Journal of Counseling Research

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Aim:The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of psychological inflexibility and emotion dysregulation in predicting intensity of anger in competitive athletes. Methods: This was a descriptive and correlational research. The statistical population of this study consisted of all competitive athletes (all athletes who participated in any level of competitive sport, either individual or collective) in city of Ardebil in 2019. From a total of participants, 312 were selected through cluster sampling to be included in the study. To collect data, the Clinical Anger Scale (Snell et al , 1995), Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Comp ACT) Scale (Francis et al, 2016) and Emotion Dysregulation Scale (Gratz, & Roemer, 2004) were used. Data analysis was done through Pearson correlation and Multiple Linear regression formula. Results: The results of multiple regression analysis also showed that 38% of variance of intensity of anger is explained by components of psychological inflexibility and emotion dysregulation variables. There was also a significant positive relationship between psychological inflexibility and emotion dysregulation with intensity of anger (P<0/05). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can probably be said that athletes who are not capable of emotion regulation and are not capable of flexible behaviors in competitive situations, experience more anger.

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Aim: Ethics, that is, a permanent endurance of good moral qualities in the form of "Manesh" in human beings, which can not be achieved through mere moral education. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to obtain an ethics-based approach to parenting. Methods: For this purpose, in the first part of the study, we examined and explained the definition and principles of ethics- based training from the perspective of Allameh Tabataba'i with hermeneutic research method and in the last part, practical paths for internalizing morality in children were presented. Results: The findings showed that principles of ethics-based training contains of 5  affirmative axis : “Moral stability”, “communicability of action”, “awareness”, “ being Practical Man” , “ motivation” and 2 underlie axis include of: “inheritance of ethics” , “ peripheral communicability “.Conclusion:  This principles can be applied for presenting the Parenting model with the centrality of Manesh Training.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to present a model to explain the evolution of Weness in couples. Method: Hence, based on the specific characteristics of Weness structure, qualitative research approach and grounded theory method was applied. The population of this study consisted of all couples living in Tehran who, according to their own statements, had a successful married life. The method of sampling was purposeful sampling and The number of participants in this study, after theoretical saturation, was 7 successful couples who were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed based on three techniques of open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Findings: The results showed that Weness structure includes two categories of intera- and extra-marital interaction strategies. Weness impelling factors also include three categories of cognitive, supportive and motivational impelling. The Weness consequence also occurs in the form of two central components of egocentrism in the couple's identity and the preservation of individuality in the couple's identity. Conclusion: There are three categories of cognitive, motivational and supportive factors that move couples towards Weness. Couples also use two categories of intramarital and extramarital strategies in process of becoming We. If these factors are properly combined and interconnected, Weness process in couples will be fulfilled, according to which, prevention of egocentrism in the couple's identity and the preservation of individuality in the couple's identity will be seen as a result.

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Aim: One of the main features of the distinction between successful and effective managers is the networking skill. In fact, this skill plays an important role in promoting individuals in a hierarchy and the success of their career. Successful managers, with the benefit of networking skills and communication with powerful stakeholders outside the organization, progress well through the administrative hierarchy and even run ahead of the most effective managers who use best manners in running the organization. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship of networking skill with the career-success with the mediating role of communication power. Methods: The statistical population of this study consisted of all directors and assistants of the central government ministries in the province with 400 people. Using Morgan's table, 196 individuals were randomly selected. For data collection, Wolf and Moser questionnaires (2008) were used  for assessing network skills, Gurkian and Gurkian (2011) was used for the career path success, and Saadda and Hashem (2017) was used for the communication power For data analysis, structural equation modeling and PLS software were used. Findings: The results of the research indicate that networking skills and communication with powerful organization’s stakeholders lead to promotion in the organization's hierarchy and their career path success. Conclusion: According to the research findings, it can be said that the networking skills of government managers and communication with powerful stakeholders of the organization promotes hierarchy and success in their careers. In fact, managers who have strong networking skills compared with their counterparts, have higher chances for  holding  higher positions in the organization.

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Aim: Successful marriage is the foundation of establishing a stable family. This study was carried out to provide a successful marriage paradigm. Methods: The study was conducted through a qualitative methodology applying grounded theory. The participants of the study were all couples who were living in city of Ahvaz during 2019. To select the participants in this study, a purposeful sampling was administered and as the study advanced, sampling of the desired cases continued until theoretical saturation was reached. At the end, 22 individuals (11 couples) were interviewed using open-ended or structureless questions.  Findings: In grounded theory, data analysis consists of coding the data. Using open coding resulted in 83 initial codes, while using axial coding produced 23 main categories. The  concept of successful marriage was elicited as a central, transparent and explicit category. Conclusion: We can draw a conclusion that a successful marriage is hinged on a thorough and comprehensive transparency of the issues involved in a marital relationship. That is to say either couple expresses openly what they have experienced, not leaving anything vague and ambiguous so that they don’t get the urge to decode and discover it. The paradigm obtained from this study can be used in teaching couples in premarital counseling sessions. It can also be used to treat upset couples and those couples who want to enrich their relationship.

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Aim: Suicide is a main cause of death worldwide, especially in teens and adolescents. The aim of this research was a structural test of the three-step theory of suicide in students.  Methods: Current research method was descriptive in the form of correlation that used structural equation model. Research community included all students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University, among whome 630 people were selected as sample through available sampling. Suicide Attempt questionnaire (Dhingra, et.al, 2018), Depressive Symptom-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS) Joiner et al. (2002), The Psychological Ache Scale based on Shneidman theory (1993), Hopelessness, Fraser, et.al (2014), Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire by Hill et.al. (2015), Self-Perceived Acquired Capability for Suicide by Rimkeviciene et.al. (2016), and Suicide Capacity Scale-3, by Klonsky & May (2015) were used.  Fndings: Findings showed that the composition of psychological ache and hopelessness are the main predictors of suicide attempt, and lack of interpersonal needs has a protective role. However, just acquired capability for suicide, in some extent can predict suicide attempt. Conclusion: The results showed that Psychological ache and hopelessness have an effect on suicide attempt both directly and indirectly through the idea of ​​suicide and the acquired capacity of suicide. Also, the relationship between acquired capacity and suicide attempt in the model was eliminated due to its low factor loading and better fit of the model. From these findings we can conclude that the three-step Theory of suicide model has a good fitness in Iranian community. Based on 3-step model, combination of hopelessness and psychological ache can lead to suicide ideation, and lack of interpersonal needs can act as a protective factor.

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Aim: The goal for this research was to assess the effectiveness of the two approaches in couples therapy, one being based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the other being Imago therapy (IRT), on couple’s sexual intimacy. Methods: Quasi-experimental method with pre and post-test and control group were used. Total of 45 couples from among those who used counseling centers in city of Kermanshah during the year 2019 participated voluntarily in this research. They were randomly assigned to three 15-couple groups of ACT, Imago Therapy, and control. Eight 90-minute sessions were conducted using ACT with one group and Imago Therapy with another group. Data was collected using sexual intimacy questionnaire that was adapted from Enrich scale. Findings: Covariance analysis showed (p>0.05) couples therapy based on ACT and Imago Therapy techniques were effective in improving sexual intimacy in couples. These findings showed utilizing techniques in ACT-based couples therapy, cause psychological acceptance about mental experiences and decrease ineffective controlling behaviors.

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Aim: Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is developed for clients who experience high levels of shame and self-criticism. CFT emphasizes the centrality of our affiliative system in reducing threat-based processing by allowing us to feel cared for and able to offer care to both ourselves and others. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of CFT on shame and feeling of guilt among women with sexual abuse experience in childhood. Methods: The statistical population consisted of all women with Sexual Abuse experience in Childhood who had referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz. The research sample consisted of 3 women referred to counseling centers that were selected according to the results of the PTSD Checklist (Weathers, 1993) with cutoff point of 50 and with purposeful sampling method. In this research, a single-case experimental design, type of non-concurrent multiple baseline designs was used. To evaluate the shame and feeling of guilt, the state shame and guilt scale (SSGS) were used. The protocol of CFT was carried out in three phases of basic lines, intervention of 8 weekly sessions, and two months follow-up. Findings: The findings indicated that the subjects in the shame treatment phase experienced 31.20% improvement and in the guilt phase experienced  28.68% improvement. The effectiveness was maintained during the 2-month follow-up. The change index was indicative of meaningful changes. Conclusion: Therefore, the research findings illustrated that CFT is effective in decreasing of shame and feeling of guilt of women with sexual abuse experience in childhood, through decreasing reducing threat-based processing and strengthening the soothing system through the cultivation of compassion.

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Aim: The aim of this research was to study the role of e-learning on students’ perceived interpersonal relationships with teachers. Methods: This research has been done in the framework of qualitative research method and phenomenological design. The participants were 11 high school students in Tehran and they were selected in an accessible manner and participated in a semi_ structured interview. Data were analyzed by Klaizi method. Findings: Finally, after analyzing the data, 4 main categories and 8 sub-categories were obtained. Based on the findings, the student's view on their limited communication with teachers, students confusion in new situations, the nature of the differences between distance and face-to-face education, and students’ concerns about the unpreparedness of infrastructure were obtained.  These component led to a comprehensive dimension of student's perspectives on research concerns. Conclusions: The results of this study explain the possible contexts for positive intervention in the teacher-student relationship considering the existing conditions.

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Aim: Intimacy is a basic human need and one of the principals of marital life. This study aimed to investigate the factors enhancing couple’s intimacy. This research was conducted qualitatively, based on grounded theory. Methods: The population included all married individuals from Shiraz who were married for at least one year. Ten of them were interviewed using semi-structured questions until data saturation was reached. The main question of the research was "In what ways couples may enhance their intimacy?". Findings: According to the findings, the main categories were: constructive criticism, constructive and non-judgmental conversation, conversational skills, support and reliability, mutual respect, fun, interpersonal character, harmony in different aspects, relationship with surrounding systems, boundary, growth and development, respect for desires and interests, mutual understanding, acceptance, task allocation, caring to mutual needs, knowing each other and individualization, and core categories were: effective communication and understanding of differences. Conclusion: In the present study, two categories of factors are effective in promoting the intimacy of couples. These factors include both intra-family and extra-family concepts. Accordingly, it is suggested that improving effective communication skills as well as comprehension and acceptance skills in couples, promote their intimacy.

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Aim: The present research intended to investigate the outcomes of death awareness in life from the perspective of Iranian adolescents. Methods: The study employed a phenomenological qualitative approach. The participants included 26 male and female high school students aged 16 to 18 going to schools in Tehran province, who were selected through criterion purposive sampling method. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were utilized. In order to analyze the data, thematic analysis (TA) technique was used. Findings: The findings demonstrated that the consequences of death awareness in adolescents' lives can be categorized in five main dimensions: motivation and goals, feelings, behaviors, interpersonal and social, and worldview. Conclusions: Death-consciousness can overshadow various aspects of a teenager's life, and is therefore an important and fundamental issue. Each of these themes shows the effects of death awareness on different aspects of adolescence life and indicate that the remembrance of death can affect various dimensions of adolescent life in different ways. It can also change the adolescents' life style and their attitudes towards themselves and the world. In other words, to adolescents, who are at the beginning of planning their future lives, death awareness can act as a beacon and help shape their future plans and paths.

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to explain the human interactions affecting the psychological preparation of airline pilots. Methods: Qualitative approach and thematic analytical method was used to conduct this study. The study population in this research were the pilots of an airline company in Tehran in 2019. In order to gather the necessary data, pilots were selected through purposive sampling criteria. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with each pilot and this process continued until theoretical saturation was reached. In this study, a total of 10 pilots were interviewed and the obtained data were classified and coded. Results: The analysis of the findings led to the identification of the influences of human interactions on the psychological preparation of pilots in the form of interactions between the flight crew, interactions between teams related to flight, and interactions outside the work environment. Interactions between the flight crew were extracted as interactions between pilots and other flight personnel and topics such as respect for the job position. Interactions between flight-related teams were inter-sectoral interactions and were identified in the form of relationships between pilots with air traffic controllers and other non-flight sectors. Finally, most of the interactions outside the work environment were related to the pilots' family issues. Conclusions: This study showed that there may be many undesirable interactions in different occupational and family areas of pilots that may lead to their psychological unpreparedness. This demonstrates the need to improve the quality of in-service training for pilots in relation to issues such as flight interactions and interactions between pilots and their families.

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Aim: Conflict of mothers and daughters-in-law is a common issue, especially in Asian countries characterized by a collectivistic culture and a patrilineal society. The main purpose of this research was the development and validation of quality of mother and daughter-in-law’s relationship scale, including construct validity, convergent validity and internal consistency. Methods: This was a correlational research. The research's statistical population included all students' mothers in city of Ahvaz. Two samples were used in this study. In the first sample, 411 subjects were selected for exploratory factor analysis; and in the second stage, a random sample of 211 subjects were selected as a multi-stage cluster sampling for confirmatory factor analysis. Subjects completed the Quality of Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-law Relationship Scale (QMDRS) and Miller Social Intimacy Scale (MSIS). Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that this scale consists of four factors, including kindness and empathy, control, communication, and interference. The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the four-factor structure of this scale. Convergent validity of QMDRS is calculated by correlating it with the Miller Social Intimacy Scale. The correlation coefficient of mean in subjects in QMDRS was significant (0.20 to 0.46). According to Cronbach's alpha, the internal consistency of the QMDRS and four factors kindness and empathy, control, communication, and interference was 0.68, 0.62, 0.72, 0.78, and 0.90. Conclusion: According to the results the Quality of Mother and Daughter-in-law’s Relationship Scale (QMDRS) has sufficient validity and reliability in Iranian families.

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of self-differentiation training on improving family process and content in demanding couples with contested divorce. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test and two-months follow-up with control group was used. The statistical population included couples who mutually consented for divorce, and had referred to the counselling clinic of Behravan in Qazvin in 2018. Ten couples (20 participants) were selected through purposeful sampling and assigned in experimental and control groups. Research tools included Samani’s (2008) family process and content questionnaire. Self-differentiation was administered for the experimental group in 10 weekly 90-minute sessions. The changes of family process and content was measured in posttest and follow-up and data were analyzed by repeated measurement. Results: Results indicated that self-differentiation significantly have promoted family process (P<0.01, F=21.14) and family content (P<0.01, F= 23.32). This effect was observed in follow-up, and four couples gave up the divorce requests (P>0.01, t= 0.01). Conclusion: self-differentiation training, thorough empowering couples, helps in moderating between reason and emotions; while differentiaton of self from original family, affects the functions of family process and content. Therefore, it can be used as an efficient psycho-educational package for improving the functions of family process and content in divorce demanding couples, and may helpprevent divorce

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to discuss the implications of the lessons from the Quran in managing the roles and relationships in couples. Methods: Using the qualitative method and applying content analysis, all verses related to couples from Quran were explored. Results: According to the results of the study, the main identified themes for the stage of marriage included romantic relationships, couples’ roles, boundaries, distribution of family management, financial relationships, sexual relationships, and conflict resolution in couples’ relationships.  Conclusion: Based on the lessons from the Quran, the religious attitude can be considered a powerful tool in order to decrease marital conflicts and eventually in increasing marital satisfaction.

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Aim: Intimacy among couples is an important factor in sustainable marriages. If couples' intimacy fades, it will affect their tendency toward extramarital relations. Individuals' style of attachment form during childhood and exert a notable influence on the formation of their marital intimacy during adulthood. Therefore, the goal of the present research was to study the mediating role of marital intimacy in relation between attachment styles and attitude of  Methods: This research is a descriptive-analytic study of correlational type. The statistical population is comprised of all married men and women of Tehran in the Iranian year of 1396. The study's sample was chosen from the population using the convenient sampling method. Data collection tools included Mark Whatley (2006) Q Attitude Toward Transnational Relationships Questionnaire, Collins & Read (1990) Attachment Style Questionnaire, and Thompson and Walker (2002) Marital Intimacy Questionnaire. The total population size of the sample was 650 couples, consisting of 357 women and 293 men.   Data analysis was done using the path analysis method and the AMOS statistical software from SPSS company. Results: Analyzing the correlation coefficients and their standardized values, in addition to the related t-test values, indicated that the direct effect of the anxiety-driven attachment style on marital intimacy is meaningful (P≤0/05). Furthermore, the indirect effect of marital intimacy on tendency toward infidelity is meaningful (P≤0/05). Conclusion: Since marriage and choosing a partner is one of the most important decisions in life, considering the predicting role of unsafe attachment style and the role of marital intimacy in individuals' tendency toward infidelity, the necessity of analyzing these two variables as it applies to premarital counseling and parental training about child education and attachment styles, must be emphasized.

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Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of reality-based and emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) interventions on the happiness and resilience of couples. Methods: The method of the present study was a single case experimental design of multiple simultaneous baselines. The statistical population of the study were maladapted couples referred to Talieh Mehr Couple Therapy Center in Tehran (149 couples), in which 6 couples were selected as a sample by purposive and voluntary sampling method. Then, the approaches were performed in pairs for reality therapy and EFT for each couple with a two-month follow-up. The standard Oxford happiness (Argyle, Martin, Crossland, 1989) and Conor-Davidson resilience (Conor-Davidson, 2003) questionnaires were completed as data collection tools. Data were analyzed by visual mapping, stable change index, and recovery percentage formula. Results: The results showed that reality therapy-based couple therapy increased the happiness and resilience of couples (61.06% and 49.31% recovery, respectively) and its effect was maintained until the end of the two-month follow-up period (60.05% and 51.88% recovery). Also, EFCT increased the happiness and resilience of couples, respectively (28.06% and 28.87% recovery) and its effect was maintained until the end of the two-month follow-up period (26.81% and 29.73%, recovery). The index of their change in reliability also indicated that these changes were significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: The results showed the effectiveness of couple therapy interventions based on reality therapy and EFT on increasing the happiness and resilience of incompatible couples and the mentioned approaches can explain the desirable degree of variability of happiness and resilience of incompatible couples.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a model of academic buoyancy based on school connection, family emotional atmosphere, motivation, self-efficacy, and academic engagement of students. Methods: This research was of descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the study included all first and second grade high school students in Isfahan in 2018-2019. From among them, a sample of 375 people were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling. The tools for  data collection included the following questionnaires: Dehghanizadeh and Hosseini Chari Academic Buoyancy Scales (2013), Panaghi et. al School Connection Questionnaire (2011), Razavieh Vesamani Family Emotional Atmosphere (2000), Patrick, Hicks and Ryan (1997) Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, Reeve, Agentic Engagement Scale (2013), and The Harter Academic Motivation Scale (1981). Results: The results showed that at 95% confidence level, the direct effect of school connection on academic buoyancy was confirmed with an impact factor of 0.207. Also, academic engagement has an effect on academic buoyancy, with an impact factor of 0.356, and self-efficacy has an impact on academic buoyancy with an impact factor of 0.202. Conclusion: Findings showed that the indirect effect of school relationship on academic buoyancy mediating academic engagement is confirmed, so that the intensity of the indirect effect is equal to 0.206, the indirect effect of family emotional atmosphere on academic buoyancy mediated academic engagement was also confirmed, and  that the indirect effect is equal to 0.055. Furthermore, the indirect effect of academic motivation on academic buoyancy is mediated by self-efficacy, the intensity of the indirect effect is equal to 0.084 (p <0.05).

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Aim: Nowadays marriage is considered the most important pillar of a stable family and as such is quite a big concern for the average youth. Therefore reaching a successful marriage requires paying attention to different variables of this crucial subject. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to reveal a template for a successful marriage and all of its strengthening and endangering variables, considering the Iranian culture. Methods: The research method for this study was super compositional, and the statistical population included all local research in this field between the years of 2009 to 2019 that were acquired following a systematic selection criteria, that yielded 21 articles. Results: The result of this research showed that the most important factors of a successful marriage can be divided into 4 themes and 16 main factors with 146 strengthening and endangering factors, which include individual factors, environmental factors, couple factors, and criteria for mate selection. The main factors include moral, personal, or identity characteristics, religious and spiritual beliefs, including problem solving skills, parenting, effective relations with spouse, family ties with spouse, financial issues, sexual issues, cultural factors, societal factors and family, knowing the expectations, needs and wants, same mindedness, general maturity and general, physical, and mental health. All of the above mentioned main factors all have their own sub factors within themselves. Conclusion: It is expected that this project will be of use to researchers and family and marriage specialists.

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Aim: Dyspareunia and vaginismus are important issues in the lives of women with these disorders and have adverse, damaging consequences for the individual, the family, and the couple's intimacy. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the lived experience of women with dyspareunia and vaginismus. Methods: The method of this study was descriptive-phenomenological psychological in which nine female participants suffering from dyspareunia and vaginismus were selected through purposeful sampling and data collection was continued through semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached. After collecting the data and transcribing them, the researcher used Giorgi’s five-step phenomenological data analysis method. Results: Analyzing data led to 12 contributing components of the lived experience of women with dyspareunia and vaginismus which included: lack of awareness, experiencing the physical symptoms of anxiety, fear, predicting pain, feeling of inadequacy and inferiority, feeling of shame, hatred of sex and of spouse, a feeling of suffering, feeling of anger, feeling of guilt, decreased emotional and sexual intimacy, and regret about marriage. Conclusion: The results of this study also enrich the previous research literature on the lived experience of dyspareunia and vaginismus. Also, the structure of the lived experience of dyspareunia and vaginismus derived from this study is widely used to develop and apply preventive and therapeutic programs for this condition and its consequences.