Journal of counseling research

Process-focused Conversation Analysis: Proposing an Approach for Intervention and Assessment the Field of Counseling and Psychotherapy with People Suffering from Depression

hossein ghamari kivi

Purpose: The present research was conducted with the aim of determining the position of questioning, skills, and techniques in counseling of clients with depression using a process-focused conversation analysis method. Methods: The research method was of qualitative type, with single-subject design. Two persons with depression referring to Sepand Counseling Center in Ardabil were selected using convenient sampling method and were treated with counseling and psychotherapy using the meta-theory method. The events of each session were written completely and then, therapist's reactions for each client after labeling was entered in the form of the change equation based on the regression analysis model. Findings: The results showed that it is easy to extract the change equation in terms of questions, skills, and techniques from the psychotherapy process and objectify the change equation using the symbolic system. On the other hand, the level of contribution to variance for each of the effective components dependent on the therapist's responses was determined. Conclusions: based on the formulation of the change equation, the supervision of the psychotherapy would be simplified; a wide range of counseling and psychotherapy events can be found, such as the cognitive complexity of the clients and the extent of the therapist's or client's activity.

Studying the Communication Reactions of Female Victims of Infidelity: A Phenomenological Study

Mohammad Hassan Asayesh

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and explain the communication reactions of female victims of infidelity. Methods: The present study employed a phenomenoogical qualitative methodology. The study population consisted of female victims of infidelity in Shemiranat in the year 2016. Data collection continued through interviews until theoretical saturation was obtained. For this 18 women who were victims of infidelity were selected through purposive sampling and were investigated using semi-structured interviews, and the elicited data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The data analysis in regards to the communication reactions of women victimized by infidelity resulted in two main themes, 10 subthemes, and 29 initial concepts. The main theme and associated sub-themes were: A). ‘The dissociation of communications’ consisting of the following subthemes: 1. the dissociation of mother-child relationship, 2. the dissociation of father-child relationship, 3. the dissociation of marital relationship, 4. The dissociation of family relationships, 5. the dissociation of interpersonal relationships, 6. the dissociation of relationship with God; and B). "Communications continuity", consisting of the following sub-themes: 1. the continuity of spousal relationship, 2. improving the mother-child relationship, 3. getting social support, 4. improving the relationship with God. Conclusions: This study showed that infidelity has similar and sometimes different communicational effects that are experienced by female victims of infidelity. the effects of infidelity can be either maladaptive or adaptive. The results were interpreted based on the social construction and attachment theories.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Marital Life Enrichment Education Based on Emotional-focused Therapy on Improvement of Couples' Communicational Patterns

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of educational package for enrichment of marital life based on emotional focused therapy (EFT) on the improvement of couples’ communicational patterns. Methods: The research method of the study was pseudo-experimental in which pre-test and post-test for the two control and experimental groups were used. To do so, 30 couples were selected purposefully from the population of couples who referred to the counseling centers in the city of Gorgan, Iran for improving their relationship. They were then randomly assigned to control and experimental goups. The experimental group participated in 8 three-hour sessions of group education, while the control group on the waiting list did not receive any particular intervention. In order to assess the dependent variable, Communication Patterns Questionnaire (Christensen & Sullaway, 1984) was used. The data were analyzed using covariation analysis. Findings: The results of the data analysis indicate that education based on EFT was more effective in improvement couples’ communicational patterns for participants in the experimental group, than those with no such intervention in the control group (p<0/01). Furthermore, post-hoc test shows that the effect of education in enrichment of marital life based on EFT was stable and no significant difference was identified between the averages of pre-test and post-hoc test stages (p<0/01). Conclusions: The results approve influence of education about enrichment of marital life based on EFT on improvement of newly married couples’ communicational patterns

The perception of unfaithful men (infidelity) of the causes and factors in preventing Extramarital relations: a qualitative study

mousa choupani

Objective: Marital infidelity is a subject shocking for couples & common phenomenon in today's society that affect the dissolution of the family & couples divorce. The goal of this research qualitative study causes & factors inhibition of infidelity in unfaithful men. Methods: In the present qualitative research, the phenomenological approach was used. The study population consisted of all unfaithful men in the city Shahindezh, that after identifying a large number of them by the researcher, from among them using the purposive sampling method 12 man (who willing to establishing relationships with investigator & were interviewed) were selected to participate in the study & then were interviewed. All the interviews were tape-recorded & then transcribed verbatim & finally analyzed through method of interpretive analysis of Diekelmann, Allen, & Tanner. Results: The analysis of data from interviews led to identification of 51 primary codes, 9 subtheme & 3 main theme in the context of the cause's infidelity (1. Intrapersonal causes: sexual variety, lack of adherence to religious, Acquisition of self-confidence & Revenge. 2. Interpersonal causes: sexual dissatisfaction, emotional dissatisfaction & lack of commitment. 3. Environmental causes: preparation of infidelity situation & derangement of mate selection) & 23 Primary codes, 5 subtheme & 3 main theme in the context of inhibitor causes from marital infidelity (1. Interpersonal inhibitors: emotional satisfaction & sexual satisfaction. 2. Environmental inhibitors: eliminating the environmental provoking & release from selective compulsion 3. Intrapersonal inhibitors: religious adherence) in the infidelity men. Conclusion: The researchers & programmer of the field of marriage & family could by eliminating the causes of the tendency of the couples to the extramarital relationships & reinforcement of inhibitors factors in them & in their functional environment, to a large degree decrease the possibility of these people to extramarital affair & prepare the context of couple system stability & the unit of family.

Compare the Effectiveness of Systemic-Structurally Oriented Couple Therapy and the Teaching of the Pluralistic Family Communication Model on Marital Satisfaction in Women with Breast Cancer

, Yusef Ranjbar Sudejni

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of systemic-structurally oriented couple therapy and the teaching of the pluralistic family communication model on marital satisfaction in women with breast cancer. Method: This is a semi-experimental research with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population included all women with breast cancer referring to Tehran city one of Radiotherapy Clinic in 2015, among whom 30 were selected by objective sampling and interviews. They were randomly divided into three groups: pluralistic Family communication Model, Systemic-structurally oriented couple therapy and control group. Enrich marital satisfaction scale was used to collect the data. univariate analysis of covariance and Scheffe's post-hoc test was used for analyzing the data. Results: The results showed that systemic-structurally oriented couple therapy and communication model of pluralistic family significantly influenced marital satisfaction.(p<0.01). Also, the results of Scheffe's post-hoc test showed that the mean scores of the education group of pluralistic family communication model were significantly higher than the systemic-structural couple therapy group (p <0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that between the two approaches of systemic-structurally oriented couple therapy and the teaching of the pluralistic family communication model, is more effective than systemic-structurally oriented treatment on couple satisfaction.Therefore, family communication model can be considered as a preferred treatment in counseling and psychotherapy centers for marital satisfaction in women with breast cancer.

Discovery of Mate Selection Attitudes of Single Girls: A Qualitative Study

maryam fatehizade

Purpose: Mate selection and having a happy and successful marriage is one of the most important issues in the lives of many. One of the issues that affects the success rate of mate selection is the attitude toward this choice. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of mate selection of single Iranian girls. Methods: This study was carried out with qualitative method, using thematic analysis approach. In this study, the researchers used purposive sampling method to identify and interview fifteen 18 to 30 year-old girls in Tehran. All interviews were recorded and then hand-written line by line, and then analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Analysis of the data obtained from the interviews resulted in identifying two main categories of effective selection attitudes with subcategories (rationality and logic-realism, realism, belief in self-knowledge, belief in knowing the other, considering the cognitive relationship as necessary, belief in balancing, belief in mutual consultation and counseling for making a choice) and ineffective selective attitudes with subcategories (idealistic, considering making a choice or marriage as restrictive, perceiving as ineffective and unnecessary mutual consultation in making a choice, and seeing choice and marriage as a bridge to the absolute emancipation from suffering) in relation to the attitudes of girls near making a marital selection. Conclusions: The findings of this study, through identifying the effective and ineffective attitudes of girls toward mate selection provided the basis for developing educational and corrective programs to strengthen positive attitudes in this group of people, and recognizing ineffective attitudes provided the means to eliminate these attitudes in order to make a more successful selection.

Modeling the Structural Equation of Relationship between Positive and Negative Concept of God and Components of Mental Health (Anxiety, Stress, and Depression) in Students

parviz porzoor

Purpose: Considering the effect of attitude toward God on different aspects of health of individuals, the present study aims to model the structural equations of the relationship between the positive and negative conception of God with mental health components (anxiety, stress and depression) in students. has taken. Methods: This study was conducted on a sample of 240 male and female students in the city of Ardebil in the academic year of 1996-96 using a survey method and multi-stage cluster sampling. The data were collected using God's Imagination Questionnaire (RSI), anxiety, stress and depression scales of Lavender, and analyzed using structural equation analysis, Pearson correlation test, multiple regression and t-test. Findings: The results showed that the positive and negative conception of God can predict the mental health (anxiety, stress and depression) of students, so that the positive image of God with the symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression and a negative impression of God had significant relationship with anxiety, stress and depression symptoms (P<0.001). Also, according to the structural equation model, the coefficients of the positive image pathway from God to anxiety, stress and depression are negative and significant, and the coefficients of the negative image pathway from God to anxiety, stress and depression are positive and statistically significant (P≤0.05). Such that predictors of anxiety, stress and depression present in the model (positive image of God and negative image of God), explained their variance 27.8%, 40.6%, and 42% respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the kind of image of God has a significant role in predicting mental health of students. Therefore, teaching positive image of God and providing religious backgrounds in different classes during the period of study and extracurricular classes plays an effective role in promoting mental health of students.

Socio-Economic Status, Self-efficacy and Mathematics Performance: A Multilevel Structural Euation Model

zahra naghsh

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of socioeconomic status on individual and combination effects, and resilience to academic performance. Methods: For this purpose, 600 students who were selected by two stage cluster sampling methodology completed the Martin and Marsh Resiliency Questionnaire (2006) and their parents answered the International Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire. TIMSS (Which is repeated every four years for the country's performance in science and mathematics education to determine the trend of educational change and even the rate of decline and increased performance of students in participating countries after these years). Parents were also identified in three groups with high socioeconomic status, moderate, and low levels of this variable. Findings: Multilevel structural Equation Model was used to study and analyze the data. The results showed that socioeconomic status had a significant direct effect on academic performance in both levels of the student and the family, and the effect of resilience on academic performance was significant. Conclusions: The model has a good fit and 22% of students' performance variance at the student level and 28% of the variance in the performance of students at the family level was explained.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Analytic Therapy on the Self-efficacy and Interpersonal Problems of Women with Dependent Personality Disorder

Mohammad Hadi Hadizadeh

Purpose: The present research aimed to study the effect of cognitive analytic therapy on the self-efficacy and interpersonal problems of women with dependent personality disorder. Methods: The present research was a quasi-experimental study with the pretest-posttest design. Subjects of the experimental group consisted of all women in Tehran aged 19 to 40 years of age who had referred to Azad University counseling centers (Roodehen branch), Tonekaboni counseling center, and researcher’s counseling office. They were selected after being recognized as having dependent personality disorder through Millon Personality Test. They were administered with ten cognitive-analytic therapy sessions, while those in the control group did not received the treatment. All subjects filled out the Sherer (1982) General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Barkham (1996) Inventory of Interpersonal Problems before and one month after the intervention. Findings: The results showed that cognitive-analytic therapy was significantly effective in increasing the self-efficacy and reducing the interpersonal problems of subjects in the test group (P<0.0001). The study findings indicated the effectiveness of cognitive analytic therapy in increasing the self-efficacy and reducing the interpersonal problems of women with dependent personality disorder. Conclusions: This approach can be used by mental health professionals for improving the symptoms of this disorder among Iranian women.

Investigating the Effective Factors and Family Structure on Children's ADHD

roghaye mousavi

Introduction: Economic and family conditions are one of the most important factors affecting the mental health of the child.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of family and economic factors on hyperactivity and attention deficit (ADHD) symptoms in children aged 11-6 years.
Method: To investigate the aim of the research, qualitative research method was used. Therefore, 13 mothers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were selected by semi-structured interviews and then the data were analyzed by the method of content analysis.
Results: The results of the research in the qualitative section led to the identification of four sub categories and two main categories.
Conclusion: The results showed that the family of children with ADHD have low income, inadequate living space, lack of a child's room, low level of education, lack of awareness about child's disorder and single/multi parent. These factors may increase the symptoms of ADHD.
It is suggested that therapists pay attention to stressful factors such as economic and family conditions in the treatment of children with ADHD.