Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: The present study aimed to compare social well-being, family crisis-oriented personal evaluation, and cognitive flexibility between mothers of children with learning disabilities (LD) and mothers of typically developing (TD) children. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included a sample of 120 mothers recruited via convenience sampling from the Baran and Sahel Learning Disability Centers in Hamadan, Iran, during the 2023–2024 academic year. The sample comprised two equal groups: 60 mothers of children with LD and 60 mothers of TD children. Participants completed the Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES; Olson et al., 1981), the Social Well-Being Scale (Keyes, 1998), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010). Data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: Results indicated significant differences between the two groups across all dependent variables. Specifically, mothers of children with LD reported significantly lower levels of social well-being, family crisis-oriented personal evaluation, and cognitive flexibility than mothers of TD children. Conclusions: These findings suggest that mothers of children with learning disabilities experience diminished social well-being and cognitive flexibility, and face greater vulnerability when managing family crises. This study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive psychosocial interventions to support the mental health of these mothers. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of integrated psychological support and coping skills training programs aimed at improving psychological outcomes for mothers of children with learning disabilities across diverse sociocultural contexts.

Abstract Introduction: Social intelligence is essential for students' academic success and psychological growth; however, the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationships between self-esteem, spiritual intelligence, and social intelligence has been understudied. The present study aimed to address this gap by examining these relationships, with cognitive flexibility as a mediator.
Method: This cross-sectional, correlational study examined the direct and indirect relationships among the variables using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all 723 male upper secondary school students in Maragheh, Iran, during the 2024–2025 academic year. A sample of 256 participants was determined using Soper’s a priori sample size calculator for structural equation models and selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (Silvera et al., 2001), the Self-Esteem Scale (Crocker et al., 2003), the Spiritual Intelligence Scale (King, 2008), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24.
Results: The proposed model demonstrated good fit to the data (CFI > 0.90, RMSEA < 0.08, SRMR < 0.08). Self-esteem (β = 0.182), spiritual intelligence (β = 0.293), and cognitive flexibility (β = 0.213) had significant, positive direct effects on social intelligence (p < 0.01). Furthermore, cognitive flexibility significantly mediated the indirect effects of self-esteem (0.028) and spiritual intelligence (0.070) on social intelligence (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that enhancing self-esteem, spiritual intelligence, and cognitive flexibility can directly and indirectly improve students' social intelligence, thereby facilitating better communication skills, social interactions, and school adjustment. Accordingly, school-based educational programs designed to boost self-esteem, cultivate spiritual intelligence, and strengthen cognitive flexibility are recommended to promote students' mental health and academic success.

Abstract Introduction: Rapid cross-cultural social changes in recent decades highlight the necessity of considering the role of psychosocial factors in the eating attitudes and behaviors of the new generation. This study aimed to predict disordered eating attitudes based on social comparison, interpersonal sensitivity and cognitive flexibility in female students. Method: This was descriptive research conducted in the framework of correlation studies. The statistical population consisted of all female undergraduate students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Science and Research Branch in the academic year 98-99 (9944 people), out of whom 200 ones were selected through multistage random sampling method. They completed Eating Attitude Test (Gamer et al, 1982), Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (Gibbons & Buunk, 1999), Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (Boyce & Parker, 1989), and Cognitive flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis. Results: Findings showed that social comparison (p<0/01, β=0/432) and interpersonal sensitivity (p<0/01, β=0/305) were positively and significantly, and cognitive flexibility (p<0/05, β=-0/143) was negatively and significantly capable of predicting disordered eating attitudes in the students. Conclusion: With the rising emphasis on fitness in a Western advertisement, the vulnerability of young people to eating disorders has increased. Results of the present study indicate factors such as social comparison, interpersonal sensitivity, and cognitive flexibility effectively influence students' disordered eating attitudes and their psychological and physical health. Since medical therapies alone have temporary effects, further attention to psychosocial factors is recommended in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

Abstract Introduction: Social adjustment is one of the most basic criteria for taking responsibility of individuals in any society and is effective in improving the quality of life in any society. The present study predicts cognitive flexibility on social adjustment and responsibility in female students.
Method: In this study, the statistical population of all female students of Qom University in the academic year 2019-2020 is included. (N=5050). Among them, 357 students were selected by stratified random sampling and analyzed. Data were collected through Dennis and Vendral (2010) Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire, Sinha and Singh Social Adjustment Questionnaire (1993) and the California Psychological Questionnaire (1984) and analyzed using correlation and multiple regression analysis.
Findings: Findings showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between social adjustment and responsibility with cognitive flexibility. Also, according to the results of social adjustment, 42% and responsibility accounted for 29% of the changes in cognitive flexibility of female students, and at the same time, social adjustment and responsibility were able to explain 36% of the variance of cognitive flexibility (F=103/296, p < 0/0001).
Conclusion: The results indicate the importance of social adjustment and cognitive responsibility in explaining cognitive flexibility. Therefore, the formation of workshops and training classes by explaining the importance of responsibility and also teaching better social adjustment methods, can be effective in improving the cognitive flexibility of students.