Journal of adolescent and youth psychological studies
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Jan 2024

Emotional intelligence is the most crucial factor in decision-making and the selection of future goals, as well as the substitution of goals in various situations and circumstances. The purpose of this article was to determine the effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on alexithymia components in students.

Methods and Materials:

This study was applied, quantitative, and of a quasi-experimental pre-test -post-test design with a control group and training. The population consisted of 30 students suffering from alexithymia, selected from 5 treatment centers, with 15 students allocated to the control group and 15 to the training group. The data collection tool in this research was the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Goleman's (1996) emotional intelligence training protocol was used for the experimental group. Data were analyzed using SPSS softwareand multivariate analysis of covariance method.

The F-valuein the univariate analysis of covariance for the subscale of identifying emotions (F=13.266, P=0.000), for the subscale of describing emotions (F=19.917, P=0.000), and for the subscale of external-oriented thinking (F=11.108, P=0.000) were significant. These findings indicate that there is a significant difference between the emotional intelligence training group and the control group in the dependent variables (alexithymia components).

It can be concluded that the use of emotional intelligence training is beneficial for improving alexithymia in students with learning disabilities.

The present research aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on emotional eating behavior, emotion dysregulation, perceived stress, and rumination in women suffering from chronic obesity.

Methods and Materials:

this study was a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases, including a control group. The research population consisted of all women suffering from chronic obesity and body mass index, visiting the Kian City Nutrition Counseling Clinic in Tehran between May and July 2022. For forming two groups, 30 women with chronic obesity and body mass index were initially selected through screening, and then randomly divided into 15 patients in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. The ACT treatment program was conducted over 8 sessions of 90 minutes each, based on the protocol by Neff and Germer (2013). The instruments included the Eating Behavior Questionnaire by van Strien et al. (1986), the Emotion dysregulation Questionnaire by Gratz and Roemer (2004), the Perceived Stress Questionnaire by Cohen et al. (1983), and the Rumination Questionnaire by Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.

The results showed that ACT had a significant effect on improving emotional eating behavior (F=115.83, P<0.001), emotion dysregulation (F=98.10, P<0.001), perceived stress (F=101.53, P<0.001), and rumination (F=74.52, P<0.001) in women with chronic obesity and body mass index (P>0.05).

Therefore, it can be concluded that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy contributes to the improvement of emotional eating behavior, emotion dysregulation, perceived stress, and rumination in women with chronic obesity.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of active music therapy on anxiety and sleep quality in adolescents aged 11-14 with Stargardt disease.

Methods and Materials:

The current research is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and a control group. In this study, 20 patients with Stargardt disease were selected through convenience sampling and divided into two groups: experimental and control (10 individuals each). They responded to the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory and the Petersburg Sleep Quality Index. Subsequently, training sessions were conducted, followed by post-tests and a one-month follow-up. The research data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and the covariance analysis method.

The findings indicated that active music therapy was effective in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in adolescents with Stargardt disease (P < 0.01).

Music therapy is an affordable, effective, and side-effect-free method that can be introduced for reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality. Health-related centers can utilize it to create better living conditions for such individuals.

Diabetes is a disease that endangers the health of many individuals in society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle modification training on psychological symptoms and self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods and Materials: 

The study employed a pre-test post-test design with experimental and control groups. The research population consisted of all patients with type 2 diabetes from the Diabetes Association and hospitals in Gilangharb province, in 2020. A total of 45 individuals (divided into a lifestyle modification intervention group and a control group) were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the SCL-90-R and the Toobert and Glasgow Self-Care Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance tests, as well as the LSD post hoc test, utilizing the SPSS software.

The results of the multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that after controlling for pre-test effects, F was significant at the 0.05 level for "psychological symptoms" components. In other words, there were significant differences in the post-test scores of these variables between the "experimental group" and the "control group". The results also showed differences between the two intervention groups and the control group in the self-care variable. Furthermore, the lifestyle modification training intervention was effective in components of psychological symptoms, including somatization, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, aggression, phobia, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism dimensions.

It can be concluded that lifestyle modification training was effective in improving psychological symptoms and self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes, and this psychological approach can be used to improve the condition of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Adolescence is a critical period in life. During adolescence, individuals experience new situations and, as a result, face various risks. The present study aims to determine the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between the quality ofthe parent-child relationship and risky behaviors in adolescents.

Methods and Materials:

This study is descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection and structural equation modeling in nature. The study population includes all adolescents in Tehran city. Based on Morgan's table, 222 individuals were selected as the sample size througha convenient sampling method and participated in the current study. Data were collected using the Parent-Child Relationship Assessment questionnaire, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire, and the Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis in the AMOS and SPSS version 22 software.

The results of the research showed that maladaptive emotion regulation is significantly positively correlated with risky behaviors in adolescents (P < 0.01). The quality of the parent-child relationship had a significant negative correlation with components of risky behaviors in adolescents (P < 0.01).

Other findings of this research indicated that emotion regulation strategies play a mediating role in the relationship between the quality of the parent-child relationship and risky behaviors. Therefore, in adolescents, the quality of the parent-child relationship determines risky behaviors through emotion regulation strategies.

The occupational performance and effectiveness of firefighters are contingent on their mental health and adequate family functioning; hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of mindfulness in explaining the causal relationship between basic psychological needs and family functioning among firefighters.

Methods and Materials:

The current study was applied in objective and correlational in method, using structural equation modeling. The research population included firefighters who were serving in the fire departments of the cities of Islamshahr, Baharestan, and Robat Karim during the winter of 2022 and spring of 2023, had been married for at least one year, and had a minimum of twoyears of experience in firefighting. Based on the opinion of Hoyle and Kramar (2004), the sample size was estimated to be 240, which was increased to 300 considering the probability of dropout. The sampling method was non-random, convenient, and voluntary. Measurement tools included the Family Assessment Device (FAD) (Epsteinet al., 1980), the Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S) (Gagne, Deci, & Ryan, 2000), and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) (Baer, 2003). Data were analyzedusing structural equation modeling.

The total path coefficient between basic psychological needs and family functioning (β = -0.363) and between mindfulness and family functioning (β = -0.308) were both negative and significant. The direct (β = -0.256) and indirect (β = -0.107) path coefficients between basic psychological needs and family functioning were also negative and significant.

The results indicated that mindfulness plays a significant mediating role in the causal relationship between family functioning and basic psychological needs.

The high school years are a critical period in students' lives, marked by rapid academic, social, and emotional development. Group counseling in high schools has emerged as a vital tool to support students through these challenges, offering a unique avenue for addressing a range of developmental and educational needs. This article aims to explore the impact of groupcounseling on enhancing student performance and personal growth within high school settings.

Methods and Materials:

The review involved a comprehensive search of academic databases using keywords such as "group counseling," "high school," "student performance," and "personal growth." Studies specifically examining the impact of group counseling on high school students were included. The selected literature was analyzed and synthesized to provide a coherent understanding of the current state of group counseling in high schools, focusing on its methods, effectiveness, challenges, and best practices.

The review highlights the effectiveness of group counseling in various domains, including academic support, social skills enhancement, and mental health improvement. Key challenges in implementing group counseling programs were identified, such as resourceconstraints, student participation, and variability in program implementation. Effective practices and recommendations for schools were outlined, including tailored interventions, collaborative approaches, continuous training for counselors, and integrating counseling into the school curriculum.

Group counselingin high schools is a valuable intervention that significantly impacts student performance and personal growth. It addresses the holistic needs of high school students, contributing to their overall success and well-being. The review suggests areas for future research and development in group counseling and recommends that schools develop policies and practices to integrate group counseling into their educational framework, ensuring that all students have access to these vital services

This research aimed to develop a causal model of social well-being based on attachment styles with the mediating role of self-compassion in HIV patients.

Methods and Materials:

The study employed a cross-sectional, correlational research design. The study population consisted of 400 HIV patients visiting behavioral counseling centers in Alborz province in 2021, selected through convenient and voluntary sampling. Instruments used included the Social Well-Being Scale (Keyes, 1998), Attachment Styles (Hazan & Shaver, 1987), and Self-Compassion (Neff, 2003). Data were analyzed using SPSS-V25 and Smart PLS software, and Structural Equation Modeling was employed to test the research hypotheses.

The findings indicated that the model had an appropriate fit. Results showed that secure attachment style has a direct effect on the social well-being of HIV patients. Avoidant attachment style also directly affects the social well-being of these patients. Ambivalent attachment style directly impacts the social well-being of HIV patients. Secure attachment style, mediated by self-compassion, indirectly affects the social well-being of HIV patients. Similarly, avoidant attachment style, mediated by self-compassion, has an indirect effect on their social well-being. Ambivalent attachment style, through self-compassion, indirectly affects the social well-being of HIV patients.

Thus, attention to these variables aids researchers and therapists in prevention and designing more appropriate treatments.

The present study aimed to determine a model for explaining the attitude towards addiction in clients undergoing withdrawal, based on emotion regulationstrategies and attachment styles with the mediating role of ego strength.

Methods and Materials:

The methodology of this study was descriptive-correlational, relying on structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all addicts undergoing withdrawal who visited addiction cessation centers in District 1 of Tehran, from whom a sample of 214 individuals was selected using cluster random sampling (n=214). The data collection tools were the Markstrom et al. (1997) Ego Strength Psychosocial Inventory, Nazari’s (2000) Attitude Towards Addiction Questionnaire, Gross and John’s (2003) Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire, and Hazan and Shaver’s (1987) Adult Attachment Questionnaire.

Data analysis using structural equation modeling indicated that, given the lesser effect of the direct path compared to the indirect paths, the presence of the mediating variable ego strength enhances the effect, and the mediating role of ego strength in the current hypothesis was confirmed.

Therefore, there is a relationship between attachment styles and emotion regulationstrategies with the attitude towards addiction in clients undergoing withdrawal, mediated by ego strength. Recognizing the factors influencing a positive attitude towards substance abuse and its consequences is one of the first and most important actions in preventive programs against substance abuse. Practical suggestions were offered based on the interrelationships of the research variables.

Immigration is a dual-factor phenomenon that creates psychological pressures by establishing a stressful environment and necessitating new adaptations. This study aimed to determine the fit of the proposed model of general health of Iranian immigrants based on cognitive flexibility and perfectionism, mediated by acculturationstress.

Methods and Materials:

The study employed a correlational method. The population comprised all Iranian immigrants who had legally resided for more than a year in Western Europe, North America, or Oceania. A sample of 224 individuals was selected through convenience sampling. Data collection was conducted using Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (1972), Dennis and Vander Wal’s Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (2010), Hill et al.'s Perfectionism Questionnaire (2004), and Hoveyand King's AcculturationStress Scale (1996).

Results indicated that cognitive flexibility negatively impacts the general health of immigrants (β = -0.46, p = 0.001). Perfectionism also negatively affects their general health (β = -0.42, p = 0.001). Acculturationstress positively impacts the general health of immigrants (β = 0.76, p = 0.001).

The assessment of the proposed model using path analysis demonstrated a good fit for the general health of Iranian immigrants based on cognitive flexibility and perfectionism, mediated by acculturationstress. Consequently, fostering positive cognitive flexibility and perfectionism can aid in reducing acculturationstress and maintaining mental health in immigrants.

The current research aimed to examine the effectiveness of instructionalgames based on the social constructivist approach in interaction with learning styles on improving affective yield and learning achievement in mathematics among female middle school students.

Methods and Materials:

The research method was a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and a control group, including a two-month follow-up stage. The population consisted of all female middle school students in public schools in Hamedan during the 2023-2024 academic year. Initially, using simple random sampling, a school from district 1 of Hamedan was selected, and 100 students meeting the research criteria were chosen and then randomly divided into two experimental groups (25 students in deep learning and 25 in surface learning) and two control groups (25 in deep learning and 25 in surface learning). The experimental groups were exposed to six 90-minute sessions of instructionalgames based on the social constructivist approach; however, the control groups received no intervention and remained on a waiting list. Data were collected using Biggs and colleagues' (2001) two-factor learning process questionnaire, McCoach and Siegle's (2003) attitude towards school questionnaire, and a researcher-made questionnaire assessing mathematics learning. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24, in both descriptive and inferential statistics (mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests).

The results showed the intervention were significantly effective in improving affective yield and mathematics learning achievement (P<0.05). Additionally, the results indicated that instructionalgames based on the social constructivist approach were more effective in students with a deep learning style than those with a surface learning style in improving affective yield and mathematics learning achievement (P<0.05).

Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that instructionalgames based on the social constructivist approach can be an appropriate teaching method for improving affective yield and learning achievement, especially in middle school students with a deep learning style.

The purpose of this research was to design a model of factors affecting career decision-making, career path, and attitude towards marriage among students.

Methods and Materials:

The method of this study, in terms of purpose, is applied and in terms of the type of data, is a mixed (combined) exploratory type. The statistical population of the qualitative part of the research included academic experts, with 15 individuals selected as the sample size using purposive snowball sampling and the principle of theoretical saturation.

The qualitative findings showed the multifaceted factors influencing career decision-making, career paths, and attitudes towards marriage among students, highlighting the interplay of individual, familial, social, and environmental factors.The results, verified through rigorous statistical analyses, including confirmatory factor analysis, reveal a strong model fit, affirming the reliability and validity of the proposed model. This validation is further strengthened by the expert opinions that significantly align with the model's constructs, surpassing average scores in each evaluative criterion.

These findings emphasize the necessity of integrated approaches in career counseling and education, considering the ever-evolving socio-economic landscapes and personal values of the youth.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of matrix therapy in resilience and relapse in amphetamine addicts. 

Research method:

This research was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test and post-test design, an experimental group and a control group. The statistical population of the research consists of 1,400 men addicted to amphetamines, self-referred to addiction treatment centers in Tehran. Sampling According to the sample drop, 40 people from the community were selected by available sampling method and they were randomly selected into two groups of 20 people, control and experimental, and the questionnaires of consumption temptation and Beck depression were used.

The results showed that the matrix treatment was significantly different from the control group, the matrix treatment led to an increase in resilience and reduced relapse, and also the matrix treatment reduced the rate of relapse to consumption.

According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that matrix therapy can be used as a complementary drug treatment in people dependent on amphetamines.

The current research aimed to investigate the effect of rhythmic movement-based therapy on the mistrust/mistreatment schema in women aged 20-30 years with depression symptoms who attended counseling centers in Tehran.

Methods and Materials:

This study is applied in terms of its objective and quasi-experimental in terms of its method, following a pre-test and post-test design. The population included all women aged20-30 years with depression symptoms attending four counseling centers in Tehran, from which 30 eligible participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned into two groups (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group). Interventionsbased on the therapeutic protocol (rhythmic movement-based therapy) were conducted in 8 sessions for the experimental group, while the control group received no intervention. The Young Schema Questionnaire (1988) (short form with 90 items) was utilized for assessment. Descriptive and inferential statistical indices, including the covariance test, were employed for data analysis.

Results indicated that rhythmic movement-based therapy effectively reduces the mistrust/mistreatment schema in women aged 20-30 years with depression symptoms attending counseling centers in Tehran (p=0.013).

It can be concluded that rhythmic movement-based therapy, one of the creative art therapies or expressive emotion therapies, can positively influence schemas.

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurological disease. It has both negative and positive impacts on the physical and mental health of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-focused group therapy on emotional expressivity and rumination in patients with multiple sclerosis in Shiraz.

Methods and Materials:

The population of this study consisted of all patients with MS in Shiraz in 2021, diagnosed according to the 2017 McDonald criteria by a neurologist. After identifying MS patients, thirtywho met the research entry criteria were purposively selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group in equal numbers. The experimental group underwent emotion-focused therapy sessions for eight 90-minute sessionswhilethe control group remained on a waiting list. The data were obtained using the Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991) rumination scale and the King and Emmons (1962) emotional expressivity questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics (repeated measures analysis of variance) were used in data analysis.

Data analysis showed that after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups in both variables of emotional expressivity and rumination (P<0.05). Significant differences in components of emotional expressivity (expression of positive emotion, expression of intimacy, and expression of negative emotion) and components of rumination (rumination responses and distraction responses) were observed between patients with multiple sclerosis in the experimental and control groups (P<0.05).

The use of emotion-focused therapy is an appropriate intervention for improving emotional expressivity and rumination in patients with multiple sclerosis and can be used to improve psychological status and better cope with the disease.