Journal of Counseling Research

---

Aim: This research has been made in order to study the ways of effects of personality traits, communicative features and cultural contexts on emotional belonging in couples.  

Method: The research methodology was correlational and the statistical population included all couples living in Tehran, Iran, in 2015. From this population, 954 persons (451females and 503 males) were randomly selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from 5 areas of Tehran municipality. Measurement material included the successful marriage inventory. Data analysis was done using AMOS software and path analysis was employed.

Result: Analyzing data indicated that personality traits and the cultural contexts have both direct and indirect (by effect on communicative features) significant effect (p<0/05) on emotional belonging. Also communicative features have significant (p<0/01) direct effect on emotional belonging. 

Conclusion: Findings of this research indicated that emotional belonging in couples has been affected by various factors. These results may be useful for marriage counseling and opening new ways in solving marital problems.

---

Complicated grief treatment (CGT) is a new psychotherapy for complicated grief disorder combining strategies from interpersonal therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, self- compassion training and motivational interviewing. The aim of the present study was to examine the effectivness of complicated grief treatment on complicated grief symptoms in patients with complicated grief disorder (CGD). This research was administrated in a multiple baseline single subject design framework. Four patients (female, ages 20-42) with CGD were selected through available sampling. To collect data inventory of Prigerson and Jacobs (ICG-R) was administered during baseline, during treatment at sessions 4, 8 and 12, and at 2-month follow-up. The visual inspection of charts and descriptive statistics index indicated significant decrease in complicated grief symptoms of participants. These preliminary findings provided support for the role of CGT in reducing complicated grief symptoms in Patients with CGD.

---

Infertility has been described as creating a form of stress leading to a variety of psychological problems. Psychological interventions are effective treatments for infertility stress.  Therefore, this study was performed to examine the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral based sexual skills education on marital adjustment in infertile women in Kermanshah. This study was quasi-experimental of pretest, post-test with control group type and its statistical method was Multivariable Analyze of Covariance. The sample population was chosen out of 22-37 years old women suffer from infertility referring to infertility clinics of Kermanshah, with the diagnosis of sexual dysfunction. Twenty people were selected among 33 people qualified to participate in this study and placed randomly in two control and experimental group. The people who were in experimental group, participated in sexual skills education meetings for 10 sessions. Control group received no intervention during this time. In order to record the score changes, the Female Sexual Function Index (2000) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (1976) were filled out by participants. The results of Multivariable Analyze of Covariance showed that sexual skills education has significant effect on marital adjustment score, so that the score of marital adjustment for women suffer from infertility increased significantly. Therefore, the clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, gynaecologists are encouraged to use the method of cognitive-behavioral based sexual skills education to improve the marital adjustment in the women suffer from infertility.

---

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated model of self-actualization based on humanistic theories to resolve problems in previous classifications. Method: The research method is qualitative thematic analysis with the statistical population of humanistic psychology texts including "Motivation and Personality", "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", "Religions, Values ​​and Peak Experiences" and the article "Self-Actualization and Beyond" from Maslow; Rogers's book "On Becoming a Person"; "Man’s Search for Meaning" and "The Will to Meaning" from Frankl and "Pattern and Growth in Personality" and "Becoming" from Allport. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse data. After reviewing the texts and coding of the concepts, the themes were identified, classified and named. Results: Analysis of the Humanistic Psychologists texts was conducted to four main themes. The findings show that self-actualization has four " transcendental self", "aware self", "creative self" and "social self" factors. Conclusion: According to the model achieved in this study, developing a scale to measure self-actualization based on this integrated model, would reduce the effect of definition differences on self-actualization scores in various cultures.

---

---

The Interpersonal Conflicts of Married People Obliged to Care for their Old Parents: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
Objective: This survey aims to identify interpersonal conflicts of the married people obliged to take care of their old parents.
Methodology: This survey was conducted by adopting qualitative method and phenomenological approach. Participants of this survey were married people with children who lived in Qom City during 2016 and took care of their old parents. The statistical sample includes 13 individuals (n=8 female and n=5 male) selected through objective sampling method. The size was determined through saturation principle. Data collection was done through semi-structured interview and analysis of collected data was done based on Collaizi's seven-step method. The method includes a range of steps from reading interview transcriptions to validation of findings.
Findings: The interpersonal conflicts that participants experienced were categorized into four classes namely siblings' conflicts (disagreement and maladjustment), marital conflicts (marital deprivations, maladjustment, promotion of bad moods and tripartite conflicts), parent-child conflict (low attention to children, maladjustment, problems of young children, tripartite conflict), and child-parent conflicts (enmeshment, maladjustment).
Conclusion: Findings of present survey suggest that caring after old parent(s) by their adult children may contribute to certain interpersonal conflicts between such adults and their own children. However, comparison of current findings with conclusions of previous surveys suggest that this issue is not an absolute as other factors such as socioeconomic status, familial condition, parent’s previous attention to his/her child, and children’s normal and motivational beliefs affect the event.
        Keywords: Interpersonal Conflicts, Married People, Care, Old Parents.
 

---

Purpose: The quality of sexual relationship and marital intimacy are important topics of post-marriage experience. Similarly, religiosity is commonly considered as an influential framework for life. Past research has not been able to accurately discover or illustrate the opinions of experts in the area of couples counseling about the relationship between these dimensions. Therefore, this research was conducted to examine the marriage and family experts’ points of view about the role of religiosity in sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy of couples. Methods: Qualitative approach of phenomenological type was used.  For this, ten individuals who were counselors or psychologist with active working experience with couples were interviewed according to qualitative protocols. Data collected from interviews were then analyzed using features available in Microsoft Word software. Results: In the open-coding, 147 initial codes were produced, while the axial-coding based on thematic similarities yielded 24 categorical codes. One of the main questions asked of the participants was “what role can religiosity play in the quality of couple’s relationship?” Overall, according to the analysis of the responses obtained, religiosity plays a positive role in sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy of couples. However, some of the participants mentioned a few points as reservations to be considered which are covered in the current article. Conclusion: Counselors’ and psychotherapists’ perceptions about role and relation between variables of religiosity, sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy are important. Of the main findings of the present study was interviewees’ describing the prerequisite or complementary context for capitalizing on positive effects of religiosity in sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy. situation was that the interviewees as it is a prerequisite for receiving a positive impact or supplement and religiosity on the significant sex and marital intimacy.

---

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.

---

Abstract:

Objective: This study examined the couple took power in the relationship. Although Islam has entrusted the overall management of life to men, and its purpose is to enter about religious and customary in this field, but the chaff power takes a couple abnormal and pathological. How about that power couples to occur? And community and social gender learning how to influence couples? And a variety of power will be analyzed in relation to the test, whether the power couples in marital therapy is only a question of social justice, moral or physical therapy is an important issue? Are changes in marital satisfaction and mental health in couples therapy can cause? Methods: In this study is content analysis, and library. Results: In this regard, the new texts were a couple of power in the relationship. The strength of the relationship is a reflection of how the needs, interests and goals of a person over another. Relationship therapy approach social - emotional new approach in marital therapy work with couples and create a relationship of power in relation to the acts, will be introduced .Conclusion: When the power balance is distributed, each of the couples will be able to with your spouse become involved in issues that are important to them, And both feel they have the same right to express ideas, needs and feelings of their own, and thus marital satisfaction and family security will be established.

---

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of marital infidelity in women. Method: The method of this research was qualitative. The 17 women who experienced marital infidelity and were willing to cooperate with the researcher were selected through targeted sampling. They were deeply studied using semi-structured interviews. The study used the Grounded Theory approach to explain and analyze the findings. Finding: Three major categories were found about the causes of female marital infidelity. The causes of marital infidelity Included the boredom of life after each other's discovery, the inherent weaknesses of marriage, vulnerability when sexual or emotional need blocked, and Society transformation, The conservator factors Included the desire to experience excitement, the disclaimer of self and the emphasis on spouse features, to earn much creativity in gaining time for a relationship and hiding it, gaining courage for discovering new features in yourself, And responding to infidelity Included desire for divorce, Restoration of marital life, endurance of stress. Conclusion: To prevent marital infidelity, family education and enrichment of premarital relationships, these categories should be considered.

---

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a life skills training program (self-awareness skills, coping with stress and empathy) based on Islamic culture in divorced women. Method: The method of qualitative research is narrative type and use of semi-structured interview. The statistical population includes all divorced women referring to counseling and psychological services centers of Kerman city and paired therapists, which 15 clients and 10 specialists were selected by available sampling method. Data were gathered using interviews and expert panel and data were analyzed using Lincoln and Guba method. Results: The results showed that life skills training program was codified in 3 main axes of self-awareness, empathy and coping with stress, 11 axes and 32 subject areas, and also, the content validity of this program is based on the Lavasha method and based on expert opinion with a content validity ratio (CVR) of 80% which is higher than the minimum acceptable level of 0.62 for this number of specialists. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the research, it can be said that life skills training program based on Islamic culture is an appropriate and effective program for empowering divorced women in life.
 

---

Aim: Television and news programs are full of scenes that remind us that life will no doubt end. The purpose of this study was to investigate the representation of death news and its exciting symbols in virtual news channels. Methods: The research method was qualitative and thematic analysis was used. The population of the study included virtual news channel contents and the sample were four high-profile news channels in which the news of death during the period of May-August 2019 was reviewed. Month and channel selection were random and sampling continued until data saturation. Findings: Based on the analysis of news themes, the representation of death news was categorized in ten themes: physical and disease complications, unintentional accidents, brain death, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, mass killing, murder, retribution, negligence leading to death, and death and killing of animals, as well as representations of attention-grabbing practices and increased excitement were categorized into five themes of stimulating imagination (sensitive location and time of occurrence, symbol of fear and apprehension and conflict), imaginative symbols (sympathetic and associative, unfinished affair and ambiguity), quantitative symbols (statistical increase and volume of news coverage, symbols of importance (reporter’ responsibility and fame), and references to taboos (rape leading to death). Conclusion: The difference between the representations of mortality factors in research and news differs in presenting prevention methods in research. Meanwhile, in the news of death, awareness and the provision of useful preventive strategies have been nearly zero. This causes continuous rumors of negative events that increase emotions of sadness, fear and anger and cause people to feel insecure.

---

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop a life skills training based on native Iranian culture and to determine its effectiveness on the happiness and resilience of divorced women. Methods: The research method used was qualitative-quantitative. The statistical population for this research included all divorced women between the ages of 30 and 40 who referred to counseling and psychological services centers of city of Kerman in the first half of 1395 (Persian calendar), among whom 30 were selected thrgouh available sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups (15 subjects each). To collect data, Conner and Davidson Resilience (2003) and Oxford Happiness (1989) Questionnaires were used. The training program was performed in 11 ninety-minute sessions  in the experimental group, and the control group was placed in the waiting list. The results were analyzed using covariance analysis. Results: The findings showed that the content validity ratio (CVR) was calculated based on the Lavoshe method for 10 experts (0/83), and the content validity index (CVI) based on the Waltz and Bassel methods for this number was 0/80, and based on comparing these values with the acceptable value of both indicators, the content validity of the program is acceptable. Also, the results showed that life skills training had an impact on increasing the happiness and resiliency of the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0/01). Conclusion: According to the results, life skills program (self-awareness, coping with stress, empathy) based on indigenous culture is an appropriate and effective program for divorced women and its implementation can affect the happiness and resiliency of these individuals.

---

Aim: Students are one of the most talented and promising segments of society and future builders of their country, and their level of health and psychological well-being will have a significant impact on learning and increasing their scientific awareness and academic success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate a structural model of psychological well-being based on negative life events and mindfulness with emphasis on the mediating role  of coping styles. Methods: The method of conducting the present study was descriptive correlational of structurequational type. The statistical population of the study were the undergraduate students of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, 365 of whom participated through cluster sampling. They responded to questionnaires on negative life events, mindfulness, coping styles, and psychological well-being. The reliability and validity of the instruments were confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis. To analyze the data, structural equation method was used with Amos software. Results: The results showed that the effect of negative life events on the problem-oriented style and psychological well-being is negative and significant. The effect of mindfulness on the problem-oriented style and psychological well-being is positive and significant. The effect of problem-oriented style on psychological well-being is positive and significant. The mediating role of problem-focused coping style in the relationship between negative life events and mindfulness with psychological well-being is meaningful Conclusion: The results showed that the model presented among the students of Shahid Beheshti University has a good fit and confirmed the role of the variables of negative life events, mindfulness and problem-oriented coping style in psychological well-being.

---

Aim: The goal of this study was to qualitatively analyze the factors underlying extramarital relationships in women with extramarital relationships. Methods: The goal of the present study is applied, and in terms of the methodology is a qualitative research. The target population are women referring to counseling centers in city of Yazd witha history of marital infidelity, from which 15  people were selected as a sample through convenient sampling and a  semi-structured interview was used. Decoding was performed using thematic analysis method. Findings: The results showed that the underlying factors of extramarital relationships can be identified in three dimensions. In the dimension of family and culture, two main themes were obtained, which included family and parenting style and gender-cultural schemas. Also, in the dimension of interpersonal issues, three main themes including self-esteem, feelings of inferiority and cohesion of personality and behavior were obtained.In the dimension of interpersonal issues, the main themes included relationship challenges and outward looks criteria. Conclusion: Extramarital relationships from the perspective of women are influenced by cultural, educational, and early years’ schemas experiences. Results also showed that extramarital relationships is a multidimentional construct that cannot be only related to psychological factors. So, for knowing the the underlying factors attention must also be given to cultural diversity in Iran.

---

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Imago-Therapy and Transactional Analysis in improving communication skills, conflict resolution, and rejection sensitivity of couples referred to Masjed Soleiman counseling centers. Methods: The method of this experimental study was pre-test and post-test, with follow-up, on an experimental and control groups. The statistical population of this study included all couples who referred to Masjed Soleiman counseling centers in 2019. Four counseling centers were selected randomly from the statistical population, and then 20 couples (40 persons) were randomly assigned into two experimental groups (10 couples for each group). Experimental groups were trained for ten 1.5 hour sessions. To collect the data, Quinn Dam Communication Skills Questionnaire, Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ), and Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) were used. Multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Findings: The results of the analysis showed that Transactional Analysis was more effective on the variables of communication skills, conflict resolution and rejection sensitivity than imago-therapy (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, it can be said that imago-therapy and transactional analysis effective on communication skills, conflict resolution, and rejection sensitivity of couples, but transactional analysis was more effective than imago-therapy.

---

Aim: The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of combining contextual and structural family therapies on cohesion and coping strategies of couples with marital dissatisfaction. Methods: This ‎experimental ‎research study utilized a pretest-‎posttest and two-month follow-‎up, with ‎control group design. The research population consisted of all couples with marital dissatisfaction who referred to family counseling centers in city of Birjand during the first 6 months of 2019. Furthermore, 20 couples with marital dissatisfaction were selected as the participants of the study using convenience and purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control groups (10 couples in each group). The experimental group received the treatment for ten 90-minute weekly ‎sessions and the control group received no intervention during this time. The research instruments included the Lazarus and Folkman (1988) Coping Strategies Questionnaire and The Olson, Portner and Levy (1996) Cohesion Questionnaire, which were administered to the participants in the pretest, post-test and follow-up. To analyze the data, repeated-measures ‎ANOVA‎ was used. Results: The research findings demonstrated that the combination of contextual and structural family therapies was effective regarding cohesion and coping strategies of couples with marital unsatisfaction. It should be noted that the persistence of the treatment effect was maintained after two months (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the combination of contextual and structural family therapies increased cohesion and problem-oriented coping strategies of maladjusted couples in the experimental group, compared to the control group.

---

Abstract
Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on increasing the emotional and sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity in Shahriar (Andishe city in Iran). Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included couples whose male partner had cheated, and were referred to counseling centers of Andishe city in 2018. Twenty four couples were selected through convenient sampling and randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group (8 couples in each group). The subjects in the two experimental groups attended 10 couple therapy sessions, whereas no intervention was carried out for the control group. The subjects responed to the Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire (Bagarozzi, 2001). Results: The results of analysis of covariance and block analysis of variance showed that integrative behavioral couple therapy and integrative couple therapy had a significant effect on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in the dimension of sexual intimacy )p<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the two approaches. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was also effective in increasing emotional intimacy in all components, but this effectiveness was not achieved in integrative couple therapy. Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in sexual intimacy, the use of these approaches in promoting sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity may be effective. Also, considering the effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy in increasing emotional and sexual intimacy, this approach can be used by couple therapists.
 

---

Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three methods of career counseling (cognitive-social, cognitive information processing, constructivism) and acceptance and commitment counseling on students' affective capital on ninth grade students. Method: The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design for five groups. The study population was all ninth grade female students in one of the education districts of Isfahan in the 99-98 academic year. The sample consisted of 100 female students who were selected by available and multi-stage sampling based on entry and exit criterias. And were assigned to four experimental groups and one control group (20 people in each group). The research tool was the Emotional Capital Questionnaire (Golparvar, 2016). While the control group did not receive any training, none of the eight experimental groups received training related to each method. All groups were evaluated by research tools before and after the trainings. Results: The collected data were analyzed at two levels of descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multivariate analysis of covariance). The results showed that in comparison with control group there were no effects on feeling energy and positive affect by methods. Constructivism and acceptance and commitment had significant effects on happiness (P <0.01), but there was no significant difference between the two methods. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that the constructivism and acceptance and commitment are appropriate methods to increase the happiness of female students.

---

Target: The purpose of this study is to analyze teachers' beliefs about the desirable class. Teachers 'beliefs about a desired classroom are important in that they shape teachers' expectations, actions, and behaviors in the classroom.
Research Methodology: The population of the study consisted of all teachers in the first and second grade of Kermanshah of these, 15 individuals were selected through purposeful sampling for in-depth interviews. Interviews were documented after audio recording and coded by Epochs method. The method of study was qualitative and phenomenological and the data were analyzed using Culizzi method.
Findings: After analyzing the data, from 152 beliefs and teaching beliefs. open source codes extracted from interviews, 32 subcategories and 3 main categories were obtained Behavioral Beliefs, Relationship Beliefs, and Teaching Beliefs.
Conclusions: Therefore, it can be said that teachers' beliefs about the desirable class have a wide range that is not limited to the behavior of the teacher or student and other factors such as family, teacher relationship with parents, physical structure of the class and teaching style also affect this.