فصلنامه خانواده و پژوهش
سال نهم شماره 3 (پاییز 1391)

Alexithymia and demographic factors play an important role in human relationships especially in family relations. The present study aimed at examining the predictive role of alexithymia and demographic factors in the family functioning of couples referred to counseling and psychotherapy centers. In addition, the educational achievement of the children of these couples was studied. In a cross-sectional descriptive design, 133 participants (42 men and 91 women) were selected from among clients of counseling and psychotherapy centers of Tehran through convenience sampling. The instrumentation consisted of a demographic questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), and Family Assessment Device (FAD). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that there was a significant negative relationship between alexithymia, family functioning, and educational achievement. Furthermore, there was a significant positive relationship between education level, family functioning, and educational achievement. In addition, alexithymia and education level could meaningfully predict family functioning and educational achievement and totally explained 25% of the variance in family functioning. However, gender and age could not predict the family functioning and educational achievement. Therefore, alexithymia and low education level resulted in negative family functioning and low and educational achievement. Alexithymia identification and intervention as well as therapeutic programs tailored with education level of the couples are imperative for improvement of familial functioning and educational achievement of children.

This research was undertaken to investigate Tehrani families’ attitude towards selection of public and private schools. Purposive sampling was used and the sample comprised parents of primary school boys in districts 1 and 19 of Tehran. In this qualitative research, the obtained information from 12 interviews was analyzed through content analysis. The results indicated that parents chose public schools due to their high efficiency, low cost of school fees, and schools’ being in vicinity. In addition, for the families which selected private schools, educative aspect was more important than academic aspect. Parents had different attitudes and parents’ cognition was an important factor in the formation of the attitudes. Nevertheless choice of schools was affected by families’ cultural capital. In fact, families with higher cultural capital compared to economic and social capital, had greater investment in their children’s education.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the positive and negative effects of mobile phone use among high school students. The population of the study comprised all papers and research carried out in this field. The sample size was equal to the population size and the sample was selected through purposive sampling. In order to collect data a questionnaire was devised by the researcher. The questionnaire included the following four components: 1) The extent of students’ access to mobile phone and the reasons for using it; 2) The role of family in mobile phone use; 3) The role of mobile phone in teaching and learning; 4) The role of mobile phone in students’ social and moral development and its contribution to students’ personal characteristics. Results of the study indicated that: 1) Students’ access to mobile phone is very high and the access to it increases with age and grade. 81.15 percent of students use Bluetooth to exchange music (classical, pop, and rap), clips, personal videos, art and religious photos as well as animation. 2) Girls use mobile phone more frequently than boys and half of the students possess two mobile phone line. 3) Families play a significant role in the use of mobile phones. 4) In formal and informal education, mobile phone use is an innovative approach in teaching-learning process. 5) Use of mobile phone leads to development of social identity and modern personal identity. In addition it promotes collective wisdom, and independence and freedom to do tasks. 6) Various uses of mobile phones include taking photos, electronic games, using the internet, exchanging information, sending and receiving letters, communication with the family, protecting privacy, antifiltering, accessibility, high speed, saving time, enhancing social and friendship networks, interaction, collaboration, fun, and eagerness among students.

This study was carried out to compare students’ self-efficacy according to family communication patterns in Pars Abad (Ardebil province). In this causal-comparative and ex-post facto research, 160 high school boys were selected through random cluster sampling method. The instrumentation comprised Revised Family Communication Scale and Sherer General Self-Efficacy Scale. The collected data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), scheffe test and eta coefficient. The obtained results indicated that students’ self-efficacy varied based on various family communication patterns. More specifically, children of consensual and pluralistic families enjoyed high self-efficacy and the children of protective and laissez-faire families had low self-efficacy. Based on the findings of the study and for the purpose of enhancing children’s self-efficacy, it is recommended that parents pave the way for open interactions among family members and encourage their children to express their opinions. As a result, children will find out that their points of view are worthwhile and are used for decision-making in the family.

The present study was carried out to examine the interrelationship of parenting styles, self-esteem, and students’ mental health among Tehrani eleventh graders. The research method was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population comprised all Tehrani eleventh grade students. Four hundred students (200 girls and 200 boys) and their parents were selected through random multi-stage cluster sampling. The instrumentation consisted of Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) as well as Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The obtained data were analyzed through mean, standard deviation, correlation coefficients, and multivariate regression. Results showed that there was a significant relationship between self-esteem and authoritative parenting style. In fact, these two variables had a considerable common variance and authoritative parenting style enhanced adolescents’ self-esteem. Correlation coefficients indicated that there was a significant relationship between authoritative parenting style and students’ mental health. In addition, there was a significant association between parenting styles and self-esteem. Furthermore, a meaningful relationship was observed between parenting styles and mental health and mental health can be predicted based on parenting styles.

The purpose of the present study was to describe and analyze leisure time activities among Tehrani high school students along with the contributing factors with an emphasis on the role of the family. This is a descriptive survey and the instrumentation comprised a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of all Tehrani high school students. The sample which was selected through simple random as well as multi-stage cluster sampling methods included 351 students. Based on the related literature, indexes such as socializing activities, participating activities, physical (active), passive (educational, scientific), passive (recreational, media) and arts were identified. Pearson Product Moment correlation was used for examining the relationship between the variables. In addition, F-test was utilized for testing the hypotheses. Results indicated that gender affected leisure time activities. More specifically, gender significantly contributed to leisure time indexes of physical (active), arts, passive (educational, scientific), and passive (recreational, media). Moreover, parents with higher education level spent more time with their children for leisure time activities. In addition, there was a significant relationship between parents’ education level and leisure time indexes of socializing activities, participatory activities, and passive (educational, scientific). Popular pastimes of majority of students included spending time with family, watching TV, resting and sleeping, listening to music, using mobile phone, spending time with friends, doing sport, taking part in parties, walking, going to parks and recreational centers as well as working with computer.

The purpose of the present study was to compare behavioral disorders among Tehrani primary school boys raised in single-mother, single-father and normal families. The research method was causal-comparative and the statistical population consisted of all primary school boys (normal and single-parent families) in district 2 of Tehran. Cluster sampling method was utilized and the sample included 122 children of single-parent families (61 single-mothers and 61 single-fathers) as well as 122 children of normal families. The instrumentation comprised Conners’ behavioral disorders questionnaire (teacher’s rating scale). The teachers completed the questionnaire. One-way analysis of variance and Scheffe test were used for the purpose of data analysis. Results indicated that behavioral disorders total scores were different for the three groups under study, i.e., boys raised in single-mother, single-father, and normal families. Furthermore, the total mean score of behavioral disorders for children raised in normal families was lower than that of children in single-mother and single-father families. In addition, there was a significant difference between the total mean score of behavioral disorders for single-mother and single-father families. More specifically, the total mean score of behavioral disorders for single-mother families was lower than that of children in single-father families.