Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between marital satisfaction based on sexual awareness and marital commitment feelings in married women in Tehran. This research was applied in nature and, considering the subject matter, employed a descriptive correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all married women aged 20 to 50 residing in Tehran, of whom 249 were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (ENRICH, EMSS, 1982), the Sexual Awareness Scale (Snell et al., SAS, 1991), and the Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (Adams & Jones, DCI, 1997). Data analysis was conducted using multivariate regression via SPSS version 26. Findings revealed that the variable of marital commitment feelings had a positive and significant relationship with marital satisfaction. However, the variable of sexual awareness did not significantly contribute to predicting the quality of dimensions within the marital relationship and failed to explain it. It can be concluded that higher expressions of love and greater marital satisfaction are associated with elevated levels of marital commitment, while lower levels of commitment are linked to marital boredom. This implies that as feelings of commitment in the relationship increase, satisfaction within the relationship also increases.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on social anxiety and aggression in children from single-parent families. The research method was quasi-experimental, utilizing a pre-test–post-test design with experimental and control groups. The statistical population included single-parent children who referred to counseling centers in Tehran during the year 2023. The research sample consisted of 30 individuals selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (15 participants) and a control group (15 participants). The research instruments included the Social Anxiety Questionnaire and the Aggression Questionnaire. Initially, a pre-test was administered to both groups. Subsequently, the experimental group received cognitive behavioral therapy over eight 90-minute sessions, conducted twice per week by the researcher. The findings revealed that the post-test mean scores for social anxiety and aggression in children were significantly different compared to the pre-test scores. Therefore, cognitive behavioral therapy has a significant effect on reducing social anxiety and aggression in children from single-parent families.

Identifying factors associated with addiction susceptibility among students can significantly contribute to the prevention of drug use tendencies. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine and analyze the complementary role of the family in addiction susceptibility, based on family cohesion, religious values, and spiritual intelligence, while testing the mediating role of psychological well-being. This study employed a quantitative approach. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire administered to a statistical population comprising students of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran. The data analysis method utilized was multivariate regression analysis. The results from the multivariate regression analysis indicated that all three factors—family cohesion, religious values, and spiritual intelligence—can predict addiction susceptibility among the youth in this study. Moreover, psychological well-being was found to play a mediating role in these relationships.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on psychological distress and quality of life in couples experiencing marital conflicts. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples with marital conflicts in Tehran in the year 2023. Subsequently, 32 individuals (16 couples) with marital conflicts were selected through convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to an experimental group (16 individuals) and a control group (16 individuals). Data collection tools included the Psychological Distress Questionnaire and the Quality of Life Questionnaire. In this study, CBT sessions were conducted by the researcher over 8 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, held twice a week. The findings indicated that the post-test scores of the experimental group for psychological distress and quality of life were significantly different from those of the control group. Therefore, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective in reducing psychological distress and improving the quality of life in couples with marital conflicts.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on emotion regulation and problem-solving in adolescents. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population consisted of adolescents who referred to counseling centers in Rasht during the second half of the year 2023. Using convenience sampling, 30 individuals were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The data collection instrument included the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Participants in the experimental group received CBT sessions for eight consecutive weeks, with one 90-minute session per week. No intervention was provided to the control group. The findings indicated that the mean score of emotion regulation in the posttest was significantly higher than in the pretest for the experimental group. Therefore, it can be concluded that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective in enhancing emotion regulation and problem-solving among adolescents.

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on self-awareness and self-affirmation in patients with thalassemia. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest format and a control group. The statistical population consisted of female thalassemia patients who attended Bu-Ali Hospital in the city of Sari. Based on purposive sampling and predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 40 participants were selected—20 assigned to the experimental group and 20 to the control group. To collect the required data, the study utilized the standard Self-Awareness Questionnaire by Nestor and Davis (2002) and the standard Self-Affirmation Questionnaire by Rathus (2003). For data analysis, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used. The results indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy had a positive and statistically significant effect on both self-awareness and self-affirmation in thalassemia patients treated at Bu-Ali Hospital in Sari. Therefore, it can be concluded that ACT is effective in improving self-awareness and self-affirmation in patients with thalassemia.

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of thought suppression in the relationship between negative life events and psychological distress in a South African adult population. A descriptive correlational design was employed with 423 participants selected based on Morgan and Krejcie's sampling guidelines. Participants completed three standardized instruments: the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) to assess exposure to negative life events, the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) to measure thought suppression, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) to evaluate psychological distress. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using SPSS-27 to examine bivariate relationships, while structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted in AMOS-21 to test the hypothesized mediating model and assess model fit. Pearson correlation results revealed significant positive associations among negative life events, thought suppression, and psychological distress (r = .41 to .52, p < .001). SEM analysis confirmed that thought suppression partially mediated the relationship between negative life events and psychological distress. The direct effect of negative life events on psychological distress was significant (β = .33, p < .001), as was the path from negative life events to thought suppression (β = .41, p < .001), and from thought suppression to psychological distress (β = .39, p < .001). The indirect effect of negative life events on psychological distress through thought suppression was also significant (β = .16, p < .001). Model fit indices indicated a good fit (χ²/df = 2.37, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.056, TLI = 0.94). The findings highlight thought suppression as a significant cognitive mechanism that partially explains the link between life adversity and psychological distress. Interventions targeting maladaptive cognitive strategies such as suppression may be essential for mitigating distress, particularly in high-adversity sociocultural contexts.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination and anxiety, and to assess whether cognitive distortions mediate this relationship in a non-clinical adult population in Mexico. A descriptive correlational research design was employed with a sample of 410 adult participants, determined using the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) to assess perceived discrimination, the Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS) to measure cognitive distortions, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to evaluate anxiety symptoms. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using SPSS-27 to explore bivariate relationships, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using AMOS-21 to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated using multiple indices including χ², RMSEA, CFI, TLI, GFI, and AGFI. Results indicated significant positive correlations between perceived discrimination and anxiety (r = .47, p < .001), perceived discrimination and cognitive distortions (r = .41, p < .001), and cognitive distortions and anxiety (r = .58, p < .001). The SEM analysis showed good model fit (χ²/df = 2.07, RMSEA = .051, CFI = .96, TLI = .95). Direct effects were significant for perceived discrimination on cognitive distortions (β = .41, p < .001), cognitive distortions on anxiety (β = .51, p < .001), and perceived discrimination on anxiety (β = .27, p < .001). The indirect effect of perceived discrimination on anxiety through cognitive distortions was also significant (β = .21, p < .001), supporting partial mediation. The findings demonstrate that cognitive distortions partially mediate the relationship between perceived discrimination and anxiety, indicating that distorted thinking patterns may be a psychological mechanism through which discrimination contributes to anxiety symptoms. These results underscore the need for targeted cognitive interventions in populations vulnerable to social stressors.