Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a complex and debilitating psychological disorder in which obsessive beliefs constitute its core. Therefore, identifying the underlying factors influencing these beliefs is of considerable importance.

Objective: This study aimed to apply structural equation modeling to examine the complex relationships among insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant), moral sensitivity, and obsessive beliefs, with fear of self and self-ambivalence as mediating variables. A total of 452 university students in Tehran (predominantly female, aged 18–24, undergraduate level) participated in the study using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ), the State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM), the Ethical Sensitivity Scale Questionnaire (ESSQ), the Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ), and the Self-Ambivalence Measure (SAM). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling based on partial least squares (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that insecure attachment styles—particularly the anxious type—were positively and directly predictive of obsessive beliefs, whereas moral sensitivity was negatively and directly predictive of obsessive beliefs. Additionally, fear of self and self-ambivalence played partial mediating roles in these relationships. Specifically, insecure attachment indirectly influenced obsessive beliefs through increased fear of self and self-ambivalence, whereas moral sensitivity indirectly influenced obsessive beliefs through decreasing these mediators. The model demonstrated strong goodness of fit and satisfactory predictive power, highlighting the complex interaction between self-related, attachment-related, and moral variables in the psychopathology of obsessive beliefs. These findings open new avenues for understanding the etiology and designing targeted preventive and therapeutic interventions in the field of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion regulation training and mindfulness skills training on reducing academic burnout in female secondary school students in Tehran. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest-follow-up structure and a control group. A total of 45 female students, selected through purposive sampling based on elevated aggression scores, were randomly assigned to three groups: emotion regulation training, mindfulness training, and control (15 participants each). The intervention programs were delivered over several sessions, with no intervention given to the control group. The Academic Burnout Questionnaire by Bresó et al. (1997) was used to measure outcomes across three time points: pretest, posttest, and one-month follow-up. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and multivariate analysis of covariance with SPSS-24 to examine both within- and between-group differences. The results indicated significant reductions in academic burnout over time in both experimental groups compared to the control group. Multivariate analysis showed significant main effects for time (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.56, F(2,27) = 10.3, p < 0.001) and a significant interaction between time and group (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.70, F(2,27) = 5.62, p = 0.009). Univariate repeated measures analysis revealed that both emotion regulation and mindfulness training groups experienced significant reductions in academic burnout scores at posttest and follow-up. The mindfulness group demonstrated slightly greater and more stable effects across the measurement points. Both emotion regulation training and mindfulness skills training were effective in reducing academic burnout among female students, with mindfulness showing marginally superior outcomes. These interventions can serve as viable school-based strategies for addressing student burnout and promoting emotional resilience in academic settings.

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between lifestyle and hope for life with social support among young adults with physical-motor disabilities in the city of Tehran. This research was correlational in nature and fundamental in terms of purpose. The statistical population consisted of young individuals aged 20 to 35 years with physical-motor disabilities residing in four care and support centers in Tehran in 2023. From an accessible population of 400 individuals, a sample of 196 participants was selected through simple random sampling using the Morgan table. Data collection instruments included the Lifestyle Questionnaire (LSQ), Phillips Social Support Questionnaire, and Snyder et al.’s Hope Scale (1991). Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between lifestyle and social support (r = 0.313, p < 0.01). Additionally, a positive and significant relationship was observed between hope for life and social support (r = 0.225, p < 0.01). The results of the multiple regression analysis also indicated that lifestyle and hope for life together explained approximately 10% of the variance in social support (R² = 0.101, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that improving lifestyle and enhancing hope for life can lead to increased social support among young adults with physical-motor disabilities. Attention to these components can be effective in the design of support, rehabilitation, and mental health promotion programs for this group.

This study aimed to design a self-efficacy-based self-care educational package tailored for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to enhance their empowerment, health literacy, treatment adherence, and psychological well-being. A qualitative research design was employed using thematic analysis based on the Attride-Stirling (2001) framework. Data were extracted from a purposive sample of scientific texts, including peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses published between 2011 and 2023 that addressed self-efficacy, empowerment, and self-care. The analysis was conducted inductively using MAXQDA software. The coding process involved identifying 236 initial codes, which were grouped into 91 basic themes, 16 organizing themes, and 6 overarching global themes. These findings informed the development of a structured 10-session educational package. Content validity of the package was confirmed through expert evaluation and calculation of the Content Validity Ratio (CVR). Thematic analysis revealed six global themes essential for MS self-care: (1) health literacy and informed decision-making, (2) physical care and healthy lifestyle, (3) mental health and stress coping, (4) social support and communication, (5) medication management and treatment adherence, and (6) spiritual education. Each session of the package addressed one or more of these domains through a combination of theoretical instruction, practical exercises, multimedia content, and group discussion. The package content was developed based on culturally relevant sources and validated theoretical constructs. The inclusion of spiritual and psychological components was emphasized to match the sociocultural needs of the target population. The developed self-care training package offers a comprehensive, theory-driven, and culturally contextualized intervention for enhancing the self-efficacy and well-being of MS patients. It integrates cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, offering a practical and holistic approach to chronic illness management.

Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) require not only medical treatment but also psychological interventions. Accordingly, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of suffering management training and emotion efficacy therapy on life suffering and affective capital in patients with IBS. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and follow-up phases along with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all IBS patients who referred to gastroenterology clinics in Isfahan during the winter of 2025. From this population, 60 patients were purposefully selected and assigned into three groups (each with 20 participants). The Perceived Suffering Scale (Schulz et al., 2010) and the affective Capital Questionnaire (Golparvar, 2016) were used to assess the dependent variables across the three time points. The two treatment groups each received 8 sessions of intervention lasting between 75 to 95 minutes, while the control group received no treatment. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test via SPSS version 26. The results indicated that for both variables—life suffering and affective capital—there were significant differences between the suffering management training group, the emotion efficacy therapy group, and the control group (p < .05). Specifically, suffering management training was more effective than emotion efficacy therapy in reducing life suffering and enhancing affective capital. Given the effectiveness of suffering management training in alleviating life suffering and improving affective capital among IBS patients, it is recommended that this psychological intervention be implemented alongside medical treatments in clinical settings.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of systemic group marital counseling on enhancing self-compassion and happiness in couples experiencing marital conflict. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test and two-month follow-up, including a control group. Thirty couples with diagnosed marital conflict were selected using convenience sampling from counseling centers in Tehran in 2024 and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of systemic group marital counseling based on family systems theory, while the control group received no intervention. Assessment tools included the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003) and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-26, employing repeated measures ANOVA to examine intra-group and inter-group differences over time. The results indicated significant improvements in both self-compassion (p = .008) and happiness (p = .024) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Within-group analysis revealed that changes in self-compassion and happiness across the three phases (pre-test, post-test, follow-up) were statistically significant (p < .001), with large effect sizes for both variables. The interaction effect between time and group was also significant (p < .001), indicating that the intervention had a sustained impact over time. Systemic group marital counseling proved to be an effective intervention for improving self-compassion and happiness in couples facing marital conflict. The therapeutic emphasis on restructuring family dynamics, enhancing communication skills, and fostering emotional differentiation contributed to significant improvements in psychological and relational well-being. These results support the integration of structured group counseling approaches in clinical and community settings as a cost-effective and impactful modality for addressing marital distress.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of positive psychology therapy in improving cognitive fusion and emotion regulation among military medical nurses in the Islamic Republic of Iran who exhibited depressive symptoms. The research employed a semi-experimental pre-test–post-test design with a control group. Thirty nurses were selected from seven military hospitals in Tehran using purposive sampling based on elevated scores on a depression questionnaire, followed by clinical interviews to confirm depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) receiving ten sessions of group-based positive psychology therapy, or a control group (n = 15) receiving no intervention. The intervention included structured practices such as mindfulness, gratitude journaling, savoring, and strength identification. Data were collected using the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), following checks for statistical assumptions. The inferential analysis revealed statistically significant improvements in both outcome variables for the experimental group. ANCOVA results for cognitive fusion showed a significant group effect, F(2, x) = 14.09, p < 0.001, with a large effect size (η² = 0.33). Similarly, results for emotion regulation were also significant, F(2, x) = 13.90, p < 0.001, indicating a strong impact of the intervention on enhancing adaptive emotional regulation strategies. All statistical assumptions were met, and the intervention demonstrated high power in detecting effects. The findings indicate that positive psychology therapy is an effective intervention for reducing cognitive fusion and enhancing emotion regulation among nurses experiencing depressive symptoms in high-stress military healthcare settings. These results support the broader application of strengths-based psychological approaches to promote resilience and emotional well-being in clinical occupational environments.

Anxiety disorders represent one of the most prevalent forms of psychological pathology during childhood. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of play therapy and the integration of play therapy with parent management training on anxiety in children who have a sibling with special needs. The research employed a quasi-experimental design using a pretest–posttest format with control and experimental groups. The statistical population included all families with children with special needs enrolled in exceptional schools in Ramian County. A total of 37 participants were selected purposefully based on the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria (12 participants in the play therapy group, 13 in the integrated intervention group, and 12 in the control group). The data collection instrument was the Children’s Symptom Inventory-4 (CSI-4) developed by Sprafkin and Gadow. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test. The statistical analysis software used was SPSS version 27. The results indicated that, based on the differences in mean scores, anxiety scores significantly decreased from pretest to posttest in both experimental groups and from pretest to follow-up only in the group that received the integrated intervention (play therapy and parent management training) (p ≤ .001). Moreover, a significant difference was found in the follow-up phase between the integrated group and the play therapy group (p ≤ .001). It appears that both play therapy and the integration of play therapy with parent management training are effective in reducing anxiety in children who have a sibling with a disability.