Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: Social anxiety is a prevalent psychological issue among children and adolescents, negatively affecting their mental health and academic achievement. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of mentalization in the relationship between childhood maltreatment, perceived social support, and symptoms of social anxiety among female senior high school students in Kermanshah. Method: This study employed a correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all female senior high school students in Kermanshah during the 2023–2024 academic year (approximately 25,000 individuals). A sample of 292 students was selected using cluster sampling. Data collection instruments included the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A; La Greca & Lopez, 1998), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein, 2003), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; Zimet et al., 1988), and the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ; Dimitrijević et al., 2017). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between variables, and the proposed model was tested using SEM. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 and AMOS version 24. Results: Findings indicated that perceived social support had both direct and indirect effects (mediated by mentalization) on social anxiety (p < 0.01). Childhood maltreatment had a direct effect on social anxiety (p < 0.01). Model fit indices confirmed the adequacy of the proposed model, and the predictor variables collectively explained 62% of the variance in social anxiety. Conclusion: The results highlight the complex and multidimensional psychological pathways linking early experiences to emotional outcomes in adolescence. Mentalization, as a mediating factor, can play a significant role in the early identification of social anxiety and in the development of effective interventions aimed at preventing its adverse effects on adolescent mental health.

Abstract Introduction: Internet addiction is a significant mental health concern among adolescents, associated with various negative individual and social consequences. Stressful experiences and social appearance anxiety—defined as concerns about negative evaluation by others—are recognized as major risk factors for the development of this addiction. However, the mediating role of social support in these relationships remains underexplored. The present study aimed to examine the causal model of internet addiction based on stressful experiences and social appearance anxiety, with social support as a mediating variableMethod: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted among male high school students in Ardabil during the academic year 2023–2024. A sample of 450 students aged 12 to 14 years was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using Young's Internet Addiction Questionnaire (1998), the Stressful Experiences Questionnaire (Maslach, 2015), the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (Hart et al., 2008), and the Perceived Social Support Scale (Zimet et al., 1988). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modelin
Results: The results revealed that stressful experiences (β = 0.394, p < 0.001), social appearance anxiety (β = 0.862, p < 0.001), and social support (β = 0.489, p < 0.001) each had a direct positive effect on internet addiction. Furthermore, mediation analysis indicated that social support modulated the negative effects of stressful experiences and social appearance anxiety on internet addiction.
Conclusion: Social support functions as a psychological shield, mitigating the detrimental effects of daily stressors and appearance-related concerns on the tendency toward unhealthy internet use. Accordingly, strengthening support networks for at-risk students may play an effective role in preventing internet addiction.

Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to examine the moderating role of gender in the relationship between religiosity, optimism, social support, and life satisfaction among residents of Khuzestan Province.  Method: This research is applied in purpose and descriptive-correlational in design. The study population included all residents of Khuzestan Province, with a total population of 4,710,509 based on the 2016 national census. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 1,067 individuals was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling across 27 regions of Khuzestan during 2019–2021. Data were collected using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), the Religiosity Questionnaire (Glock and Stark, 1965), the Life Orientation Test (Scheier and Carver, 1985), and the Social Support Questionnaire (Zimet and Farley, 1988). Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 26.  Results: The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a statistically significant and positive relationship between the predictor variables (religiosity, optimism, and social support) and life satisfaction (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that religiosity, optimism, and social support collectively predicted 37% of the variance in life satisfaction. Furthermore, the moderating role of gender was confirmed, indicating that the influence of religiosity, optimism, and social support on life satisfaction differs significantly between men and women in Khuzestan Province.  Conclusion: The findings highlight that social support has the strongest influence on life satisfaction among participants. These results not only contribute to the existing literature but also provide valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and managers to inform decision-making and interventions aimed at enhancing life satisfaction in the region. 

Abstract Introduction: Addiction is one of the most important deviations and social harms and is considered a social disease whose physical and mental effects have negative consequences on the individual, family members, and society. This research was conducted to compare family functioning, social support, and irrational beliefs in open addicts undergoing compulsory treatment and self-reported addicts in treatment centers. Method: The research design is a comparative causal one, with the statistical population consisting of all open addicts undergoing compulsory treatment and self-identified drug addicts from private drug addiction treatment camps in Ahvaz. A total of 170 individuals (80 open addicts and 90 self-identified drug addicts) volunteered to participate in the study. The data was collected through the family functioning questionnaire of Cong et al. (2022), social support by Zimet et al. (1988), and unreasonable beliefs of the researcher (1402). The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance. Findings: The findings showed that family functioning, social support, and irrational beliefs of self-identified addicts and open addicts are different. Conclusion: It is suggested that to improve the quality of the functioning of the families of self-identified drug addicts and open addicts, it is necessary to prepare a familiarization course with the optimal functioning of the family; attention to social support, and reduction of irrational thinking is recommended.

Abstract Introduction:The concept of social health is a concept that has been considered along with the physical and mental dimensions of health. Promoting social health includes areas of social action to develop the level of health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between resilience and social support with social health with the moderating role of self-compassion in students of Payame Noor University, South Tehran Branch.
Method: The design of the present study was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of the study was all students of Payame Noor University, South Tehran Branch in the academic year 2016-2017. And responded online to the Keys and Shapiro (2004) Social Health Questionnaire, the Neff Self-Compassion Scale (2003), the Connor & Davidson (2003) Resilience Questionnaire, and the Zimet et al.'s Social Support Questionnaire (1988). 
Results: multiple regression analysis showed that the resilience component predicts 34% and social support 27% of the variance of social health. Also, resilience and social support indirectly and with their modulating role, compassion predicts 24% and 4% of the variance of social health, respectively. Self-compassion also has a 39% positive effect on explaining social health.
Conclusion: Social health can be enhanced through factors such as resilience and social support, and in the meantime, the more self-compassion people have, the more desirable it can be.

Abstract OIntroduction:internet is playing a significant role for expanding our social communication. Thus, the purpose of the present research was determining the moderating role of social support in the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and cyberspace addiction. Method: The research design was descriptive and correlational. The study population consisted of undergraduate students at Azad University of Lahijan in the academic year 1397-1398, among whom 282 participated as sample in this research based on Cochran formula with a sampling error of 0.01 by applying multistage cluster random sampling method. Young’s diagnostic questionnaire for internet addiction (1966), Parker & Boyce’s interpersonal sensitivity measure (1989), and Sherburne & Stewart’s social support survey (1991) were distributed and data path analysis was carried out by AMOS and data correlation analysis was conducted by SPSS. Findings: The data analysis revealed a positive correlation (p < 0.01) between Internet addiction and interpersonal sensitivity, Internet addiction and social support, and between social support and interpersonal sensitivity. Furthermore, path analysis results showed that the path of interpersonal sensitivity and internet dependency (β=0.16) at the level of 0.05, the path of interpersonal sensitivity and social support (β=0.33) and social support to Internet dependency (β=0.40) at the level of 0.01 are statistically significant and meaningful. Results: Social support and interpersonal sensitivity can play prominent roles in Internet dependency as key variables. Hence, proper preventive measures should be taken for the betterment of the society’s mental health.

Abstract Aim: The corona disease epidemic and quarantine have had different effects on the social and psychological aspects of individuals. The aim of this research was to study the relation between social support with components of the social capital and the psychological capital of students in corona epidemic.
Method: This study is descriptive-correlation type and statistical population of all students of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in the second semester of the 2019- 2020 academic year numbered over 40000 people. A sample of 402 men and women students evaluated by Social Support Scale (Zimet, et al, 1998), Putnam social Capital Questionnaire (Putnam, 2000), and Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Luthans, et al, 2007) through online recall and via social network. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used.
Results: The results showed social capital and psychological capital had meaningful correlation with students’ social support. Also, social support and social capital could be predicted 24% and 48%by psychological capital, respectively (P < 0/001).
Conclusion: It seems that the social support of students is predictable with components of social capital and psychological capital and has practical implications at preparation of interventions in crisis at the time of corona outbreak and after it.

Abstract Introduction: Social health is one of the most basic measures of social well-being in any society and it is effective in improving the quality of life of every society and in a way provides for the well-being and well-being of one's life and collective life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychological and social capital and social health concerning the mediator variable of social support.
Method: The method of research was descriptive – correlational and the statistical population included all students of Payame Noor University of Hassanabad and Varzane in the academic year of 2017-18, that among the samples, 150 students are entered to the analysis by available sampling procedures. The data are collected by psychological capital questionnaires Luthans (2007), Bullen & Onyx social capital scale (2005), Phillips social support questionnaire (1986), and Keyes Social well–being questionnaire (2004). the path analysis method was used to evaluate the relationships between variables.
Results: The results of path analysis showed that only coefficients of social capital paths to social support, psychological capital to social health and social support path to social health were positive and significant (P <0.05). The results also showed that the social support variable could not mediate the relationship between psychological capital and social capital with social health (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Students with better psychological capital and better social support will enjoy better social health.

Abstract Introduction: Academic engagement is one of the indicators of academic quality. The purpose of this study was to structural equation modeling of students' academic engagement based on academic help-seeking, transformational teaching, perceived social support with the mediation role of academic buoyancy.
Method: The statistical population was all undergraduate students of Esfarayen University of Technology, in 2016-2017 academic year.The sample included 304 students (253 boys, 51 girls) who were selected using random cluster sampling. Academic engagement scale (Fredericks et al., 2004), academic buoyancy (HosseinChari and Dehghanizadeh, 2012), Help-Seeking (Ryan and Pintrich, 1997), perceived social support (Zimet et al., 1988) and Transformational teaching (Beauchamp et al., 2010) were used to measure variables.
Results: Perceived social support, academic help-seeking and transformational teaching had a direct effect on academic engagement. Also, Academic help-seeking, transformational teaching and perceived social support had indirect effects through academic buoyancy on academic engagement. Academic buoyancy could predict the student academic engagement positively. Overall, finding suggested that academic buoyancy had a mediating role in the relationship between academic help-seeking, transformational teaching, perceived social support and academic engagement. In total, the variables of the research were able to predict about %31 of the variance of academic engagement.
Conclusion: By enhancing help-seeking, social support and teachers' use of transformational teaching, students helps them overcome their educational problems, and increase their academic buoyancy. These factors can enhance students' academic engagement to interact with each other.

Abstract Objective: This study aimed Prediction of substance abuse tendency and Internet addiction based on perceived social support and stress coping styles by mediating emotional intelligence. Methods:The current study method was a correlation with a structural equation design. The study population included secondary school students in Tehran in the academic year 2018-2019. The sample size consisted of four hundred (400) students that based on the proposed method of Schumacher and Lomax (2004) was considered. Participants were selected by an accessible sampling method. Yung internet addiction questionnaire (1998), drug abuse (Farchad et al., 2006), emotional intelligence questionnaire based on Bradbury - Graves (2004), perceived social support developed by Zimet and colleagues (1988), The Lazarus and Folkman’ ways of coping questionnaire (1985) were completed by sample subjects. To test the hypothesis, the structural equations were used.
Results: Findings suggest predictive variables of social support, stress coping strategies and emotional intelligence predict directly the tendency to drug abuse and internet addiction. Also, coping strategies and social support through emotional intelligence have a little meditative effect on the tendency to drug abuse but through the mediation have no significant effect on internet addiction.

Abstract Introduction: The relationship between spirituality and social support with mental health and death anxiety in the elderly needs further study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between spirituality and social support with mental health and death anxiety in the elderly.
Methods: In this study which was carried out with a correlation method, 350 elders living in Tehran completed questionnaires. Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Templar Death Anxiety Scale, Parsian and Doning Spirituality Questionnaire, and Philip Social Support Questionnaire were used as measuring tools. Data was analyzed using Pearson correlational analysis and multiple regression analysis.
Finding: The relationship between mental health and death anxiety with spirituality and social support was significant. Spirituality was able to significantly predict mental health (β = -0/406, >P 0/0001) and death anxiety (β = -0/233, >P 0/0001). Also, social support could predict mental health (β = -0/349, >P 0/0001) and death anxiety (β = -0/286, >P 0/0001)
Conclusion: These findings reveal the importance of spirituality and social support as preventative factors related to mental health problems and the anxiety of elderly death.

Abstract Introduction: Purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of social support in the relationship between hardiness and sense of coherence with quality of life in 2017.
Methods: In a correlation study, 116 employees of Musa ibn Ja'far and Army hospitals in Quchan were randomly selected and responded to WHO Quality of Life (1998), Antonovsky's sense of coherence (1987), Kobasa Hardiness (1979) and perceived social support questionnaires (1988). Data were processed through Mediated Hierarchical regression analysis by means of Baron and Kenny (1986) methods and using SPSS version 20 software.
Results: Findings Shown that hardiness and sense of coherence are correlated with quality of life separately (P <0.01) and predict it, but with the advent of social support, the relationship between hardiness and a sense of coherence increases with quality of life. The mediating role of social support in interacting with hardiness variables (P < 0.0001, F = 39.12) and sense of coherence (P <0.0001, FF = 14.85) significantly increased the variance of life quality variable.
Conclusion: Social support adds to the potency of the positive effects of hardiness and the sense of coherence on the quality of life. Therefore, implementation of management interventions in the hospital environment is recommended in order to increase the social support of the staff. The results are discussed for hospital managers.

Abstract Introduction: The aim of present study was to investigate the mediating role of social support in relationship between negative emotions with craving and relapse rate in substance dependent subjects with relapse.
Method: The method of research was descriptive correlational and structural equation modeling. The sample population consisted of 130 opiate addicts in Zahedan addiction treatment clinics. They were selected by simple random sampling. In order to collect the data, Social Support Appraisal Scale (SSAS), Negative Emotions (DASS- 21) and Relapse Prediction Scale (RPS) were used. The data were analyzed using stepwise regression, structural equation modeling, SPSS 23 and Smart-PLS soft wares.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant correlation between research variables. Depression and anxiety predicted craving and stress predicted relapse rate in substance dependent subjects with relapse (p<0.05), also structural equation modeling revealed that social support has a significant negative effect on relapse prediction and decreases the effect of negative emotions on relapse prediction. Social support acts as restrain while negative emotions have a positive influence on relapse prediction (p<0.05) and increase relapse in opium addicts.
Conclusion: Nowadays, addiction is one of the global issues and concern. Since human is a social creature, he or she needs to have relationship with other people and need their help and support. Therefore, social support as well as psychological health enhancement act as a shield against post treatment relapse. Creating social support for addicts who are in treatment is one of the important elements in decreasing crave and substance withdrawal.

Abstract Introduction: This research was carried out with the aim of investigating the role of social support and sensation seeking in rescuers of Red Crescent Society.
Method: The research method was correlation. The statistical population of the study was the rescuers of the Red Crescent Society of Tehran in the years 97-96. The sample consisted of 150 rescuers who were selected by available sampling. In this study, Conner and Davidson’s Resiliency Scale (2003), Social Support Assessment Questionnaire (1986) and Sensation Seeking Scale (1978) were used. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regressions.
Results: The results of the research showed that there is a significant correlation between all the sensation seeking components and resiliency. There is a significant correlation between all social support components and resiliency (P <0.01). Also, the results of regression analysis showed that sensation seeking and social support have the potential for prediction of resiliency among rescuers.
Conclusion: Regarding the importance of resiliency in stressful situations among rescuers, it is recommended that their sensation seeking level be considered at the beginning of the collaboration, and then providing the possibility of receiving social support for the rescuers is recommended.
Key words: Social Support, Sensation Seeking, Resiliency, Rescuers

Abstract Introduction: Regarding the process of the younger college in Iran and the importance of quality of life structures, social adaptation, identity styles and social support in students as young and upper-class members of society the aims of this study was to model structural relationships between social support and identity styles with social adjustment and quality of life.
Method: For this purpose 350 students of Tabriz University who were studying in the academic year 2015ad by multi-stage random cluster sampling method were selected. In order to the collect data quality of life questionnaire (Sf-36), Reynolds adolescent adjustment Inventory (RAAI), Berzonesky identity style questionnaire (ISI), and multi-dimensional perceived social support questionnaire (Mshpd apss) was used. Data were analyzed using SEM and Amos software.
Results: The results of the research indicated that the conceptual model has appropriate fitness .there is a significant relationship between quality of life with components of identity styles and social support, also between social adjustment with components of identity styles and social support.
Conclusion: The present model showed that research experimental dada can be covered somewhat with the social learning theory. Social support in all three indices family, friends and significant others as environmental factors play a direct role in shaping behavior and personal factors; styles identity as personal factors have a direct impact on social adjustment and quality of life; social adaptive or maladaptive behaviors also affective reciprocally on personal, environment factors and finally in the quality of life.

Abstract Introduction: Past research has shown that social support helps reduce psychological stress during periods of crisis and affects people's mental health. Resilience is also the ability of people to stay healthy, with resistance and tolerance in difficult and high-risk conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and social development with resilience in students of Islamic Azad University of Roudehen Branch.
Method: The statistical population of the study consisted of all female and male students who studied at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate level of the Islamic Azad University of Roudhan Branch in 1395. The research sample consisted of 380 students of Islamic Azad University, Roodehen Branch. The Participants completed the Scale of Multidimensional Social Support Questionnaire (Zimit, Dahlem, Ziemet, and Farley 1998), Social Development Scale of Weinland (Edgar, 1953), and Researcher's Scale of Conner and Davidson (2000).
Findings: Findings showed that the observed correlation coefficient between social development and social support with students’ resilience was significant at the level of 0/0001 with a degree of freedom of 378 times. It indicates that  the more social support students receive, the more their social growth increases. There It indicates that  a significant relationship between resilience and social support, in other words, the more social support students receive, the more their resilience increases.
Conclusion: Findings of the research indicate that increasing the resilience of students with the improvement in social support and social development level is important, we can use the findings to formulate programs to increase student resilience.