Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: Children with complex trauma frequently exhibit high levels of perceived stress and anger, which significantly impair their psychological and social functioning. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of computer-based exposure narrative therapy in reducing these symptoms. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was employed. The population consisted of all 9- to 10-year-old children with complex trauma referred by the Ardabil Welfare Organization in 2024. Using convenience sampling, 30 children were selected and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). The experimental group received ten 45-minute sessions of computer-based exposure narrative therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Measures included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 2003), the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), and the State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1999). Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS-26. Results: The results demonstrated that computer-based exposure narrative therapy significantly reduced levels of perceived stress (p < 0.05) and anger (p < 0.05) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that computer-based exposure narrative therapy is an effective intervention for reducing perceived stress and anger in children with complex trauma. This approach shows promise for improving social relationships, reducing negative thoughts, and enhancing emotional and behavioral regulation in this population.

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: Adolescent social media use is associated with significant psychological consequences. This study examined the mediating role of self-esteem in relationships between appearance anxiety, perfectionism, and social anxiety among teenage social media users. Methods: This applied research employed a descriptive-correlational design with structural equation modeling. The population included all high school students in Mashhad during the 2023-2024 academic year. Through two-stage cluster sampling, 460 social media users completed the Social Physical Anxiety Scale (Hart et al., 1989), Perfectionism Scale (Najarian et al., 2000), Adolescent Anxiety Questionnaire (LaGreca & Lopez, 1998), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965). Data analysis included Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and structural equation modeling. Results: Perfectionism and appearance anxiety directly affected social anxiety and indirectly through self-esteem (p < 0.0001). Gender differences in social anxiety, perfectionism, and self-esteem necessitated separate model testing. While the female model showed effect sizes similar to the general model, self-esteem's effect on social anxiety was non-significant in the male model (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Among adolescent female social media users, perfectionism and appearance anxiety contribute to increased social anxiety through reduced self-esteem. These findings highlight gender-specific pathways in these relationships.  

Abstract Introduction: Human development involves systematic use of personal resources to understand the surrounding world, with children learning socialization through evolutionary-genetic processes. This systematic review aimed to identify factors affecting socialization in preschool-aged children (3-6 years). Methods: This qualitative study employed a systematic review methodology following PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in domestic databases (Comprehensive Humanities Portal, Noor specialized journals, Jihad Daneshgahi, Mag Iran) and international databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct) from 2015 to 2024 using keywords "socialization" and "sociability of preschool children." After quality assessment using the PRISMA checklist, 85 articles were selected for final analysis using content analysis methods. Results: Content analysis revealed six main categories affecting preschool socialization: parent-child relationships, individual differences in children, developmental factors, psychological factors and processes, environmental-cultural factors, and gender-related factors, each containing multiple subcategories. Conclusion: The findings indicate that parent-child relationships, individual differences in children, and psychological factors/processes constitute the most significant contributors to preschool children's socialization. These factors warrant attention in clinical assessments and should inform the development of targeted educational interventions for caregivers and child mental health professionals.

Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to predict job satisfaction among working women based on their perceptions of gender inequality and workplace security. Method: The research employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of women employed in the government sector of Shiraz. A sample of 384 individuals was selected using stratified sampling. Data were collected using the Field and Ruth Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (1951), the Yaghoubi et al. Gender Inequality Perception Questionnaire (1392), and the Ebrahimi and Bani Fatemeh Social Security Questionnaire (1393). Data analysis was performed in SPSS 24 using correlation and stepwise regression analyses. Results: The results indicated a significant positive relationship between the perception of security and job satisfaction, and a significant negative relationship between the perception of gender inequality and job satisfaction (p < 0.001). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the perception of gender inequality accounted for 34% of the variance in job satisfaction, while the perception of security accounted for an additional 27%. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that perceptions of gender inequality and security are significant predictors of job satisfaction among women. To enhance female employees' job satisfaction, it is essential to implement effective policies that reduce gender inequality and improve perceptions of security. Recommended measures include providing training for managers and staff, establishing supportive policies for women, and ensuring a safe working environment.

Abstract Introduction: Menopause is a natural stage of women's lives and occurs when women lose their fertility. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of psychosocial education along with stress relief techniques on psychological well-being and social isolation in postmenopausal women. Method: The research method was carried out using a two-group matched design with pre-test and post-test. The statistical population of the study included all women with premenopausal symptoms in Karaj in 2022-2023. The sample of this study included 30 women with premenopausal symptoms who were selected through purposive sampling. Results: The research tools were: Psychological Well-Being and Social Isolation Questionnaire. The results showed that psychosocial education along with stress relief techniques is effective in improving psychological well-being and social isolation (p<0.05). Conclusion: This training, due to the feeling of relaxation in the individual, can improve the well-being and social isolation of menopausal women and enable them to cope with the stress and anxiety of menopause. Therefore, it is suggested that in future research, people of different ages should also be studied.  

Abstract Introduction: The increasing demand for gender-affirming surgeries in Iran has heightened the importance of investigating variables associated with gender dysphoria. Among the key factors influencing its development are attachment styles and emotional experiences. This study aimed to compare internalized shame and attachment styles among three groups: gender-affirmed individuals with gender dysphoria, non-affirmed individuals with gender dysphoria, and cisgender individuals without gender dysphoria. Method: This descriptive-comparative study included 30 participants from Karaj, selected via convenience sampling and divided into three groups (gender-affirmed, non-affirmed, and cisgender). Data were collected using the Internalized Shame Scale (Cook et al., 1993) and the Adult Attachment Scale (Collins & Read, 1990) and analyzed with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: The results indicated a significant difference in ambivalent and secure attachment styles between the gender-affirmed and non-affirmed groups. For the subscales of internalized shame, a significant difference was observed only in the self-esteem subscale between the non-affirmed and cisgender groups. Conclusion: Gender dysphoria is associated with low self-esteem and insecure, particularly ambivalent, attachment styles. Non-affirmed individuals with gender dysphoria appear to face the greatest psychological vulnerability, while gender affirmation is associated with improved self-esteem and more secure attachment patterns (p < 0.05).

Abstract Introduction: In recent years, cultural and social changes have affected the attitude of young people towards marriage and sometimes have reduced their desire to marry. The present study aimed to investigate the phenomenology of positive attitudes towards marriage among female students of Islamic Azad University, Yazd Branch. Method: This study was applied in terms of purpose and a qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study in terms of nature. The statistical population of this study included all single female students of Islamic Azad University, Yazd Branch in the academic year 1402-1403. In this study, purposive sampling method was used. Interviews were conducted in a semi-structured and in-depth manner, and data collection continued until theoretical saturation; in total, 14 people were interviewed. Data analysis and interpretation were performed using the interpretative method proposed by ‎Colaizzi and Diekelmann Results: In total, 5 main themes, 14 sub-themes, and 103 semantic units were obtained from the examination of coding and extraction of themes. The main themes are: 1. The need for marriage and family formation 2. Individual growth through marriage 3. Social and financial advancement through marriage 4. The impact of family and society and 5. Religious issues. Conclusion: The results showed that these factors play a role in the formation of positive views towards cohabitation. Accordingly, educational and cultural programs can be effective in strengthening these attitudes.

Abstract Introduction: Dishonesty, defined as the deliberate distortion of reality for personal or social gain, poses a significant challenge in social and organizational contexts. While previous research suggests that gender and reward structures influence dishonest behavior, findings have been inconsistent, and the interaction between these factors is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the specific roles of gender and different reward structures in shaping dishonest behavior. Method: A mixed factorial design was employed, with reward structure as a within-subjects factor (six levels: baseline, self-serving–other-harming, self-serving–other-serving, self-harming–other-serving, self-serving, and other-serving) and gender as a between-subjects factor (31 women and 31 men). Dishonest behavior was measured using the Dishonesty Escalation Task (Garrett, 2016). Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests. Results: The reward structure had a significant main effect on dishonesty (F=8.70, p<0.001). While gender alone did not yield a significant main effect (p=0.07), its interaction with reward structure was significant (F=16.30, p<0.001). Post-hoc analyses revealed that men exhibited higher levels of dishonesty in self-serving conditions, a difference that diminished in prosocial (other-serving) contexts. Conclusion: Dishonest behavior is more strongly influenced by situational reward structures than by gender alone. The findings suggest that implementing ethically oriented incentive systems could be an effective strategy for mitigating dishonesty in educational and organizational settings.

Abstract I Introduction: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Helping Attitude Scale (HAS), originally developed by Nickel (1998), and its relationship with prosocial tendencies in an Iranian sample. Method: Employing a descriptive-survey design, this research selected 384 individuals over the age of eighteen from Gorgan, Iran, via cluster sampling. Participants completed the Helping Attitude Scale (HAS) and the Desirable Social Tendencies Questionnaire. Content validity was assessed through expert review, and construct validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency reliability was measured with Cronbach’s alpha. Results: Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a single-factor structure for the scale. The HAS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70 for the total score. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between the total HAS score and the dimensions of the Desirable Social Tendencies Questionnaire (p < 0.01), indicating satisfactory criterion-related validity. Conclusion: The Persian version of the Helping Attitude Scale exhibits acceptable validity and reliability. It is therefore a suitable instrument for assessing helping attitudes within the Iranian population and can provide valuable insights into related beliefs, feelings, and behaviors for both research and applied psychological settings.