Spiritual/Religious Perfectionism Scale in Iran: Psychometric Evaluation.

This article introduces a new self-report measure of perfectionism: the Spiritual/Religious Perfectionism Scale (SRPS). Following preliminary psychometric evidence for a 20-item SRPS (Besharat, 2017),  the present investigation examined the structure of the SRPS using exploratory factor analysis in study 1 (368 students: 181 men, 187 women) and confirmatory factor analysis in study 2 (384 community adults: 189 men, 195 women) in Iran. After exploratory factor analysis, we retained 14 items. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the SRPS-14's unidimensionality and invariance across sex and sample type. The SRPS-14's internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity including criterion, convergent, incremental, and discriminant were examined. The results provided preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the SRPS-14 as a measure of spiritual/religious perfectionism. It should be noted that the English-language translation of the items presented in this paper has not yet been validated in an English-speaking sample, but should be validated in future research.

Introduce a New Intervention Model Based on Islamic Lifestyle for Decreasing the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in People at Risk: A Comparative Study.

The main purpose of the present study was designing and assessing the common lifestyle and Islamic lifestyle interventions and comparison of them. Sample of the study was thirty-nine subjects participated in a healthy lifestyle program. The Islamic group were received the Islamic healthy lifestyle program. In comparison with common, in the Islamic group the CVD risk was significantly lower; the psychological well-being was increased significantly; the psychological distress was decreased significantly; and the spiritual well-being was increased significantly. The most powerful element of Islamic lifestyle was to strengthen the spirituality that can positively affect the life.

Psycho-art-drama: development and testing a new integrated complementary method of psychiatric treatments for hospitalised children with cancer (a case study).

Objective: Art therapy as a psychotherapy method using art, and psychodrama as a therapeutic method using role play, have different roots, principles, techniques and different effect mechanisms and advantages. Integrated psychotherapies are aimed to maximise each of the component advantages, as well as minimising disadvantages. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop a new integrated psychotherapy method, named psycho-art-drama (PAD) for hospitalised children with cancer and testing its effectiveness.Methods: After designing the PAD protocol, five hospitalised children with cancer accompanied with their mothers selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria to participate in this single-subject study.Results: The results showed that PAD was significantly effective in reducing the bio-psycho-social expressions of incompatibility in the hospital (BPSEIH) in all of the five children.Conclusions: Findings of this study give preliminary support using the PAD model in similar conditions.

Efficacy of an Attachment-Based Intervention Model on Health Indices in Children with Chronic Disease and Their Mothers.

Studies have shown significant relationship between health conditions and attachment. This study aimed to examine an attachment-based intervention model named mother-child-disease triangle (MCDT) on health indices in children with chronic disease and their mothers. This randomized trial study included 22 volunteer children aged 12-18 years undergoing medical treatment for a chronic disease and their mothers. After evaluation by 28-form General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), inventory of parent and peer attachment (IPPA), 28-form Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-28) and Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the mother-child dyads were paired on the basis of IPPA scores. These pairs were then randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received ten 90-min sessions of MCDT over a 7-week period. Meanwhile, the control group received ten simple conversational sessions as a dummy intervention. In accordance with this study's pre-test/post-test design, both groups were evaluated once again after completing their respective treatment. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed members of the experimental group to have significantly stronger attachment and better physiological and psychosocial health than those in the control group. These findings suggest that attachment-based interventions can be used to improve the effectiveness of treatment among children with chronic disease and their mothers.

An information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model-based intervention for CABG patients.

BACKGROUND: In order to benefit from a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, patients must adhere to medical recommendations and health advices. Despite the importance of adherence in CABG patients, adherence rates are disappointingly low. Despite the low adherence rates, very few articles regarding adherence-enhancing intervention among heart patients have been published. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to assess the effects of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model-based intervention on the IMB model constructs among patients undergoing CABG and to evaluate the relationship of information, motivation, and behavioral skills with adherence. METHOD: A total of 152 CABG patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or to a standard care control group. Participants completed pretest measures and were reassessed 1 month later. RESULTS: Findings showed mixed support for the effectiveness of the intervention. There was a significant effect of IMB intervention on information and motivation of patients, but no significant effect on behavioral skills. Furthermore, the results revealed that intervention constructs (information, motivation, and behavioral skills) were significantly related to patients' adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provided initial evidence for the effectiveness of IMB-based interventions on the IMB constructs and supported the importance of these constructs to improve adherence; however, there are additional factors that need to be identified in order to improve behavioral skills more effectively.

Factorial and cross-cultural validity of a Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale.

This study aimed to examine factorial and cross-cultural validity of a Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale. 933 undergraduate students (388 men, 545 women) from the University of Tehran participated. The Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale, the Tehran Multidimensional Anger Scale, and the Mental Health Inventory were completed by all participants. Results supported the four-factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale. The factors found in the Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale are similar to the factors found in previous studies and were accordingly labeled as Angry Afterthoughts, Thoughts of Revenge, Angry Memories, and Understanding Causes. The results also provided evidence for applicability of the Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale and its cross-cultural validity.

Values of College Students in Iran and the United States Who Admire Celebrities.

This study had two goals. The first goal was to compare scores on the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) and values of college students in Iran and the United States on how they differ in their admiration for their favorite celebrities. The second goal was to examine additional psychometric data on the Twenty Item Values Inventory (TWIVI). We administered the TWIVI, the CAS, and demographic items to 200 students at a university in Iran, and 199 students at one university and two colleges in the United States. The results revealed that Iranian students scored about the same as American students on the CAS, and both samples scored higher per item on Celebrity Attitude Scale Entertainment-Social, the entertainment or social subscale as compared with the two more problematic subscales of the CAS. Stepwise multiple regressions showed that Hedonism and Power predicted total CAS scores for Americans and Tradition and Stimulation predicted total CAS scores for Iranians. We found that the TWIVI performed reasonably well given its brevity. That is, predictions stemming from Schwartz's values theory were generally confirmed in both samples by data obtained from the TWIVI.

Perfectionism, anger, and anger rumination.

Anger and anger rumination are considered to be detrimental to both physical and psychological well being. Furthermore, perfectionism, as a personality construct, seems to be related to various types of maladjustment. Whereas perfectionism has been characterized as being positive when an individual derives pleasure from striving for excellence yet recognizes and accepts individual limitations, it is deemed negative when the individual has unrealistic expectations and is never satisfied with his or her performance. The present study examined whether positive and negative perfectionism was associated with anger and anger rumination. The Farsi version of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale and the Farsi version of the Anger Rumination Scale, as well as Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Scale were completed by 384 Iranian students. Results showed that anger and anger rumination were, as expected, associated negatively with positive perfectionism and associated positively with negative perfectionism. Positive perfectionism enables individuals to strive for success in a flexible manner and, thus, to experience satisfaction and pleasure rather than dissatisfaction, frustration, and anger. Conversely, negative perfectionism makes individuals vulnerable to emotional distress such as predisposition to experience anger and anger rumination through setting high standards for performance, overgeneralization of perceived failures, negative self-evaluation, self-blame, and measuring self-worth in terms of unachievable goals of accomplishment and productivity. Hence, perfectionism may be regarded as having both adaptive and maladaptive aspects with regard to health.

Relationship between Worry, and Anger Rumination with Cardiovascular Disease Severity: Social Loneliness as a Moderator.

BACKGROUND: Biological and psychological factors contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to test the moderating effect of social loneliness in the relationship between worry and anger rumination, and CVD severity. METHODS: A total of 327 patients with CVD (138 women, 189 men) participated in this study. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), Social Loneliness Scale (SLS), and Gensini score as an indicator of CVD severity were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. RESULTS: The results of this study showed a significant positive correlation between worry (54.44 ± 12.31, r = 0.59, P < 0.01), anger rumination (46.54 ± 12.47; r = 0.36; P < 0.01), and social loneliness (28.22 ± 9.13, r = 0.65, P < 0.01) with CVD severity (15.07 ± 5.13). In other words, higher levels of worry, anger rumination, and social loneliness are associated with exacerbation of CVD. Social loneliness was a moderator in the relationship between worry and CVD severity (ΔR2 = 0.007, F= 4.2870, P < 0.05), suggesting the importance of worry in CVD severity, especially in lonely people. The main effects of worry and social loneliness on CVD severity were ß = 0.32, SE = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.2289, 0.4222, P < 0.001 and ß = 0.46, SE = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.3649, 0.5572, P < 0.001, respectively. The moderating effect of social loneliness on the relationship between worry and CVD severity was ß = 0.07; SE = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.0074, 0.1522; P < 0.001. Social loneliness was not a moderator in the relationship between anger rumination and CVD severity (ΔR2 = 0.006, F = 3.10, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that along with biological factors, attention to the role of psychological factors of worry, anger rumination, and loneliness in preventive and therapeutic interventions related to CVD is a special necessity.

Mediating Role of Perceived Stress in the Relationship between Facing Existential Issues and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the mediating role of perceived stress in anticipation of anxiety and depression on facing the ultimate concerns (death, loneliness, freedom, and meaningfulness). Method : A total of 389 students from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad participated in this study in 2017-18. The participants were selected using random sampling. The data were collected using the subscales of anxiety and depression in depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS), Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), the third edition of Loneliness Scale UCLA (UCLA-LS), the subscale of meaning in life in Meaningfulness of Life Questionnaire (MLQ), responsibility scale of California Psychological Inventory (CPI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Then, they were evaluated using Pearson correlation and path analysis. Results: The correlation between the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and death anxiety and loneliness was direct and significant with the perceived stress. The relationship between the perceived stress with meaningfulness of life and responsibility was significantly inverse. The analysis of the data path showed that the component dealing with existence (loneliness and death anxiety) predicted 20% of anxiety symptoms through perceived stress in the model that was fitted well with research data. Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be concluded that the relationship between dealing with ultimate concerns and anxiety symptoms was not linear. Dealing with ultimate concerns affects the anxiety symptoms through the perceived stress. Therefore, attention to the perceived stress management to promote health and prevent anxiety disorders is important.

Reliability and factor validity of a Farsi version of The Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale.

This study investigated reliability and factor validity of a Farsi version of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale in 606 undergraduate students (257 men, 349 women) from the University of Tehran. All participants were asked to complete the scale, along with the General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1972) and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith, 1967). Findings indicated good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the two-factor structure of the Farsi version of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale. These factors were similar to the factors found in previous studies and were accordingly labeled Positive Perfectionism and Negative Perfectionism. The results provide evidence for applicability of the scale and its cross-cultural validity.

Assessing reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale in a sample of substance-using patients.

The aim of this study was to estimate reliability and factorial validity of the Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) for 321 substance-abusing patients (187 men and 134 women). All were asked to complete the Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, the Emotional Intelligence Scale, and The Mental Health Inventory. Analysis supported the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and three-factor structure of the Farsi version of the TAS-20 for substance users. The factors are similar to the three reported previously and were labeled as Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Externally oriented Thinking. These results provide evidence for applicability of the TAS-20 and its cross-cultural validity.

Spiritual health mediates the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of spiritual health in the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease. In total, 327 patients with coronary artery disease (138 women, 189 men) completed the Ego-Strength Scale, Adjustment to Illness Scale, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Results showed that both ego-strength and spiritual health had a significantly positive correlation with adjustment to heart disease. Results also revealed that spiritual health mediated the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease. More improvement in adjustment to heart disease requires more improvement in patients' spiritual health as well as to ego-strength.

Women's Perceptions and Feelings about Loss of Their Sexual Desire: A Qualitative Study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Reduced sexual desire leaves serious impacts on women's life. The current study aims to investigate the perceptions and concerns of Iranian women of reproductive age with female sexual interest and arousal disorder (FSIAD). METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted using content analysis approach. Data were collected through seventeen in-depth interviews from October 2015 to June 2016. Purposive sampling was carried out from among reproductive-aged women suffering from FSIAD who responded to female sexual function index (FSFI) with mean scores of ≤3.3 and ≤3.4 in desire and arousal domains, respectively and went through validation by a psychologist. Data analysis was performed using Granheim and Lundman's approach. MAXQDA 10.0 software was used for data organization. RESULTS: The three main themes that emerged in this study included: 1) "Spoiled feminine identity" with two categories of "deteriorated sexual self-esteem" and "deteriorated feminine position", 2) "Struggle in sexual issues" with two categories of concern about losing the relationship and spouse, and surrendering to sexual relationship, and 3) "Deterioration of the couple's relationship" with two categories of deteriorated marital interaction and sexual disharmony between the couple. CONCLUSION: Feeling inability to play gender role as a woman and fear of losing the spouse are the most important concerns of women with lack of interest in sex. Training communication skills for sexual talks with the spouse and expression of feelings are the first steps to help such women.

Reliability and factorial validity of a Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale with a sample of Iranian students.

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale for 587 undergraduate students (349 women and 238 men) at the University of Tehran. All participants were asked to complete the Farsi version of the TAS-20, the Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Mental Health Inventory. Findings supported the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and three-factor structure of the Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The factors found in the Farsi version of this scale are similar to the three factors found previously and were accordingly labeled as Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Externally Oriented Thinking. The results provide evidence for applicability of the TAS-20 and its cross-cultural validity.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms of children following the occurrence of Tehran City Park disaster.

The authors investigated the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of young adolescents who had been directly involved in a disaster in Tehran. The participants were 19 chlidren who had survived a boat sinking in Tehran's city park in 2002. By using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (PSS; E. B. Foa, D. S. Riggs, C. V. Dancu, & B. O. Rothbaum, 1993) as well as a clinical interview based on the definition cited in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 424), 16 participants (84.2%) were diagnosed with PTSD using the PSS and 17 (89.5%) were diagnosed with PTSD using the psychiatric interview.

Predicting obsessions and compulsions according to superego and ego characteristics: A comparison between scrupulosity and non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive images or impulses and/or ritualistic and rigid behaviors. Symptoms of OCD have different contents including contamination, harming and symmetry. Religion is one of the themes that has been observed in the context of OCD frequently. The aim of the present study was to examine the power of superego and ego characteristics in predicting scrupulosity and non-religious obsessions and compulsions, as well as comparing the two sets of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Sixty six Iranian (19 men, 47 women) participated in the study. All participants were asked to complete Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity, Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory, the Multidimensional Anger Inventory, and Ego Strength Scale. Results showed that perfectionism and anger were positively correlated with scrupulosity and non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Ego control was negatively correlated with scrupulosity, while ego resiliency was not correlated with any of these two sets of symptoms. Regression analysis indicated that among these variables, anger was the best predictor of non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while perfectionism and ego control were the best predictors of scrupulosity.

Emotional Intelligence: A Comparison between Medical and Non-Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: Emotional intelligence (EI) has recently been considered as one of the necessary elements for success and achievement in medical fields. The present study was conducted in Iran to compare the EI in medical and non-medical students adjusted for the other relevant factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2011 to January 2012 on 872 students of medicine, paramedical and non-medical groups in Tehran University and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran selected by multi-stage weighted cluster sampling. The Farsi version of revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence (FEIS) was used to estimate emotional intelligence. RESULTS: The mean of total EI was equal to 124.9 (SD=8.4) out of 205 and the means for its dimensions were as follows: regulation of emotions 39.3 (SD=5.1), utilization of emotions 26.7 (SD=3.6) and appraisal of emotions 33.5 (SD=5.3). While the paramedical and non-medical students' total EI score was significantly higher than the medical students', in the utilization of emotions dimension, the medical students scored significantly higher than the other two groups. CONCLUSION: The lower levels of the medical students' total EI score in comparison with paramedical and non-medical students in this study demands the relevant authorities to pay even more attention to the selection and training of medical students.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes Management: The Moderating Role of Coping Styles.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Evidence of the efficacy of existing psychological interventions for self-management in diabetes is limited. The current study aimed at assessing the effects of group-based ACT on self-management of patients with T2DM, considering the moderating role of coping styles. METHODS: One hundred and six patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned either to the education alone (n = 53) or to a combination of education and group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (n = 53) over a period of 10 sessions. In each group, 50 participants completed a 3 month follow-up assessment. RESULTS: After 3 months, compared to patients who received education alone, those in the group-based acceptance and commitment therapy condition were more likely to use effective coping strategies, reported better diabetes self-care, and optimum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in the target range. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of the role of coping style for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy may be a useful addition to services provided for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Evaluating psychometric properties of Farsi version of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale. Two samples of 97 (56 women, 41 men) and 115 (67 women, 48 men) undergraduate students at the University of Tehran participated. Findings supported the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and factor structure of the Farsi version. Factor analysis provided evidence for two dimensions of perfectionism, Positive and Negative perfectionism. The two dimensions had significant negative and positive correlations, respectively, with measures of psychological distress and health, respectively. The Farsi version of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale presented good psychometric properties for use in research.