Journal of Counseling Research

The purpose of present research was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on self-efficacy and self-esteem in substance-abusing spouses. The method of this research was quasi-experimental method by using a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population for this study included substance-abusing spouses hospitalized in addiction-treatment centers of Shiraz during summer and autumn 2014. Accordingly, 30 individuals suffering from substance-abuse were selected by using availability sampling. The Coppersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSEI) and self-efficacy questionnaire were employed in this research as the pre- / post-test, and data were analyzed by using ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) method. The results of data analysis suggested that cognitive-behavioral group therapy is useful for increasing self-efficacy and self-esteem in substance-abusing spouses, and that there is a significant difference between two groups. Based on the findings of this research, cognitive-behavioral group therapy enhances self-efficacy and self-esteem in individuals suffering from substance-abuse.

The purpose of this present study is the effectiveness of acceptance/commitment training on psychological well-being, emotional and marital satisfaction .The method of this experimental study is pretest-posttest with the control group. Population was the all of the applicants (male or female) as the ones who referred to the city branches Court from April 2014 to September 2014 in Ardabil in order to divorce. 40 patients (20 patients per group) were selected by the available method and they were replaced randomly in both experimental and control group. Data were collected by emotional well-being scale, psychological well-being scale and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaires. For analyzing the data, we used multivariate ANCOVA (MANCOVA). The results of this study showed that acceptance/commitment training on psychological, emotional well-being and marital satisfaction is effective .In general, individual goes towards the awareness of feelings, inner experiences and accepting them and the suitable using of them by acceptance/commitment training instead of ignoring emotions and individual experiences. This study can create subjective (psychological) emotional well-being and consequently it causes to increase marital satisfaction.

Amanelahi, A[1] - Karimzadeh Negar, A[2] - Aslani, KH[3]

This study examined the moderating role of mindfulness in the relationship between attachment styles and marital quality of female students in Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz. Sample size included 207 married female students who were selected using convenient sampling. Participants completed Behavioral Systems Questionnaire, Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale,  and Marital Quality Index. Descriptive and correlational research methods were used, anddata was analyzed using Pearson correlation and linear regression, using statistical software (SPSS-21). Results indicated a significant positive relationship between the secureattachment styles and marital quality, and a significant negative relationship between preoccupied and ambivalent attachment styles with marital quality. The results also showed that mindfulness seems to moderate the relationship between secure, preoccupied, and ambivalent attachment styles with marital quality.

Hossein Ahmad Barabadi[1] - Ma'soomeh Ismaili[2] - Hossein Salimi Bajestani[3] - Seyed Mohammad Kalantarkooshe[4]

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of God image in anxious patients in comparison to healthy subjects. This was a qualitative study using deep interview among patients referred to Tehran Imam Khomeini Hospital psychiatric clinic, 17 patients (12 women and 5 men) who received a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and 10 healthy subjects (7 men and 3 women) who had no symptoms of anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. They were selected through purposeful sampling, until saturation was obtained. For data analysis  Grounded theory method with thematic analysis were used. The results showed significant differences between anxious and healthy people in the quality of God image. The majority of  anxious patients’ God image seemed to be negative, which  included terms such as: untrustworthy, awful, inaccessible, unkind, and non-supportive. While most healthy people’s God image was positive, and included categories such as: trusted, forgiving,  receptive, kind, nice, and insightful (with wisdom).

Hossein Salimi Developing a stable professional identity, especially in counseling is a time-taking process. The goal of this study was to analyze the experiences of graduates in helping professions on the way of becoming professionals, so that the obtained data be used to clarify, in teaching, and for career supervision. The research method was qualitative in nature (phenomenological) with purposeful sampling. The sample population consisted of 23 counseling graduates with average of 4 years of working experience. The interviews were semi-structured in which the participants shared their experience of becoming professionals. Following data collection, coding and sentences related to their most important experiences (feelings of professional identity, expectations involved, counseling metaphors, and perspectives about rewards in counseling jobs) were drawn and analyzed. Responses showed indicated that participants seemed to be aware of profession's requirements and posses a sense of worth and effectiveness in the profession. Results of this study show the strengths, risks, and areas in need of growth in process of training counselors, which can be useful for academic programs in counseling.

Seyyedeh Faeze Sajjadi - Rasool Rowshan The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of communication skills on improving the perspective on love and marital disenchantment. The current research was semi-experiential and involved pretest and posttest with control group. The target population included all female marriage students at Mashad Medical University who were present at campus dormitory at the beginning of summer 2014. Forty individuals were selected through purposeful sampling. Selected individuals participated in ten 90-minute (twice weekly) supervised training. Research tools included Paynz Marital Disenchantment and Hendrik and Hendrik attitutes towards love. Data from single-variable and multi-variable covariance analysis were analyzed. Results showed a meaningful difference between the behavior of the two groups (p<0.0001). Additionally, communication skills seemed to improve perspective towards love and marital disenchantment.

Ali Sheykholeslami, Ph.D - Hosein Ghamari Qivi, Ph.D - Masood Moradi, Ph.D - Yosra Mohammadi, M.A The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of gestalt therapy on quality of life and psychological well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disability. The research method was semi-experimental with pretest-posttest design, with control group. The statistical population of this study included all mothers of children with intellectual disability in well-being organization centers in city ofArdabil in the year 2014-15. At first, one center that was accessible was selected. Then, from among mothers with children at this center 30 mothers were selected through simple random sampling which were randomly assigned to the treatment group (15 individuals) and control group (15 individuals). The treatment group received group gestalt therapy in 10 sessions. Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire (World Health Organization) were used for gathering data. Data were analyzed by multivariable co-variance test. Findings confirmed the research hypothesis about the effectiveness of group gestalt therapy on psychological well-being and quality of life of mothers of children with intellectual disability. In conclusion, group gestalt therapy seems to have asignificant effect on increasing the psychological well-being and quality of life of mothers of children with intellectually disability.

Ronak Eshghi - Fatemeh Bahrami - Maryam Fatehizadeh - Amir Keshavarz Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) or Frigidity is one of the most common female sexual dysfunction (FSD) that can cause marked distress and interpersonal difficulties. This condition may significantly damage the marital relationship and as such weaken family life. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder may have roots in lack of knowledge or insufficient awareness, or incorrect attitudes towards sexual relationship. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effectiveness of couples sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy on improvement of HSDD symptoms and its dimensions (behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and physical) in women who suffered from this condition in city of Isfahan. This research was quasi-experimental with pretest and posttest, with control group. The sample in this study were 18 couples who had referred to counseling centers in Isfahan, who were randomly selected and assigned to experimental and control groups. Researchers used a modified version of female frigidity scale consisting of written and visual items (Eshghi & Bahrami, 2005). The experimental group received 8 sessions of couples sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy, while the control group was received no intervention. The results of covariance analysis indicated that the specific counselingintervention was effective in women's total frigidity scores (P=0.0001) and its subscales: behavioral subscale (P=0.00), cognitive subscale (P=0.003), emotional subscale (P=0.0001), and physical subscale (P=0.003). The results of the present study showed that couples sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy appears to improve female sexual desire through improvement of couples sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes and beliefs, sexual skills, and sexual self-disclosure.

Aminnasab, z - Farahbakhsh,k Developing a stable professional identity, especially in counseling is a time-taking process. The goal of this study was to analyze the experiences of graduates in helping professions on the way of becoming professionals, so that the obtained data be used to clarify, in teaching, and for career supervision. The research method was qualitative in nature (phenomenological) with purposeful sampling. The sample population consisted of 23 counseling graduates with average of 4 years of working experience. The interviews were semi-structured in which the participants shared their experience of becoming professionals. Following data collection, coding and sentences related to their most important experiences (feelings of professional identity, expectations involved, counseling metaphors, and perspectives about rewards in counseling jobs) were drawn and analyzed. Responses showed indicated that participants seemed to be aware of profession's requirements and posses a sense of worth and effectiveness in the profession. Results of this study show the strengths, risks, and areas in need of growth in process of training counselors, which can be useful for academic programs in counseling.

Rezaei, A - Shafiabadi, A - Falsafinejad, M The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of training using Shafiabadi’s multi-axial pattern of vocational choice and Savickas career construction on career decision making self-efficacy in the unemployed jobseekers who are covered by unemployment insurance. Sample population for this research included the unemployed jobseekers referred to job centers in Tehran. 45 people were selected by random sampling method, and were randomly divided into 3 groups - 15 persons in each group with SMPVC and SCCT educational approach, and the third group of 15 persons in the control group. For data collection, career decision-making self-efficacy scale was used. Six 90-minute training sessions were conducted for the two experimental groups. Career decision-making self-efficacy was measured before the intervention (pre-test) and after (post-test), and also after one month (follow-up). Statistical analysis showed that training programs seems to have an effect on career decision-making self-efficacy. This effect is still seen after a month, showing relatively stable and reliable measures. The SCCT training approach appeared to be more effective on self-appraisal and occupational information, while the SMPVC method seemed to be more effective in subscales (components) of goals selection, making plans, and problem-solving. In conclusion, it was notable that both training approaches yielded significantly higher career decision-making self-efficacy measures, compared with the control group.

Soleimani, A - Rasoolzadeh Tabatabaee, S.K - Dabbaghi, P - Azadfallah, P - Taghva, A Over the two recent decades, the incidence and prevalence of methamphetamine or crystal abuse has become a real problem in Iran. Methamphetamine, like many other addictive drugs has a destructive, chronic, and relapsing path. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based spiritual schema activation therapy method in reducing the related symptoms of drug abuse and impulse control in men patients addicted to methamphetamine. In order to evaluate the hypothesis of the study, a total of 30 men addicted to crystal methamphetamine in one of the largest residential camps in Tehran were randomly recruited and divided into two experimental and control groups. SCID-CV interviews are used to assess the person’s conditions in terms of abuse, and to measure the dependent variables of the study. MAP questionnaires and Barratt Impulsiveness (11th edition) were used in three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The results indicates that there seems to be a significant difference at the level of 0.01 between the experimental and control groups in terms of the dependent variables, in the rate of psychological and physiological symptoms, and also impulse control in the post-test and follow-up stages. This difference was found at the 3-month follow-up stage. This study showed that spiritual schema activation treatment based on mindfulness can significantly reduce the symptoms related to both dependent variables.

Salimi, H The purpose of the present article was to study the predicting role of Iranian family components in the adolescents’ feeling of loneliness. The main hypothesis asserts that family communication patterns are good determining factor for feeling of loneliness in adolescents. In this correlational study, 225 female high school students were chosen by random cluster sampling. For data collection, Revised University of California at Los Angles Loneliness Scale (UCLA) and Revised Family Communication Pattern (RECP) questionnaire were used. For data analysis, simultaneous multivariate regression, using SPSS 20 software was used. The findings indicates a meaningful relation between family communication patterns and adolescents’ feeling of loneliness. Additionally, the two components of empathizing and conversational styles by family members appeared to correlate with lower feelings of loneliness. In other words, the more empathizing and conversation among family members occurred, the lower adolescents’ feelings of loneliness. The results confirms the importance of working to modify negative communication patterns among family members.

Ghasemi Yazdabadi, M Parent-child relationship plays an important role in bringing peace in family environment. This was a semi-quasi experimental research with pre and post-tests, with control group. The purpose of this study was to consider the possible effectiveness of the content teaching of verbal communication based on Holy Quranic verses on reduction of conflicts between mothers and their young daughters. For data collection, cluster sampling was used to draw participants from different parts of Isfahan (Iran). Female junior high school students were recruited from random high schools in the area. Participants had responded to flyers seeking volunteers. Participants were selected when they were evaluated (through interview) to have conflicts with their mothers. As such, 32 girls were chosen and randomly assigned to the experimental (mothers’ group and daughters’ group) and the control groups. Straus’s Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) was used before and after conducting the mentioned intervention. Data analysis, which included use of covariance analytical method, yielded results that indicates teaching of verbal communication based on Quranic verses does indeed seem to meaningfully reduce conflicts between the mother and her teenage daughter.

Riyahinia. N - Makarem, M - Farajipoor, A - Haseli, N The primary aim of this study was to explore the effects or impact of group bibliotherapy on the self-esteem of children damaged by labor. A semi-experimental method along with pre-test and post-tests and control group were adopted. The statistical population consisted of all boys who were studying at Association of Supporting Labor Children. Of sixty four children examined, 30 with low self-esteem scores were selected as samples. For data collection, standard Coppersmith Self-esteem Questionnaire was used and administered to both control and experimental groups (pre-test). Then, the experimental group received five 45-minute sessions of group bibliotherapy. Following the sessions, a post-test was administered to both groups. The findings indicates that the group bibliotherapy seems to have significant impact on subscales of self-esteem and the social self-esteem scores. However, it showed no apparent impact on the general, family, and educational self-esteems. .

Yarahmadi, Y - Yoosefi, N This research was aimed to study the effectiveness of family therapy based on Bowen’s emotional system therapy and logo therapy in improvement of suicide tendency among counseling-seeking clients of Islamic Azad University, in Iranian city of Sanandaj. This was an experimental study, with pretest and post-test, with control group. Sixty students out of all referring clients were selected through random sampling method. Applying Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation Scale (1979) & diagnostic interview based on DSM- IV- R, suicide tendency of students was assessed. These 60 subjects were randomly assigned in equal numbers into three groups (20 subjects in each group – Bowen, logotherapy, control). The results showed relatively equal amount of effect by Bowen’s emotional system therapy and logo therapy, in improvement of suicide tendency of participating students. Due to the mentioned findings, it can be recommended that counselors and psychotherapists use either approach in helping young people who may be suffering from suicidal ideations or tendencies.

T Hosein Ghamari Qivi , Ali Sheykholeslami , Zahra Adel Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on anger and psychological well-being of aggressive girls. Method: The research methodology was semi-experimental with pretest and posttest design with control group. The statistical population of study included all the prisoners in the women’s ward of the Central Prison in Ardabil, Iran, in the year 2014. Total of 30 participants with high scores on Spielbergers’ state-trait anger expression inventory were selected using simple random sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 persons each). The experimental group received 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Spielbergers’ state-trait anger expression inventory and psychological well-being questionnaire were used to gather data. Collected data was analyzed by multivariable co-variance test. Results: Findings indicated that cognitive-behavioral therapy seemed to have an effect on anger and psychological well-being of aggressive girls, such that the participants in the experimental group showed significantly lowered levels of anger and higher psychological well-being when compared with those in the control group. Conclusions: Therefore, it can be concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy seems to have a significant effect by decreasing the level of anger and to increase the psychological well-being in girls with high levels of aggressiveness.

Babollah Bakhshipour Aim: The purpose of conducting this research was to study the relationship between humor styles and marital conflicts among married college students. Method: Descriptive and correlational research methodology was used. The statistical population comprised of all the married college students at Payam Noor University in Sari, Iran. Total of 314 married (183 female and 131 male) college students were selected in accordance with Krejcie & Morgan (1970) table, by multistage sampling. Participants completed the humor styles (Martin et al., 2003) and Marital Conflict Questionnaires (Sanaee, 1379). Results: Findings showed a negative significant correlation between adaptive humor styles (affiliative humor style r=-0.214 and self-enhancing humor style r=-0.116) and marital conflict. Also, no significant relationship was seen between maladaptive humor styles (aggressive humor style r=0/052 and self-defeating humor style r= 0/088) and marital conflict. Significance level is set at P<0/01 and P<0/05, while T-test showed significant difference between the two genders (P<0/000) when looking at maladaptive humor style (aggressive and self-defeating). Conclusion: There seems to be a negative correlation between adaptive humor styles and marital conflict and some marital conflict’s factors, and that there seemed to be no significant correlation between maladaptive humor styles and marital conflict and its factors. In addition, there was seen a significant difference between men and women in using different humor styles.

Khaled Aslani , Ziba Zandi , Abbas Amanelahi Aim: The purpose of this study was to test the model of the relationship between attachment styles with affective adjustment and general health with mediating factor of child’s evaluation of inter-parental conflict and triangulation among female high school students in Ahvaz. Method: Descriptive and path analysis were used as the method for data analysis. Total of 213 female high school students were randomly selected through cluster sampling method. Participants completed the revised Adult Attachment Scale (RASS), Children Perception of Inter-parental Conflict Scale (CPIC), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and Adjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS). Results: The analysis of structural equation modeling did not seem to show a desirable goodness of fit for the proposed model. However, carrying out covariation for child’s evaluation of inter-parental conflicts and triangulation, showed a good fitness for the data obtained from the final proposed model. The results of direct coefficients indicated a significant correlation between ambivalent and anxiety attachment styles with general health, affective adjustment, child evaluation of inter-parental conflict and triangulation, child evaluation of inter-parental conflict with general health, and triangulation with affective adjustment. Results from using Preacher and Hayes indirect coefficients test showed a significant relationship between ambivalent and anxiety attachment styles with general health that was mediated by child evaluation of the conflict between his or her parents, as well as their use of triangulation. Moreover, there seemed to be significant relationships between ambivalent and anxiety attachment styles, with affective adjustment, which was mediating by child’s evaluation of inter-parental conflict. Conclusions: Parents’ conflictual relationship and triangulation can have negative influence on general health and affective adjustment during children’s developmental process.

The aim of this research was to investigate effectiveness based on attachment intervention on marital adjustment in maladaptive couples. Statistical community included in participants that referred to Foolad Mobarake counseling center. Samples included in 20 couples selected by available sampling. Data collected by questionnaires that included: Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale and intervention. Statistical methods in this research contain descriptive and inferential statistics in the type of semi-experimental plans. intervention showed that attachment dimensions have significant effect on marital adjustment and this effect was not different for men or women. Totally, research findings showed that avoidant attachment has significant direct effect on marital adjustment, but anxious attachment’s effect was indirect and through mediating factors. Therefore, we can focus on attachment theory and cognitive behavioral therapy in couple therapy and work with maladjusted couples.

Aim: The present study aimed to comprise clinical model of antisocial and borderline personality disorders in divorced and normal women.

 Method: The research method was causal- comparative which is categorized as descriptive research methods. The sample included 100 women (50 divorced, and 50 normal who were living in seaman city) that by considering of entry criteria’s selected by convenience sampling. Both groups matched on age, social- economic status, residential area, and the years who they lived with their spousal.in this research Millon Multiaxial and Enrich’s marital satisfaction questionnaires administered among selected samples.

Results: The results showed divorced women in in comparison of normal women had scored higher an antisocial and borderline personality clinical model.

Conclusion: with considering of results it seems considering of borderline personality and antisocial cues can be useful in preventive programs divorce