Psychological aspects in health and diseases
Fatemeh Azizi Ganjehei; Isaac Rahimian-Boogar
Abstract
Objective: Death anxiety and fear of infection are crucial psychological factors influencing adjustment disorders during infectious disease outbreaks. Conversely, perceived social support and psychological resilience function as protective buffers. This study investigated how death anxiety and fear of ...
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Objective: Death anxiety and fear of infection are crucial psychological factors influencing adjustment disorders during infectious disease outbreaks. Conversely, perceived social support and psychological resilience function as protective buffers. This study investigated how death anxiety and fear of COVID-19 predict adjustment disorder, with perceived social support and psychological resilience as potential mediators.Method: Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, 400 adults were recruited through convenience sampling in Tehran, Iran. Participants completed the International Adjustment Disorder Questionnaire, Death Anxiety Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (SPSS v26) and structural equation modeling (AMOS v26).Results: Fear of COVID-19 showed a significant positive association with adjustment disorder (β = 0.18, p = 0.012), while perceived social support (β = –0.25, p < 0.001) and psychological resilience (β = –0.24, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with adjustment disorder. Psychological resilience partially mediated the link between fear of COVID-19 and adjustment disorder (indirect β = 0.07, p = 0.016). Death anxiety was not a significant predictor of adjustment disorder (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The findings emphasize that fear of COVID-19, resilience, and perceived social support play distinct and interrelated roles in predicting adjustment disorder. Interventions aimed at strengthening resilience and social support may mitigate the psychological impact of pandemic-related stressors. Further research is recommended to refine these pathways and inform targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Isaac Rahimian Boogar; Somayeh safarzade; Siavash Talepasand
Abstract
Objective: A great number of patients leave psychotherapy prior to the end of treatment. The present study predicts the premature termination of individual psychotherapy based on patients’ expectations and tolerance and therapists’ competencies with the mediating role of therapeutic alliance. ...
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Objective: A great number of patients leave psychotherapy prior to the end of treatment. The present study predicts the premature termination of individual psychotherapy based on patients’ expectations and tolerance and therapists’ competencies with the mediating role of therapeutic alliance. Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 317 patients referred to Mental Health Clinics, Pain Clinics and Substance Use Treatment Centers in Mashhad, Iran were selected by random sampling. The data were collected by Distress/Endorsement Validation Scale, Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised, the Milwaukee Psychotherapy Expectations Questionnaire, and Outcome Questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS-19 and structural equation modeling with LISREL-8.80 software. Results: The examined model indicated good fitness for the data observed (RMSEA=0.02, GFI=0.99, AGFI=0.99, NFI=1, CFI=1, IFI=1, RMR=0.00253, P value=0.90). Psychotherapy expectations (γ=-0.40) and therapists’ competencies (γ=-0.29) directly influenced the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Treatment tolerance (γ=-0.17) directly affected the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Therapeutic alliance (β=-0.13) had an impact on the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Psychotherapy expectations (γ=0.42) and therapists’ competencies (γ=0.54) significantly influenced the therapeutic alliance, thereby affecting the premature termination of individual psychotherapy. Conclusions: Psychotherapy expectations, treatment tolerance, therapists’ competencies and therapeutic alliance interactively effect in the premature termination of psychotherapy and therefore on the health outcomes of patients. This finding did develop insights into designing the tailored interventions to resolve premature termination and improve the outcomes of psychotherapeutic interventions. Furthermore, clinicians must be concerned with these factors in the clinics and healthcare centers to enhance the successful termination of psychotherapy.
