subtracting the effect of the pre-test showed a significant difference between the groups (P>0.001), which indicated the effectiveness of exercises and sports activities in reducing behavioral disorders of the experimental group (P>0.001).

The results of this study suggested that the baseball game has a positive impact on all the investigated components. According to the results of the study, to design treatment programs for hyperactive/inattentive children, the use of baseball games in schools and educational centers can be considered. Accordingly, it is suggested that administrators, parents, and trainers in educational centers and educational environments provide sports, such as baseball games so that hyperactive children can benefit the most to strengthen and improve their behavior.

According to cognitive models, maladaptive beliefs play a major role in social anxiety disorder (SAD) and can lead to dysfunctional behavioral reactions and emotion dysregulation. This study aims to examine emotion regulation strategies as a mediator in the relationship of beliefs about emotions and emotion regulation self-efficacy and social anxiety.

A total of 650 college students from Yazd University (Iran) were selected by cluster sampling and filled out the implicit theories of emotion scale (ITES; 2007), regulatory emotional self-efficacy scale (RESE; 1999), social interaction anxiety scale (SIAS; 1992), and the short-form cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ; 2002).

The initial hypothesized model had a poor fit. By merging the manifest variables of refocus on planning with reappraisal, refocusing with putting into perspective (for adaptive emotion regulation), and combining rumination and catastrophizing (for maladaptive emotion regulation), the model fit was optimized, and all the direct paths became significant. The final model was a partial mediation model, confirming the adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies as a mediating role in the relationship of beliefs about emotions and emotion regulation self-efficacy and social anxiety.

The results showed that beliefs about emotions affect the utilization of efficient emotion regulation strategies and can be a risk factor for social anxiety.

Internet usage is widely increasing among the new generation, shaping a crucial aspect of people’s lives. Social media use can influence body image concerns, social isolation, and social mood. This study aims to assess body image concerns, social isolation, and mood based on the amount of social media use. 

This study was conducted using a descriptive and correlational method. The study population included all people aged between 20 and 40 years in Shiraz City, Iran, among which 311 people (191 women and 119 men) were selected by the convenience sampling method. The tools used in this study were the body image concerns inventory (BICI, 2005), the social isolation assessment standard questionnaire (SIASI, 2013), the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS, 1988), and the social media addiction scale (SMAS_AF, 2017). Correlation coefficients (using the SPSS software) and structural equation modeling analysis (using AMOS statistical software) were employed to investigate the variables of the social isolation prediction model.

The results of the study showed that mood (β=0.15, P=0.007) and use of social media (β=0.19, P=0.0001) can predict social isolation with the mediating role of body image concerns (β=0.18, P=0.001). The results showed that the mood and use of social media can predict social isolation both directly and with the mediation of body image concerns. 

Based on the results of this study, mood, and use of social media can predict social isolation with the mediating role of body image concerns. Negative moods can make people sensitive to their body image. People have a distorted perception of their body image and this concern leads to social isolation.

The present study was designed to examine the college student’s mental health prediction model based on religious faith mediated by happiness, ambivalent attachment style, and ‎locus of control.

The study method was correlational. The statistical population included all college students of Shiraz University in the academic year of 2013-2014. The sample included 240 college students selected by convenience sampling method. Measures included the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28, 1979), the religious faith scale (RFS, 2014), the Oxford happiness inventory (OHI, 1989), the Collins and Read revised adult attachment scale (RAAS, 1990), and the Rotter’s locus of control scale (RLCS, 1966). The data were analyzed by multiple regression, path analysis, and structural equation modeling methods.

The data were analyzed by multiple regression, path analysis, and structural equation modeling methods. The study results showed that the variables of religious faith (P=0.0001, β=0.29), happiness variable (P=0.0001, β=0.37), and ambivalent attachment (P=0.0001, β=0.29) can positively and significantly predict mental health. Likewise, religious faith positively and significantly predicted happiness (P=0.0001, β=0.54) and negatively and significantly predicted ambivalent attachment (P=0.0001, β=-0.21). The religious faith could not predict the locus of control. The mediating role of happiness was confirmed. However, the mediating role of ambivalent attachment style and locus of control was not confirmed.

The modified model confirmed the mediating role of happiness between religious faith and mental health. Therefore, those components of faith that lead to happiness may be a protective marker for mental health.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Psychological manifestations, such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common in patients with MS. Social support is involved in the well-being of patients with MS. This study aims to assess the relationship between perceived social support with depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with MS.

This descriptive correlation study was conducted on 240 patients with MS who were referred to the MS Center of Isfahan Province, Iran. Three questionnaires of the depression anxiety stress scale 21 (DASS-21), social support, and demographic questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were analyzed with SPSS software, version 20 using descriptive and analytical statistics (independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation). 

In the current study, the mean perceived social support was 27.35±9.06. The mean depression, anxiety, and stress were 14.96±5.42, 13.92±5.88, and 15.39±4.82, respectively. In addition, an inverse correlation was observed between social support with depression, and anxiety (P<0.01). Moreover, no significant relationship was observed between social support and stress (P=0.21). Social support was a significant negative predictor that accounted for 11.8% of the variance in depression (R2=0.118, P<0.001) and 3.4% of the variance in anxiety (R2=0.034, P=0.002).

According to the results of this study, social support of patients with MS can be one of the effective suggestions to decrease depression and anxiety. 

Most of the research conducted so far on effective treatments for social anxiety disorder has used traditional cognitive-behavioral therapies. However, recent pathological theories emphasize the role of emotion regulation in the formation and continuation of the symptoms of this disorder. Thus, this study was conducted to compare the efficacy of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) and the unified trans-diagnostic treatment for individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test control group design and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population of the study included all the people aged 18-40 years who were diagnosed with social anxiety disorder from September to March 2021 in Tehran City, Iran. A total of 21 patients were selected using purposive sampling and assigned to three groups (two experimental groups and one control group (7 patients in each group). The experimental groups 1 and 2 received EFT in twenty 120-minute sessions (one session every week) and the unified trans-diagnostic treatment in twelve 120-minute sessions (one session every week), respectively, while the control group did not receive therapy intervention during this period. The brief fear of negative evaluation scale (BFNE) and the fear of positive evaluation scale (FPES) were used to collect data. The repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data in SPSS software, version 24. The significance level of the research was considered to be α=0.05.

The results indicated that both EFT and trans-diagnostic treatment effectively reduced the fear of positive evaluation, but unified trans-diagnostic treatment had no significant impact on reducing the fear of negative evaluation in this group (P<0.05). 

Accordingly, EFT and unified trans-diagnostic treatment were effective and practical methods to reduce the fear of positive and negative evaluation in this group. It is recommended that psychotherapists and counselors employ these approaches in practice.

It is extremely common for adults to use self-talk to regulate their behavior. However, the underlying processes leading to differences in inner speech are not well understood. In this study, the correlation between various forms of self-talk and symptoms of anxiety (hyperactivity), depression, sleepiness, and distress was investigated.

The research method is a descriptive correlation type. The statistical population of the study included all 10 000 students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University in Iran in the academic year of 2019-2020. A total of 378 students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University were selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The varieties of the inner speech questionnaire (VISQ) and the four-dimensional symptom questionnaire (4DSQ) were administered to all subjects. Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multivariate regression analysis were used. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 23.

The results showed the strongest inner speech for predicting anxiety, depression, and somatization disorders is another type of inner speech. On the other hand, in those with distress symptoms, evaluative/critical inner speech was appropriately predictive. Also, positive-regulative inner speech negatively predicts anxiety, depression, and distress. In the normal population, positive regulative inner speech is considered an appropriate predictor. 

Consequently, probably two types of inner speech evaluation-critical and positive-regulative exist that have more powerful construct validity, and usage of other inner speech is questionable.

This study aims to compare object relations, personality organization, personal meaning of life, and relational meaning in life among students of Islamic Azad University, Lahijan Branch.

The research design was post-event (causal-comparative). The sample included 200 students (100 psychology students and 100 students from other majors) selected based on convenience sampling criteria. The tools used in this study were Bell object relations and reality testing inventory (BORRTI), Kernberg’s inventory of personality organization (IPO), Steger’s meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ), and relational meaning in life questionnaire (RMLQ). The collected data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and SPSS software, version 24.

 The results showed no significant difference between the scores of object relations among psychology students and students from other majors of Islamic Azad University, Lahijan City, Iran. On the other hand, a significant difference was observed between the variables of personality organization, personal meaning in life, and relational meaning in life in psychology students and other university students.

 Based on the results of this study, the overall status of psychology students in terms of personality organization, personal meaning in life, and relational meaning in life was better than other students. However, it is recommended that therapists, counselors, and educational administrators pay more attention to object relations and some personality organization variables (such as primary defenses and identity confusion) in themselves or their students because examining and improving these variables through psychotherapy can provide a better basis for future services and prevent potential harm to clients.