Journal of Family Relations Studies (JHRS)

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on parenting self-efficacy and distress tolerance in mothers with insecure attachment styles. Methods:  The research method employed was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all mothers with an insecure attachment style during the 2024-2025 academic year in Ardabil. For this purpose, 30 mothers with an insecure attachment style were selected based on the study's entry criteria using purposive sampling. They were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (15 people) and one control group (15 people). Following a pre-test using the Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale by Dumka et al. (1996) and the Distress Tolerance Scale by Simons and Gaher (2005), the experimental group participated in 8 sessions (2 sessions per week) of 60-minute emotion-focused therapy as developed by Greenberg and Goldman (2019), while the control group maintained their normal routine. The data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance method in SPSS version 26 software. Results: The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the mean parenting self-efficacy (P≤0.001, F=13.98, η p 2 =0.350) and distress tolerance (P<0.001, F=55.00, η p 2 =0.679) of the experimental and control groups in the post-test. Thus, after implementing emotion-focused therapy, the mean scores of mothers with insecure attachment style in the experimental group increased significantly compared to the control group. Conclusion: As a result, emotion-focused therapy can help mothers with insecure attachment styles enhance their parenting self-efficacy and capacity to tolerate distress. This therapy enables mothers to evaluate and adjust their attachment style, ultimately fostering a secure attachment style.

Objective: Family functioning is one of the structures that can have a significant impact on the psycho-social functioning of its members. For this reason, identifying the factors affecting it will greatly help to improve the family's performance. The purpose of the current research was to develop a causal model of Family function based on psychological Hardiness and Psychological capital through Persistent psychological symptoms post-COVID-19 Syndrome. Methods:  The statistical population of the present study was men and women of Karaj and Tehran provinces in 2023 who had at least one history of contracting COVID-19. From the statistical population, using an available sampling method, 395 eligible individuals were selected to participate in the research and complete the research questionnaires. In this research,  Kobasa's Psychological Hardiness questionnaires, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Corona Stress Scale (CSS-18), suitable for the Iranian lifestyle, and the Questionnaire of Family Functioning were used. The collected data were analyzed using the structural equation analysis method in Amos software (0.084). Results: The findings of this research indicated that Psychological Hardiness directly (0.085) and indirectly through psychological symptoms after COVID-19 (p<0.05) was able to significantly predict family functioning. Conclusion: According to the findings of this research, it seems that strengthening personal psychological structures in the face of environmental stressors can improve people's performance in dealing with these conditions.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how body image, marital satisfaction, and happiness influence the sexual desire of married women. Methods:  Conducted as a descriptive correlational study, it involved 286 married women who visited pre-divorce counseling centers at the Bojnord General Prosecutor's Office in 2023. These participants, selected through convenience sampling, were summoned due to their husbands' complaints of non-compliance with conjugal rights. Data collection tools included the Body Image Questionnaire (Fisher), Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (Argyle et al.), Enrich Couple Scale (Olson), and Hollander Sexual Desire Questionnaire. Results: The analysis, which used correlation and stepwise multiple regression, revealed significant positive correlations between positive body image, marital satisfaction, happiness, and sexual desire (p < 0.05). Specifically, body image explained 39% of the variance in sexual desire, marital satisfaction accounted for 30%, and happiness accounted for 35%. Conclusion: The findings suggest that enhancing body image, marital satisfaction, and happiness could significantly boost sexual desire in married women, indicating that targeted interventions in these areas may be beneficial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment on internalized shame, anxiety sensitivity, and alexia in infertile women. Methods:  The present research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all the infertile women of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan city in 2022. The sample size was 40 infertile women who were selected through available sampling. They were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (20 experimental subjects and 20 control subjects). The participants in the experimental group received 8 sessions of acceptance and commitment-based treatment, each lasting 60 minutes, while the control group did not receive any intervention. To collect data from the questionnaire, Taylor and Cox's (1998) anxiety sensitivity, Rajabi and Abbasi's internalized shame questionnaire (2013), and Toronto Besharat's personality disorder questionnaire (2007) were used. The covariance analysis method was used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that the treatment based on acceptance and commitment led to a significant decrease in internal shame, anxiety sensitivity, and dyslexia in infertile women in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Also, the results of the covariance analysis showed that it is possible to benefit from treatment based on acceptance and commitment to reduce internalized shame, anxiety sensitivity, and dyslexia in infertile women.

Objective: This research was conducted to investigate the role of neuroticism, marital empathy, and marital forgiveness in predicting marital satisfaction in married women. Methods: The research method utilized in the present study was the correlation-regression method. The research population comprised married women residing in the geographical area of Lorestan province. The research sample was selected using the multi-stage cluster random sampling method, with a total of 840 participants. The instruments of the present study comprised standard questionnaires, including the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale, the NEO-FFI Questionnaire, the Marital Empathy Scale, and the Marital Forgiveness Scale. Employing SPSS software, the acquired data underwent comprehensive analysis. Results: Through multiple linear regression, the model explains 46% of marital satisfaction variance. Standardized coefficients highlight neuroticism's adverse impact, while empathy and forgiveness positively influence satisfaction. A unit increase in forgiveness and empathy corresponds to 0.349 and 0.285 satisfaction units, respectively, whereas neuroticism predicts a 0.324 unit decrease. Hierarchically, forgiveness exerts the greatest influence, followed by neuroticism and empathy. Conclusion: This research emphasizes the need to address neuroticism, encourage marital empathy, and promote forgiveness as essential factors enhancing marital satisfaction, offering valuable insights for individuals and professionals in family counseling, therapy, and policymaking.

Objective: This study seeks to validate and standardize the extended version of the knowledge of parenting strategies scale (KOPSS) among Iranian citizens. Methods:  This paper is a descriptive measure validation study, which falls in the category of quantitative research. The statistical population consisted of Iranian parents with children aged 3-12, living together. Thirty parents were selected through convenience sampling and were tested using the Persian KOPSS in order to estimate the standard deviation of the total KOPSS score and obtain the sample size for validation and standardization (n=725). Then, thirty parents were studied at an interval of three weeks to calculate the test-retest reliability. Furthermore, 330 other parents were selected through convenience sampling to measure internal consistency reliability and concurrent criterion validity. To calculate concurrent criterion validity, the Persian KOPSS scores were correlated with the scores of Robinson’s Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). To obtain the standardized scores and percentile ranks of the raw Persian KOPSS scores, an online survey was conducted on 725 eligible parents (including 532 mothers and 193 fathers). Results: The correlation of the total Persian KOPSS-20 score with the PSDQ sub-scales was found to be larger than 0.40 (0.417-0.508). The standardized KOPSS-20 was obtained by converting the raw scores into normed z and T-scores and calculating the percentile ranks of the entire group (n=725). Conclusion: KOPSS-20 was found to yield reproducible and reliable results with satisfactory validity coefficients.

Objective: Managing occupational burnout facilitates the restoration of psychological well-being and is influenced by factors such as work-family conflict. Methods:  The current research aimed to determine the effectiveness of MBCT on work-family conflict and psychological well-being in women with a Single Case Experimental Design of the AB type. The statistical population comprised all employed women who sought counseling at the Mehrazin Center in 2023. For data collection, Rastegar Khaled's Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire (2006) and Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (1989) were utilized. It was observed that an improvement percentage below 50% indicates the intervention is not clinically significant, except for Participant 3. Additionally, the fact that the Reliable Change Index is greater than 1.96 at P < 0.05 suggests that the intervention holds statistical significance. With 95% confidence, it can be stated that the observed change in post-test scores is statistically significant. The analysis of the data was conducted through chart analysis, the Percentage of Non-overlapping Data (PND), and the Percentage of Overlapping Data (POD). Results: The research revealed that the psychological well-being scores of the three subjects improved by 30.6% overall, and their work changes and overall improvement percentage were 36.9%. These scores indicate a change and increase in psychological well-being, as well as a reduction in work-family conflict. In all three participants, the acceptable change index (RCI) for both variables was RCI≥1.96, at the 95% confidence level, indicating that the intervention was statistically significant. Conclusion: It is recommended that this method be explored and utilized as an effective intervention for enhancing psychological well-being and reducing work-family conflict.