Mohammadmahdi Taheri, Fatemeh Kouhneshin, Alireza Jahani, Zahra Jahanbakhshi,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Objective: Suicidal ideation is a significant public health concern influenced by various factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between romantic breakup and suicidal ideation, with the mediating roles of loneliness and meaning in life.
Method: This study employed a correlational descriptive design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all students residing in Tehran, aged 18 to 35 years. A sample of 424 participants was selected through convenience sampling. The instruments included the Romantic Breakup Questionnaire (Rosse, 1999), Suicidal Ideation Scale (Beck et al., 1979), Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2006), and Loneliness Scale (DiTommaso et al., 2004). Data analysis was conducted using SEM with SPSS and AMOS software.
Findings: The results indicated that the data fit the proposed model well, and all direct and indirect paths were significant. Romantic breakup had a direct positive effect on suicidal ideation (β = 0.15) and on loneliness (β = 0.46), and a direct negative effect on meaning in life (β = -0.20). Meaning in life had a negative direct effect on suicidal ideation (β = -0.22), while loneliness had a positive direct effect on suicidal ideation (β = 0.29). The indirect effects were also significant through the mediation of meaning in life (95% CI [0.02, 0.08]) and loneliness (95% CI [0.09, 0.18]) on suicidal ideation.
Conclusion: Part of the impact of romantic breakup on suicidal ideation is exerted through changes in loneliness and meaning in life. Interventions focusing on strengthening social bonds and encouraging participation in meaningful activities may help reduce the risk of suicide among individuals who have experienced a romantic breakup.
Seyyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Studying the psychological state of adolescents during war and the impact of military conflict on their mental health is an undeniable necessity. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of military hostilities in the 12-day war imposed by the Zionist regime on Iran on the psychological state of adolescents and young adults within the family context. This descriptive study employed a qualitative approach using content analysis. A total of 24 unmarried adolescents and young adults (age range 15–24 years; mean±SD = 19.33±2.71), primarily residing in Tehran province, participated virtually in a structured interview. Responses were analyzed across six domains: interpretation and perception of war, expression of emotions and psychological/behavioral reactions, coping with one's own reactions and those of others, family reactions, and future evaluation under the influence of war. In total, 23 general categories and 56 subcategories were extracted. Findings indicated that adolescents' perception of war could be examined in three categories: personal interpretation, identity-based, and value-based. Their psychological-behavioral reactions included hypervigilance, mood disturbances, ambivalent emotions, habituation and normalization, and self-resilience. Coping with reactions emerged in three patterns: distancing from reality, active psychological reactions, and spiritual reactions. Families responded through inaction, distancing, anxiety, active reactions, and spiritual responses. Future evaluation was categorized into five themes: self and socially oriented behaviors, unpredictable future, continuation of normal life routines, and perceived negative consequences. In conclusion, war as a critical and traumatic phenomenon is interpretable within the national-religious-historical identity context of each culture.
Ebrahim Jahandar, Maryam Fatehizade, Leila Mirahmadi, Somayeh Jaberi,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to explore and identify marital virtues among married men. Method: A qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological methodology was employed to achieve the research goal. The study participants were married men and women residing in the Isfahan, whose length of marriage ranged from 5 to 20 years in 2024. Participants were selected through purposive sampling from individuals accessible to the researcher, resulting in a sample of 20 participants (10 men and 10 women). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Finding: The findings were ultimately organized into 47 subcategories, 8 main categories, and 2 themes. The extracted main categories included caregiving, relational wisdom, steadfast loyalty and commitment, respect and reverence, intelligent adjustment, gentleness and emotional stability, marital prudence, and spirituality-based tranquility. Conclusion: The results indicate the existence of two broad categories of marital virtues among married men. Inner-regulatory virtues pertain to intrapersonal processes that foster psychological and moral readiness for healthy engagement with the challenges of married life. In contrast, relationship-responsive virtues emerge within direct interaction with one’s spouse and relate to how individuals respond to the needs, expectations, and demands of the marital relationship. The formation of a healthy and high-quality marital relationship requires the simultaneous presence and interaction of these two moral dimensions. It is therefore suggested that enhancing marital virtues in men may provide a foundation for improving the quality of marital relationships among married individuals.
Mohammad Mohsen Mohtadi, Kiomars Farahbakhsh, Mohammadreza Salarifar,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Aim: Previous research has primarily examined the experience of “we-ness” in marital relationships through linguistic indicators or cognitive constructs, paying less attention to how this experience emerges and evolves in couples’ everyday lives. The present study aimed to explore the lived experience of “we-ness” and to understand how it develops, is maintained, changes, and becomes consolidated within marital relationships. Methods: This study employed an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Participants consisted of eight couples in relatively intimate and stable marital relationships who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: The findings indicated that we-ness in marital relationships is not a fixed state but rather a dynamic and evolving process. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: the formation of we-ness, relationship regulation based on we-ness, relational awareness of the couple’s shared identity, redefining we-ness during crises and challenging relational situations, and the consolidation of we-ness. The findings suggest that couples gradually develop a shared identity, negotiate a balance between individuality and togetherness, become more aware of relational patterns, redefine their relationship in the face of crises, and ultimately achieve a more stable experience of we-ness. Conclusion: The results suggest that we-ness can be understood as an ongoing process involving the formation, regulation, reflection, reconstruction, and consolidation of a shared relational identity. Accordingly, attention to the quality of couples’ experience of we-ness may help therapists move beyond a sole focus on conflict resolution and instead strengthen shared identity, enhance relational awareness, and support the reconstruction of couple bonds during difficult periods of life. By introducing the concept of processual we-ness, the present study provides a framework for understanding the dynamic nature of shared identity in marital relationships.
Zahra Khavaninzade, Simin Hosseinian, Hamid Rezaeian Faraji, Mahsima Pourshahriari,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Aims: The present study was conducted to investigate family dynamics in adolescents with a history of self- Injurious behaviors. Method: The research method was qualitative and based on phenomenology. The target population consisted of adolescents with self-harming behaviors in Tehran in 2024 who had referred to counseling and psychological service centers. In order to conduct this study, 20 adolescents were selected through purposive sampling based on the principle of theoretical saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using the Braun and Clark (2006) thematic analysis method and the extracted themes were organized and summarized in the form of main and sub-themes. Results: The interviews were summarized at three levels of primary concepts (178 concepts), sub-themes, and main themes, which were divided into three main themes; The first main theme (positive family dynamics) included 13 sub-themes, the second main theme (negative family dynamics) included 27 sub-themes, and the third main theme (role of the extended family) included 4 sub-themes. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, in the lived experience of adolescents with self-injurious behaviors, family dynamics are experienced in diverse and sometimes contradictory ways. Some participants spoke of the existence of supportive interactions, favorable emotional connections, and aspects of positive family functioning, while others described family conflicts, dysfunctional communication patterns, and negative experiences in the family. Also, in the participants' experience, the extended family was also presented in some cases as a source of support and in some cases as part of challenging family dynamics. It is worth noting that observing some positive dynamics in families does not mean ignoring or downplaying self-harming behaviors, and this study merely describes the dynamics experienced by participants and does not make any judgments about the impact or causal relationship of these dynamics with self-harming behaviors.
