Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: Traumatic experiences in childhood have irreparable effects on the adult mind and are associated with suicidal thoughts. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation and suicide crisis syndrome in the relationship between emotional beliefs and suicidal ideation among adults with a history of childhood adversity.
Method: The research employed a descriptive-correlational design using serial path analysis. The statistical population consisted of all adults in Semnan with a history of childhood adversity, from which 320 participants were selected through purposive sampling. The instruments used in this study included questionnaires on childhood trauma, suicidal ideation, beliefs about emotions, emotion regulation, and suicide crisis syndrome. Path analysis was used to analyze the proposed research model.
Results: The findings showed that emotional beliefs had a direct and significant effect on suicidal ideation. Furthermore, emotional beliefs were related to suicidal ideation through the serial mediating roles of emotion regulation and suicide crisis syndrome (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results, negative beliefs about emotions were associated with greater emotional suppression and lower reappraisal ability, which in turn were associated with higher suicide crisis syndrome and ultimately with greater suicide risk. By understanding and gaining insight into the cycle of suicidal thoughts—particularly the mediating factors—it is possible to design and implement educational, preventive, and therapeutic programs to prevent suicidal tendencies and reduce the prevalence of suicidal ideation.

Abstract Introduction: Bullying victimization is a prevalent phenomenon in educational and social settings and poses a serious threat to individuals' mental health, self-esteem, and quality of life, particularly during childhood and adolescence. Repeated experiences of bullying can lead to anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness, and social withdrawal, and may have long-term consequences on emotional development and social relationships. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between social anxiety and social isolation with bullying victimization, considering the mediating role of emotion regulation among secondary school students. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted among all secondary school students in Eslamshahr City during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 368 students were randomly selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using the California Bullying Victimization Questionnaire (Felix et al., 2011), the Social Anxiety Scale (Jerabek, 1996), the Social Isolation Questionnaire (Chelpi & Amirkafi, 2004), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003). The proposed model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS 26 and AMOS 24. Results: Findings indicated significant relationships between social anxiety (β = 0.30, p = 0.01), social isolation (β = 0.25, p = 0.05), and emotion regulation (β = -0.50, p < 0.001) with bullying victimization. Additionally, social anxiety (β = -0.45, p < 0.001) and social isolation (β = -0.40, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with emotion regulation. Emotion regulation was found to mediate the relationships of both social anxiety (β = -0.22, p < 0.001) and social isolation (β = -0.20, p < 0.001) with bullying victimization. Conclusion: The results suggest that social anxiety and social isolation can increase the risk of being victimized by bullying, while emotion regulation serves as an effective mediating factor that can mitigate this relationship. Enhancing emotion regulation skills in students may help reduce the negative impacts of bullying victimization in school settings.

Abstract Introduction: Certain occupations, particularly those involving the care of abused and neglected children, can significantly impact the mental health of professionals, underscoring the need for targeted psychological interventions for educators. This study aimed to determine the effect of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) on compassion fatigue and emotion regulation among educators working in care centers for abused and neglected children.
Method: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population comprised all female educators from care centers for abused and neglected children under the auspices of the Golestan Provincial Welfare Organization. A convenience sample of 30 educators from centers in the cities of Galikesh, Gonbad Kavous, and Minudasht was selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Data were collected using the Compassion Fatigue Questionnaire (Portnoy, 1996) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2022). The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of Compassion-Focused Therapy, after which a post-test was administered to both groups. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Results: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) indicated a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in post-test scores for compassion fatigue, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal (the subscales of emotion regulation) following the intervention (p < 0.01). Specifically, Compassion-Focused Therapy significantly reduced compassion fatigue (p < 0.01) and the use of expressive suppression (p < 0.01), while significantly improving the use of cognitive reappraisal (p < 0.01) in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Given the demonstrated effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy, the application of this approach is recommended as a suitable intervention strategy for enhancing the mental health and mitigating the emotional pressures experienced by this group of caregivers.

Abstract Introduction: Emotion recognition and social functioning are critical components of childhood socio-emotional development, significantly influencing interpersonal relationships, behavioral adaptation, and psychological well-being. This study aimed to compare emotion recognition abilities and social functioning across three distinct groups: children with emotional externalizing behaviors, emotional internalizing behaviors, and normally developing children.
Methods: Using a causal-comparative design, this study examined 90 sixth-grade elementary students from the Fardis district of Karaj during the 2022-2023 academic year. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and purposefully divided into three equal groups (n=30 per group). Assessment instruments included the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (2002) for behavioral classification, the Ekman Facial Emotion Recognition Test (1976) for emotion recognition assessment, and the Child and Adolescents Social Adaptive Functioning Scale (Price et al., 2002) for evaluating social functioning. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA).
Results: Significant differences were found among the three groups on both emotion recognition and social functioning measures (p < 0.01). Normal children demonstrated superior social functioning compared to both clinical groups. Interestingly, children with emotional externalizing behaviors showed enhanced emotion recognition capabilities relative to other groups. These findings suggest that emotional regulation impairments do not necessarily indicate deficits in emotion recognition, but rather differences in interpreting, processing, and applying emotional information in social contexts.
Conclusion: The results emphasize the need for targeted educational and therapeutic interventions that address emotional-social integration in children with emotional disorders. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and mixed methods to further elucidate these complex relationships.

Abstract Introduction: Romantic relationships during student life are among the most significant interpersonal experiences. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between impulsiveness and love addiction among university students.  Method: This descriptive-correlational study utilized structural equation modeling. The sample consisted of 360 undergraduate students from the University of Guilan during the 2023-2024 academic year, selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Peabody Love Addiction Scale (2005), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (2004), and Kraaij & Garnefski’s Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (2019). Data analysis was conducted using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and path analysis.  Results: The final model demonstrated good fit (RMSEA = 0.05, p < 0.001). All path coefficients were significant except for the paths from adaptive emotion regulation to impulsiveness and from maladaptive emotion regulation to love addiction (p > 0.001). Findings revealed that maladaptive emotion regulation mediates the relationship between impulsiveness and love addiction (p < 0.001). However, the indirect effect of impulsiveness on love addiction through adaptive emotion regulation was not significant (p > 0.05).  Conclusion: The study concludes that maladaptive emotion regulation serves as a mediating variable by reinforcing dysfunctional relational patterns, while impulsiveness significantly contributes to love addiction in students through maladaptive emotion regulation.   

Abstract Introduction: The growing fascination with celebrities in recent years has raised many questions about the emotional and personality characteristics of those who follow celebrities closely. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dark triad personality traits, obsession with celebrities, and struggles with emotional control, with the latter serving as a mediating factor. Method: The statistical population of the study consisted of all students enrolled at public universities in Tehran during the academic year of 1402. Of these, 457 male and female students were selected through online student networks. The Celebrity Attitude scale (McCutcheon et al., 2002), the Dirty Dozen scale (Jonason & Webster, 2010), and the Brief Version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation scale (Bjureberg et al., 2016) were used to collect data and were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The results of structural equation modeling showed that dark triad personality traits are not directly related to obsession with celebrities, while difficulty in emotion regulation significantly mediates this relationship (b=0.601, p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that the dark triad of personality is not necessarily associated with an obsession with celebrities. Instead, emotion regulation problems in people with higher levels of dark personality traits can be a determining factor in increasing their fascination with celebrities.

Abstract   Introduction:As the Internet becomes increasingly prevalent in daily life, negative impacts have also grown. One such impact is Problematic Internet Use (PIU). This study aimed to investigate the mediating roles of Maladaptive Emotion Regulation (MER) and Impulsivity (IMP) in the relationship between Shame and PIU. Method:The present study utilized a descriptive-correlation design and path analysis using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24  to investigate the relationship between Shame (Cohen et al., 2011), Maladaptive Emotion Regulation (Garnefski, 2006), Impulsivity (Barrat, 1995), and Problematic Internet Use (Kaplan, 2010) questionnaires in a sample of 340 (male and female) University of Tabriz students in the academic year 1402-1403, selected using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method based on Kline's formula. Results:The results showed that there is a direct and indirect relationship between the feeling of shame Problematic use of the Internet through impulsivity. Also, the fit indices showed that the research model has a good fit. The relationship between the experience of shame and Problematic use of the Internet was significant with the mediation of impulsivity (p< 0.01). However, the effect of maladaptive emotion regulation (p<0.05) on Problematic use of the Internet was not significant.The data analysis demonstrated that Shame is positively associated with Problematic Internet Use (PIU), both directly and indirectly through the mediating effect of Impulsivity. The proposed model exhibited a strong fit with the data. Specifically, the direct relationship between Shame and PIU was significant (p < 0.01), as was the indirect effect of Shame on PIU via Impulsivity (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study's findings demonstrate that Shame is a significant factor in the development of Problematic Internet Use, with Impulsivity playing a mediating role. This suggests that efforts to address and reduce PIU may benefit from considering individuals’ experiences of Shame, as well as strategies for improving emotional regulation. Future research may expand upon these findings to develop more comprehensive models of PIU, leading to improved interventions and preventive measures.

Abstract Introduction: Martial disaffection is one of the most important causes of problems and negative consequences among couples, which can lead to divorce. Therefore, investigating the factors affecting this variable is very important. The purpose of this research was to predict marital disaffection based on cognitive distortion, interpersonal forgiveness, and cognitive emotion regulation in married people. Method: This correlation study was conducted on 200 married people who were referred to Zanjan health centers in the year 1400. The study population was selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using the Martial Disaffection Scale (MDS), Interpersonal Cognitive Distortion Scale (ICDS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-P), and Interpersonal Forgiveness Questionnaire based on self-report. Data analysis was done in SPSS software (version 24) using regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient at a significance level of ≤ 0.05. Results: The results obtained from multiple regression showed that the multiple correlations between cognitive distortions, interpersonal forgiveness, and cognitive emotion regulation with marital disaffection are 0.41 (P≤0.05). Also, 17% of the variance of marital disaffection is explained by predictor variables. Interpersonal forgiveness has the largest contribution in explaining the variance of marital disaffection. Conclusion: Marital disaffection in couples is influenced by various intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. Therefore, identifying factors affecting marital disaffection and using its results in a practical and interventional way has many effects on improving couples' relationships. It is suggested that disaffection be considered a general concept that encompasses different dimensions and all its aspects should be examined.

Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to develop a model of narcissism personality based on the early life traumas, family functioning, and perceived parenting style of the mother, considering the mediating role of perfectionism and emotion regulation difficulty.
Method: The method of the present study is descriptive correlation based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the present study was people aged 20 to 45 in Tehran in 2020-21 who had been referred to psychological clinics for counseling services, of which 350 people were selected by purposeful sampling. Clinical interview, Ames narcissism personality (Ames, et. al., 2006), child abuse self-report scale (Noorbakhsh, 1391), family functioning (Epstein, et. al., 2007), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004), Perception of Parents Scale (Grolnick, Deci, & Ryan, 1997) and perfectionism (Flett & Hewitt, 1991) scale were used to collect data. Then, using SPSS v.23 and Amos v.23 software, the data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation model.
Results: The results show that early life traumas, family function, perfectionism, and emotion regulation difficulties directly lead to an increased tendency towards narcissism characteristic. Early life traumas, the mother’s perceived parenting styles, and family functioning indirectly and significantly affect the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties on narcissism.
Conclusion: This research confirmed the mediation role of perfectionism and emotion regulation difficulty, based on the early life traumas, family functioning, and perceived parenting style of the mother

Abstract Abstract                                                  
Introduction: The characteristics and traits of parents play an important role in the emotional socialization of their children, so the purpose of this research was to investigate the role of parents' character strengths in explaining the emotional socialization styles concerning the mediator role of emotion regulation.
Methods: The research method is a descriptive correlation. The statistical population was the parents of primary school students in Yazd in the academic year ‎2020-2021. The sample size was 300 people and they were selected by the multi-stage cluster sampling method, and finally, 286 people completed the questionnaires. Research measurements included the Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Brief Strength Test (BST). SPSS23 and PLS-SEM3 software was used for data analysis.
Result: The results showed that parents' character strengths do not explain supportive CCNE (β=0.18, p=0.16), but negatively explain non-supportive CCNE (β=-0.57, p=0.001). character strengths are a positive explainer of emotion regulation (β=0.55, p=0.001). The findings showed that emotion regulation does not explain supportive CCNE (β = -0.09, p = 0.59) and non-supportive CCNE (β = -0.07, p = 0.73). The indirect effects of parents' character strengths on supportive and non-supportive CCNE due to the mediating role of emotional regulation are not significant.
Conclusion: In general, it can be said that the character strengths that constitute human virtues can lead to an increase in emotional regulation in parents and, on the other hand, lead to a decrease in non-supportive CCNE in parents.
 

Abstract Introduction: Impulsive buying behavior can have many negative consequences for a person. The present study was conducted to investigate the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between mindfulness and impulsive buying behavior. Method: The design of the present study is a correlational design. The statistical population of the present study included all consumers and buyers aged 18-65 years of Tehran who were selected by purposeful sampling method to participate in the study according to the inclusion criteria of 242 people (157 females, 85 males). The standard impulsive purchase questionnaire, mindfulness questionnaire and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) were used to collect data. Finding: Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis method in structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. The results showed that adaptive strategies of emotion regulation and mindfulness had a significant negative correlation with sudden buying behavior and uncompromising strategies of emotion regulation had a significant positive correlation with sudden buying behavior (P <0.01). Cognitive emotion regulation strategies also mediated the relationship between mindfulness and instant buying behavior. Conclusion: Therefore, instant purchasing behavior can be improved by designing programs based on improving cognitive emotion regulation strategies and mindfulness.

Abstract Introduction: Witnessing workplace incivility is a relatively new construct. The purpose of this study was designing and testing a model of some outcomes of witnessing workplace incivility
Method: Statistical population included all employees of National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC). From this population 221 employees were selected by stratified random sampling method. The instruments used in the study consisted of witnessing workplace incivility (Cortina et al., 2001), emotion regulation (Niven et al., 2011), negative affect (Watson et al., 1988), emotional exhaustion (Maslach & Jackson, 1981) Job satisfaction (Andrews and Whitey, 1976), work-job withdrawal (Hanisch & Hulin, 1990), and hostility ideation (Greenglass & Julkunen, 1989). The proposed model was analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with using SPSS-22 and AMOS-22 software packages.
Results: Results indicated that the proposed model fitted the data relatively proper. Better fit and more meaningful results were obtained by omitting one non-significant path (emotion regulation to emotional exhaustion) and using item parceling method. Findings also showed that witnessing workplace incivility had significant relationships with emotion regulation, negative affect, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, work-job withdrawal, and hostility ideation. The meditating role of emotion regulation and negative affect on the relationships of witnessing workplace incivility with emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, work-job withdrawal, and hostility ideation was confirmed.
Conclusion: based on the results regarding detrimental outcomes of witnessing workplace incivility, the managers should have specific attention to this issue.

Abstract Introduction: This study aims to determine the effect of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy on social competence and emotional regulation in abused children. Method: This study designed as a Semi experimental study with pretest-posttest and a control group. A total of 26 abused children were selected by accessible sampling among Welfare Organization centers in Ahwaz and randomly assigned to two experimental (13) and control groups (13). Social Competence Inventory devised by Parandin (2008), and Garonvski’s Emotional Regulation Inventory (2007) were conducted before and after training. Data were analyzed by ANCOVA. Results: Social competence variable in experimental group was significantly increased (p= 0/001). Also emotion regulation in experimental group in compare with control group was significantly increased (p= 0/001). Conclusions: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy improves social competence and emotional regulation in children abused