International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences

Introduction: Life skills are abilities, knowledge and behaviors that are learned for happiness and success in life, and teaching these skills leads to bio-psychological success, emotional maturity, and success in professional and personal life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of life skills training on emotional maturity and mental health of young marrying couples in Tehran, Iran. Method: The target population of the study consisted of all couples who referred to Ahmadi Health Center in the second half of the year 2015, from whom 60 people (30 couples) were selected using convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned to two groups of control and experimental. Before introducing the independent variable, the control and experimental subjects were pretested. Subjects completed the SCL-90-r questionnaires of emotional development and mental health. Results: According to the results, life skills positively affect young marrying couples’ emotional maturity and mental health. Conclusion: Couples who were well-educated in life skills are likely to show a high level of emotional maturity and mental health, thus they would establish strong and solid relationships with family and community members, and they socially show more desirable behaviors, and have a more self-contained concept, and this will allow them to assess, understand, and accept their limitations and abilities in a more correct way. Declaration of Interest: None.

Introduction: This research is conducted with the aim of making a comparison of effectiveness of LEARN program and cognitive- behavioral intervention (CBT) on modifying leptin and body mass index levels as well as subsequent eating and exercise self-efficacy among overweight and obese women. Method: after announcement, 30 female volunteers with BMI more than 25 who were eligible for exclude- include criteria of experiment, were chosen and randomly assigned to two experimental groups including multidimensional LEARN and CBT intervention program, two groups of 15 member. After that, all the participants were replied (responded) to of eating and exercise self-efficacy items embedded in the questionnaires they received. Their BMI were calculated. Furthermore, to determine the Leptin levels, subjects’ blood samples were also measured and analyzed.  Results: Analysis of data was carried out using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) which is a statistical method, with Frequent measuring revealed that both interventions culminate in a significant decrease in BMI and leptin levels and also an increase in eating and exercise self-efficacy (P<0.05); but, there were no significant differences, between two interventions, in these factors except Leptin (P>0.05). Besides, decrease in leptin levels were more significant in the LEARN group in comparison to those of CBT (P<0.05).  Discussion and Conclusion: Both interventions by receiving positive feedback from health status and subsequent weight loss and improved physical function will lead to an enhancement in physical-bio-psychological components; But, LEARN program intervention due to its concentration on behavioral pathways could leads to more changes in biological components’ levels such as leptin.

Introduction: Retirement is one of the most important spans of life especially in current times which aged population is growing fast and needs more attention. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between personality traits and religious attitudes with the meaning of life in retirees.  Methods: The present study was descriptive and correlational. The population included all inhabitants in Nahavand of Iran which 200 of them were selected by simple random sampling method. The research tools were NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), Religious Attitude Scale (RAS) and Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.  Results: The results showed that there was a significant relationship between personality traits and meaning of life (p<0.05). There was a significant negative relationship between neuroticism and meaning of life (p<0.05), and there were significant positive relationships between the meaning of life with extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness (p<0.05). There was also a significant positive relationship between religious attitude and meaning of life (p<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that agreeableness, conscientiousness, and religious attitude could explain 37% of the meaning of life variance significantly (p<0.05).  Conclusion: Overall the results showed that agreeableness, conscientiousness and religious attitude have important role in people’s sense of meaning in their lives. Declaration of Interest: None.

Abstract: Background and Aim: Considering that the level of quality of life in nurses has important role on their function and plays major role at the level of giving services to patients and the health system, Current study aimed to investigate the relationship between job stressors and self-efficacy with life satisfaction in nurses of Imam Hossein Hospital.Materials and Methods: Current study is based on structural equation modeling. The samples consisted of 120 nurses from Imam Hossein Hospital who were randomly selected. Research tools were a checklist for demographic information and two other valid and reliable the Sherer General Health Inventory, Hospital Job Stress (HSS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) questionnaires. To evaluate the model, structural equation modeling and coefficient Pearson correlation were applied. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software.Results: There was significant relationship, the direct effect of self-efficacy on life satisfaction (p<0.01), direct effect of occupational stress on self-efficacy (p<0.01) and Indirect effect of job stress on satisfaction with life (p<0.05) variables.Conclusion: Self-efficacy reduces the effects and negative symptoms of stress, and increases individual's ability to cope with stress and this causes lack of individual's discomfort and his calm in face of problems and increases his/her level of happiness and satisfaction with life.

Introduction: Several Studies have shown that the clinical symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) include an emotional dysregulation and deficits in emotional intelligence. Present study aimed to study emotional intelligence and emotion regulation skills in adults with ADHD. Methods: Participants were 40 newly diagnosed adults with ADHD (65% female, 35% male, mean age 27.5 years, ranged from 19 to 43 years old). Symptoms were assessed using Conner’s Adult ADHD Rating Scales. The control group included 40 subjects who were selected using convenient sampling method. Both groups completed the 36-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the 90-item Persian version of Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i). Data were analyzed using MANOVA. Results: Findings showed that clinical group differed significantly from control subjects with respect to their overall emotion regulation skills and emotional intelligence scores (p<0.01). Conclusions: Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder had more difficulties in emotion regulation and more deficits in emotional intelligence compared to normal subjects. Declaration of Interest: None.

Introduction: During cancer treatment, parents are faced with a number of challenges that require making difficult situations. The aim of this project was investigating effectiveness of SFBT on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in parents of children with cancer. Methods: The present research will be an experimental study with pretest-posttest design using control and experimental groups. The statistical population of the study include all parents of children with cancer of Shiraz hospitals during 2016-2017. To select the statistical sample, convenient sampling method will be used. 24 people will be randomly selected and they will be randomly assigned in a control group (12 people), an experimental group (12 people). Instrument was used in this research includes Impact of Events Scale. Results: Investigating the significance hypothesis revealed that of difference among the two groups in Co-variance analysis in terms of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the posttest was significant (F = 256.0, P = .0001). Investigating the significance hypothesis revealed that of difference among the two groups in multiple Co-variance analysis in terms of subscales of posttraumatic stress symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal) in the posttest was significant (F = 50.0, P = .0001 in intrusion, F = 173.0, P = .0001 in avoidance and F = 124.0, P = .0001 in hyperarousal). Conclusion: The research findings showed that solution- focused brief therapy on posttraumatic stress symptoms was effectiveness. The authors contend that SFBT is particularly well-suited for use with cancer patients and their families because “the nature of the disease is such that crises are intermittent throughout the course of the illness”.

Introduction: Impulsivity is one of the main cores of bipolar disorder and the maintenance factor of depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the acceptance and commitment therapy in impulsivity of patients with bipolar I disorder and major depression disorder.

Method: The study design was quasi-experimental. The study population included all patients with bipolar I disorder and major depression disorder that have been referred to the public and private treatment centers of Zanjan; among those, 12 patients with bipolar I disorder and 12 patients with major depression disorder were selected based on psychiatric diagnosis and on the criteria of DSM-IV. Also by Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and according to the inclusion criteria and convenient sampling, all patients received 8 sessions of 90 minutes treatment based on acceptance and commitment therapy. All Patients were assessed three times (before treatment, mid-treatment and end of treatment) using the Impulsivity Questionnaire (Barrat et al, 1977). Data were analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measure test.

Results: The results of data analysis indicated the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in decreasing impulsivity (F (66, 3) =115/7; P<0/001, ETA=0/84) and the components of attention/cognitive impulsivity (p<0/001), motor impulsivity (p<0/001), and non-planning (p<0/001) in both groups of patients with bipolar disorder-I and major depression disorder.

Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy decreases the impulsivity of patients with bipolar disorder and major depression disorder by increasing awareness, psychological acceptance, emotional isolation, management of emotions, reducing ineffective control and use of problem-solving.