Helia Behrouznia, Keyvan Salehi, Yaser Madani, Somayeh Shahmoradi,
Volume 24, Issue 93 (3-2025)
Abstract
Aim: Single-session therapy is a method designed to address the client's issues in the shortest possible time and emphasizes efficiency and maximum use of time. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of single-session therapy on marital intimacy, Methods: This research employed a mixed-methods explanatory design. The statistical population included all couples who visited to the Behzist Clinic in Tehran in 2023 with marital problems with marital problems. A total of 30 couples were selected through convenience sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups. In the quantitative phase, the effect of this intervention was assessed using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group, and using and the Walker and Thompson Marital Intimacy Scale (1983). In the qualitative phase, data from semi-structured interviews were collected with the same participants from the experimental group and analyzed by descriptive phenomenology method following the Colaizzi method. Findings: The quantitative results indicated that single-session therapy significantly improves marital intimacy (P ≤ 0.05). The qualitative findings also revealed improvements in marital intimacy, aligning with the subscales and questions of the Marital Intimacy Scale and supporting the quantitative results. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that single-session therapy can be used as a practical, short-term, and effective approach to improve marital intimacy, and its results can be useful for therapists and future researchers and encourage couples to use this method to enhance intimacy in their marital life.
Elahe Pakseresht, Kosar Dehdast,
Volume 24, Issue 93 (3-2025)
Abstract
Aim: In response to the growing need for contextualized criteria for spouse selection in Iranian society, this study explores the lived experiences of young women regarding such criteria, based on the Sahmgozari (participatory contribution) approach rooted in Islamic ontology. Methods: Using a phenomenological approach, purposeful sampling was conducted with 16 married young women who exhibited key indicators of the Sahmgozari lifestyle—such as feelings of tranquility and personal development, agency, and formative relationships. Semi-structured interviews were carried out and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were then coded and analyzed. Findings: The analysis yielded three main pre-marital criteria for achieving the “desired self as a contributor in marital life.” The first criterion was development-oriented and tranquility-promoting attitudes in spouses; the second was awareness and preparedness regarding factors of similarity and difference; and the third was awareness of personal growth and maturity trajectories. Conclusion: Spouse selection criteria based on the Sahmgozari approach can broaden young women’s perspectives on marriage and support them in making rational and meaningful choices.
Sadegh Kasir, Abbas Amanelahi, Gholamreza Rajabi, Zabihollah Abbaspoor,
Volume 24, Issue 93 (3-2025)
Abstract
crisis with psychological, familial, social, and cultural repercussions. This study aimed to explore and explain the consequences of infertility in infertile men, with a specific focus on their sexual performance. Methods: This qualitative research employed a grounded theory approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 infertile men who sought treatment for infertility during 2023, using purposive sampling. The data were analyzed based on Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) grounded theory methodology through open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: Data analysis resulted in 25 open codes and four main categories, which were organized into two core themes: individual consequences and couple-related consequences. The couple-related consequences included emotional-relational distress caused by childlessness and a sense of helplessness in managing sexual conflicts within the relationship. Individual consequences involved sexual difficulties stemming from childlessness and emotional distress related to sexual dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The findings highlight that infertility negatively affects the sexual performance of infertile men, leading to issues such as reduced sexual desire, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction. A decline in the quality and frequency of sexual activity was also observed. These challenges contributed to sexual dissatisfaction and emotional distress among participants. The study suggests that infertile individuals and couples may benefit from referrals to specialists in sexual health and couple therapy
Maryam Sayad Shirazi, Naemeh Nouri,
Volume 24, Issue 93 (3-2025)
Abstract
Aim: Marriage, as a key social institution, is increasingly confronted by the challenges of modern life, underscoring the importance of premarital counseling. This study seeks to examine existing gaps in premarital counseling from the perspectives of experts, identify its shortcomings, and propose strategies to enhance the quality and effectiveness of these services. Methods: This qualitative, exploratory research utilized thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants (10 women and 5 men) and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Thematic analysis was applied to interpret the data. Results: Following the analysis, meaningful statements were categorized into 120 basic themes, 5 organizing themes, and 16 overarching themes. The five organizing themes included: (1) essential components of premarital counseling, (2) enabling contexts for its development, (3) current challenges and deficiencies, (4) necessary strategies and interventions, and (5) the outcomes of premarital counseling. Conclusion: The findings suggest that enhancing the effectiveness of premarital counseling in Iran requires adapting validated international models to local cultural contexts, standardizing counseling services, engaging systemic institutions, leveraging purposeful technology, and addressing cultural and structural barriers. These improvements can help reduce divorce rates and foster more stable and healthy marital relationships in society.
Omid Mohammadi, Masoumeh Asmaeili,
Volume 24, Issue 94 (8-2025)
Abstract
Aim: The professional growth and development of counselors is a continuous and lifelong process. Accordingly, this study aimed to elucidate the process of growth and development among family counselors. Methods: This qualitative study employed a qualitative meta-analysis approach. The study population consisted of Persian and English qualitative articles related to the growth and development of family counselors. A total of 107 qualitative studies were reviewed, of which 18 were identified as fully relevant. Relevant articles were selected through comprehensive searches in databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, SID, NoorMagz, and Magiran. Data were analyzed using a systematic review method and the inductive thematic analysis approach proposed by Thomas and Harden, encompassing three stages: open coding, organizing codes into descriptive themes, and generating analytical concepts. Findings: The thematic analysis of the qualitative studies resulted in the identification of four main themes, 13 subcategories, and 230 sub-subcategories. The main themes were: Initiation and Orientation; Activity and Exploration; Transition and Follow-up; and Integration and Synergy. The subcategories included: Non-professional Assistance; Beginner Student and Self-Doubt; Understanding Philosophy and Enhancing Professional Knowledge; Basic Level Performance; Entering the Internship Path and Receiving Supervision; Labeling Oneself as a Professional Specialist; Novice Professional Performance; Contextual Understanding of the Professional Community; Experienced Professional Performance; Deepening Personal and Professional Reflection; Integration of Personal and Professional Self; Self-Transcendence and Self-Enhancement; and Mission-Centricity. Conclusion: The findings indicate that cultivating responsibility and self-confidence during training enables counselors to discover their unique professional voice and achieve a meaningful integration between their personal and professional selves.
Motahareh Norouzi, Mohammad Sajjad Seydi, Alireza Rashidi,
Volume 24, Issue 94 (8-2025)
Abstract
Aim: Empty nest syndrome refers to the feelings of sadness and loneliness experienced by parents or caregivers after their children leave home. This study aimed to explore the coping strategies employed by individuals with this syndrome who demonstrate high levels of psychological well-being. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used. In 2023, 137 parents from Islam Abad Gharb, Iran, completed the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire (Dahashiri et al., 2013), of whom 23 scored more than one standard deviation above the mean. Based on inclusion criteria, 13 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via unstructured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method, following three stages of open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: Analysis yielded 251 open codes, 39 axial codes, and 3 selective codes, reflecting individual, family, and social coping strategies. Conclusion: The use of individual strategies such as self-awareness and positive thinking, family strategies including enhanced communication and empathy, and social strategies such as participation in religious and community activities can help alleviate symptoms of empty nest syndrome and promote better psychological adaptation among parents
Fatemeh Bayat, Abolfazl Hatami Varzaneh, Fatemeh Jahanbakhshi,
Volume 24, Issue 94 (8-2025)
Abstract
Aim: In some marital relationships, although the structural stability of the family remains intact, spouses experience minimal emotional and psychological satisfaction. This study explored the factors influencing women’s persistence in stable yet dissatisfying marriages. Methods: A qualitative research design employing a conventional content analysis approach was used. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 13 women who had remained in their marriages for at least 20 years despite dissatisfaction with their marital lives. Findings: The content analysis identified several key factors contributing to the continuation of these marriages, including economic considerations, children, family influences, cultural and social beliefs, individual personality traits, and spouse-related factors. Among these, financial dependence, concerns about children’s futures, social pressures, lack of essential independence skills, and positive behavioral changes in the spouse were particularly influential. Conclusion: Women’s persistence in stable yet dissatisfying marriages appears to result from an interplay of internal and external factors—economic dependence, the perceived needs of children, familial and social pressures, cultural beliefs, personality traits, and changes in the spouse’s behavior. No single factor alone determines the decision to stay or leave; rather, it is their dynamic interaction that shapes women’s choices. Understanding these dimensions can inform counseling practices and social interventions aimed at recognizing and addressing the needs and challenges of women in such circumstances
Jamshid Jarareh, Mohammad Hossein Babazadeh,
Volume 24, Issue 94 (8-2025)
Abstract
Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of tactical defense management based on intensive and short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in reducing anxiety and depression in students. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures and a control group. The statistical population included all students enrolled at Shahid Rajaee University of Tehran during the 2023–2024 academic year. The sample consisted of 14 participants selected through convenience sampling following a public call. After completing the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, 1996), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, 1988), and an initial clinical interview, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 7) and a control group (n = 7). Both groups completed the BDI and BAI before and after the intervention. The experimental group attended six sessions of the Tactical Defense Management program based on Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), whereas the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Findings: Results indicated that Tactical Defense Management based on ISTDP significantly reduced anxiety and depression among students (p<.05). Conclusion:
These findings suggest that applying Tactical Defense Management grounded in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) can be effective in decreasing anxiety and depression among university students.
Neda Mazloompour, Mohammad Masoud Dayarian, Nayere Arianfar,
Volume 24, Issue 94 (8-2025)
Abstract
Aim: Parental divorce, as a complex family event, exerts profound effects on the attachment development of adolescent girls, making the examination of their lived experiences essential for designing effective support interventions. Accordingly, the present study aimed to explore the lived experiences of adolescent girls concerning attachment transformation within the context of parental divorce. Methods: This research was conducted using a qualitative approach and a descriptive phenomenological method. Purposeful sampling was carried out among 28 adolescent girls aged 14 to 16 who had experienced parental divorce within the past five years in Isfahan. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews (averaging 50 minutes each) and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. The credibility of the analysis was ensured through member checking and peer review. Findings: Data analysis revealed three overarching themes: 1. Pre-divorce phase: Breakdown of secure attachment foundations characterized by emotional instability and family disruption; 2. During the turbulence of divorce: Emergence of pendular attachment marked by emotional fluctuation and loyalty conflicts; 3. Post-divorce period: Search for new attachment sources involving detachment from primary figures and a tendency toward compensatory attachments. These themes illustrate the profound impact of divorce on adolescents’ attachment relationships and emotional identity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that parental divorce initiates a multi-stage and dynamic process of attachment transformation in adolescent girls, accompanied by emotional, identity, and social challenges. The study emphasizes the need for targeted psychological interventions to strengthen emotional security and social support for this population and provides a qualitative framework for a deeper understanding of their experiences and the development of culturally adapted counseling and family support programs
Kiomarth Farahbakhsh,
Volume 24, Issue 94 (8-2025)
Abstract
Aim:: Sexual deviance and marital infidelity are among the most significant factors undermining marital stability. The purpose of this article is to present a novel conceptual model termed “Sexual Exclusivity Development”, which explains how healthy sexual growth can lead to the restriction of sexual desire to a committed marital relationship and thereby reduce the likelihood of harmful sexual behaviors. Method: The method of this study is conceptual model construction, based on the author’s three decades of professional experience working with individuals suffering from sexual deviance and marital infidelity, along with the application of relevant theoretical frameworks in this field. Findings: Based on the synthesis of results obtained from working with clients who had a history of sexual deviation and infidelity, it was concluded that sexual maturity is not limited to biological changes. Rather, it represents a multidimensional process encompassing cognitive, emotional, moral, and self-regulatory growth. Drawing upon theoretical literature and the author’s clinical observations, the proposed model outlines ten developmental stages through which incongruent sexual stimuli are gradually eliminated and the individual’s sexual focus becomes centered on a spouse-oriented relationship. This article reviews psychoanalytic, evolutionary, attachment, and learning perspectives on sexual deviance and demonstrates how early sexual experiences and deficiencies in upbringing can disrupt the development of sexual exclusivity, thereby predisposing individuals to future marital infidelity. Conclusion: Finally, the article discusses the implications of this model for premarital counseling and emphasizes the necessity of empirical studies to evaluate its validity and practical applicability.
Dr Mokhtar Arefi, Badri Mahmoudi,
Volume 24, Issue 95 (12-2025)
Abstract
Aim: The main aim of this research is to developing the causal model of marital stability based on differentiation.. Method: The study used a correlation method, and 200 married women were selected from the parents of first-secondary school students in the first district of Kermanshah through cluster sampling. The participants completed Enrich's conflict management questionnaire (1982), the self-differentiation questionnaire by Scoron and Smith (2003), and Edwards et al.'s (1987) marital stability questionnaire. The data collected using PLS software has been used to examine the relationship between the research variables using structural equation path analysis.
Finding: The results indicated that self-differentiation and marital stability are related with a path coefficient of 0.556, and self-differentiation and conflict management have a relationship with a path coefficient of (0.593). Conflict management and marital stability are linked with a path coefficient of (0.269), and self-differentiation and marital stability are related to the mediating role of conflict management, with a path coefficient of (0.716).Conclusion: People who are at a high level of differentiation. They manage couple conflicts better; Because they have the ability to regulate their emotions and have reached a better growth, they can have a constructive interaction with the other party and manage their functions, which will result in stability and marital satisfaction.
Yaghoob Verdi, Hossein Ahmad Barabadi, Hadi Abbassi,
Volume 24, Issue 95 (12-2025)
Abstract
Aim: Individuals adopt various coping methods when confronting stressful situations. Effective coping methods can help mitigate the impact of stressors and prevent both short- and long-term stress-related complications. This study aimed to identify the dyadic coping methods employed by nurses working in the intensive care unit for acute respiratory patients. Methods: A qualitative approach utilizing the descriptive phenomenological method was conducted. The participants included 10 nurses from the intensive care unit for acute respiratory patients at Rasoul Akram Hospital in Kalaleh County, Iran, during 2022. They were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, and the Colaizzi method was employed for data analysis. Findings: Data analysis revealed 136 initial codes, which were grouped into 33 sub-themes based on semantic similarity. These sub-themes were then classified into six main themes: supportive and constructive behaviors, maintaining and strengthening attachment bonds, caring behaviors, integrating enjoyable activities into daily life, establishing suitable conditions to address physiological needs, spiritual support. Conclusion: Participants' responses demonstrated that the spiritual support and attachment-oriented and supportive behaviors of spouses played a vital role in maintaining and strengthening nurses' morale during extended work shifts. Furthermore, spouses' caring and health-focused behaviors safeguarded nurses from acute respiratory diseases, while providing a calm and restful environment that alleviated their fatigue. The themes identified in this study can inform the design and implementation of prevention and intervention programs for managing stressful situations.
Miss Rezvan Aminalroaya, Mr Hasan Zareeimahmoodabadi, Miss Marieh Dehghanmanshadi, Miss Fahimeh Dehghani,
Volume 24, Issue 95 (12-2025)
Abstract
Objective: Blended families, due to their unique structure and complex relational dynamics, can create emotional and cognitive challenges for adolescents. Self-help educational programs, by strengthening emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility skills, may enhance adolescents’ adaptation to new family conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a self-help educational package on emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in adolescents from blended families.
Method: Method: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest–posttest and a control group. The statistical population included 120 female high school students from blended families in Yazd during the 2023–2024 academic year. Based on inclusion criteria (being a female adolescent from a blended family in Yazd, at least six months having passed since the formation of the new family, studying in high school, and voluntary participation with parental consent), 40 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. Data were collected using the Gratz and Roemer Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (2004) and the Dennis and Vander Wal Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (2010). The self-help educational program was conducted for the experimental group in ten 60-minute sessions. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: Findings: The results showed that the self-help educational intervention significantly improved emotion regulation (F = 60.30, p < .05) and cognitive flexibility (F = 55.05, p < .05) in the experimental group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. The findings also indicated that self-help education can effectively enhance adolescents’ self-management skills and cognitive–emotional adjustment in blended families.
Conclusion: Conclusion: The findings suggest that self-help educational interventions can serve as an effective tool for promoting psychological well-being and cognitive–emotional adaptability among adolescents in blended families.
Seyedehmaryam Farshadan,
Volume 24, Issue 95 (12-2025)
Abstract
Abstract:
Objective: This study aims to develop a culturally grounded framework for mystical psychotherapy based on the teachings of Rumi, designed to leverage the capacities of Iranian–Islamic mysticism for a deeper understanding of human nature, the origins of psychological suffering, and the therapeutic process.
Method:This qualitative study employed thematic analysis. Initially, foundational concepts from established psychotherapy theories were identified as primary (deductive) themes. Subsequently, six volumes of the Masnavi were analyzed as the main data source, and themes related to Rumi’s teachings, along with emergent themes, were inductively extracted. Approximately 600 initial codes were obtained, which were then organized into 44 subthemes and 11 main themes. The validity of the findings was confirmed by five experts in psychology and mystical literature, and the overall content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) exceeded 0.79.
Findings: According to Rumi, humans possess a divine and healthy "authentic self," yet they are also affected by "false selves," which are the main source of psychological suffering. The most significant harms include excessive mental vigilance, the illusion of perfection, and attachment to transient pleasures. Psychological well-being depends on liberation from illusory selves and a return to the authentic presence, uniqueness, and inner integration. In this framework, interpersonal conflicts are rooted in intrapersonal conflicts, and the ultimate goal of therapy is the revelation of the authentic self, attainment of witnessing awareness, and the experience of authentic happiness، inner peace, and human flourishing.
Conclusion: A mystical psychotherapy framework based on Rumi’s perspective can serve as a culturally rooted and complementary approach to conventional therapies, contributing to psychological well-being, management of intrapersonal conflicts, enhancement of wisdom, and spiritual growth. By emphasizing self-knowledge, transcendence of mental identities, and heightened awareness, this framework provides a basis for developing therapeutic interventions compatible with Iranian–Islamic culture.
Prof. Seyyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi,
Volume 24, Issue 95 (12-2025)
Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to study the mediating effect of burnout in the relationship between depression and neuroticism with child rejection in parents. Method: The research method is correlational, so 206 parents (127 mothers and 79 fathers), aged 21-47 years, volunteered to participate in the study using convenience sampling. The measurements included the Persian version of the Parental Burnout Scale (Mousavi et al. 2020), the Neuroticism subscale Gosling et al. (2020), the Parental Rejection subscale (Rohner & Ali, 2020) and Depression Scale (Kroenke et al., 2001). Finding: The results showed that the total effect of neuroticism on parental rejection was not significant (β=.02, p>.05), but the total effect of depression on child rejection was significant (β=.03, p<.001). The results showed that depression (β=.35, p<.01) and neuroticism (β=.16, p<.01) have a significant effect on burnout, the effect of burnout on child rejection was also significant (β=.69, p<.05), the indirect effect of depression (β=.24, CI.95 [.006,.05]) and neuroticism on parental rejection through burnout was also significant (β=.11, CI.95 [.005,.07]). Conclusion: Paying attention to high-risk personality factors such as neuroticism and mood disorders such as depression, which increase the likelihood of burnout in parents, which can lead to negative parenting outcomes such as child rejection of children, is of significant importance in the field of parenting. Therefore, helping parents to recognize and effectively deal with risk factors can provide conditions for constructive parenting and reduce the effects of burnout in parents.
Moein Farokhtaj, Sayed Ali Marashi, Seyed Esmaeil Hashemi,
Volume 24, Issue 96 (1-2026)
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and schema therapy on divorce tendency and marital interactions among couples seeking divorce with less than five years of marital life.
Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with two intervention groups (positive psychotherapy and schema therapy) and one control group, conducted in three phases: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The statistical population included all couples with less than five years of marriage who referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz in 2023 for divorce proceedings. A total of 45 couples were selected through purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to three groups (15 couples in each group). The control group received no intervention. The positive psychotherapy group participated in eight 90-minute treatment sessions, and the schema therapy group received seven 90-minute intervention sessions. Data were collected using the Divorce Tendency Scale developed by Rosset et al. (1986) and the Marital Interaction Stability Questionnaire designed by Gottman (1999). Data analysis was performed using ANCOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA in SPSS.
Findings: The findings indicated that both schema therapy and positive psychotherapy were effective in reducing divorce tendency and improving marital interactions in couples seeking divorce during the post-test and follow-up phases (p < .001). Positive psychotherapy was more effective than schema therapy in enhancing marital interactions among couples with less than five years of marriage (p < .001). However, schema therapy showed greater effectiveness than positive psychotherapy in reducing divorce tendency (p < .01).
Conclusion: The results demonstrated that positive psychotherapy, by enhancing positive emotions and increasing intimacy, is more effective in improving marital interactions.
D.r Ahmad Amani, Mrs Shiva Darvishvand,
Volume 24, Issue 96 (1-2026)
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual dissatisfaction and marital conflicts with psychological distress with the mediating role of addiction to mobile-based social networks among married teachers in Qazvin province.
Methods: The current research method is correlation and path analysis type. The statistical population of this study included all married male and female teachers in Qazvin city in 1403. The research sample consisted of 350 married teachers, who were selected by the available sampling method and used the questionnaire of psychological distress by Kessler et al. (2002), addiction to mobile-based social networks by Ahmadi et al. (1400) and marital conflict questionnaire (1387) answered.
Findings: Examining the path coefficients showed that the effect of marital conflict (β=0.299 and P=0.001) and sexual dissatisfaction (β=0.574 and P=0.001) has a positive and direct effect on psychological distress. Determining the significance of the indirect effect also indicates that addiction to mobile-based social networks plays a mediating role between marital conflict and sexual dissatisfaction with psychological distress (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Therefore, considering the role of social media addiction in creating psychological distress, it is necessary to include social media addiction in the process of forming the content of intervention programs whose goal is to treat psychological distress.
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Dr Fahimeh Fadakar Davarani, Mrs Mozhgan Karshenas,
Volume 24, Issue 96 (1-2026)
Abstract
Aim: Abortion is a complex issue that, in addition to the belief and sexual dimensions, is related to cultural and psychological issues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of depression, anxiety and general health of mothers with induced abortion according to the variables of the number of current children in the family and the length of time of marriage in relation to the rate of abortion. Methods: This correlational study was performed with the participation of 300 women with at least one induced abortion using purposive sampling and Beck Depression Inventory, Cattell Anxiety and General Health questionnairs. Data analysis was performed by one way variation analysis.finding: The findings of the research indicate the relationship of some investigated components with depression and anxiety and general health.conclusion: The results of one-way analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between the levels of independent variables (number of children) in the mean scores of depression, anxiety and general health and the components of physical symptoms and anxiety symptoms.Also, the results of X2 showed that there is a significant relationship between the variable levels of "duration of marriage" and the rate of abortion.
Mrs Maryam Moradian, Dr Eghbal Zarei, Dr Kourosh Mohammadi,
Volume 24, Issue 96 (1-2026)
Abstract
Aim: Families are configured in many forms. The blended family is one of the types of family structures that affects the psychological well-being of adolescents. The present study was conducted to present a conceptual pattern of the factors of maladjustment of boy adolescents in blended families based on the conditions and consequences of the grounded theory. Method: This research was conducted using a qualitative method based on grounded theory in 2023. The target population in this study was adolescent boys aged 13 to 18 in blended families and studying in three educational regions of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces. 12 boy students were selected purposefully. The research tool was a semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin coding method. Findings: The coding of interview data led to identifying 81 open codes, 24 central codes, and 6 main classes about the factors of maladjustment of boy adolescents in blended families. The results showed that "lack of secure attachment", as a central category, plays a role in the maladjustment of adolescent boys in blended families. This category is affected by causal factors (The ups and downs of life), contextual factors (cultural conditions and background ), and intervening factors (characteristics of the stepfamily and the quality of interpersonal relationships). Also, the strategies used in the face of the lack of secure attachment include some defense mechanisms (idealization, daydreaming, taking refuge in the smartphone/virtual space, emotional cut-off), which ultimately lead to consequences such as academic and psychological problems in adolescent boys in blended families. Conclusion: What makes adolescents in blended families prone to maladaptive behaviors is not only the conditions of the blended families, but also stressful events caused by previous family conditions and the characteristics of the adolescent period, in combination with the conditions of the blended family.
Parichehr Yavarizadeh, Roya Rasouli, Abbas Abdollahi,
Volume 24, Issue 96 (1-2026)
Abstract
Marital instability has been one of the most important challenges for families in the last half century. Objective: The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship between emotional alexithymia and marital instability: the moderating role of communication patterns. Method: The present study was descriptive-correlational and conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population of this study was all married men and women in Gotvand County, Khuzestan Province, from which 203 people were selected as samples using convenience sampling. In order to measure the research variables, the Christensen and Solvay Communication Patterns Questionnaire (1985), Edwards and Booth Marital Instability (1987), and the Toronto Emotional Alexithymia Questionnaire (1997) were used. SPSS 24 and Smart Pls3 software were used to analyze the statistical data.
Findings: The results of the study showed that there is a significant positive relationship between the communication pattern of mutual avoidance, expectation/withdrawal, and emotional alexithymia and marital instability, and the relationship between the mutual constructive communication pattern, emotional alexithymia and marital instability is negative and significant; the results also showed that the mutual constructive and mutual avoidance communication patterns play a moderating role in the relationship between emotional alexithymia and marital instability, while the communication pattern of expectation/withdrawal does not play a moderating role in this relationship (p001).
Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, training and acquiring a constructive communication pattern by couples, given the significant relationship between emotional alexithymia and marital instability, can have a moderating role in reducing divorce rates.
