Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

A comparative study of mindfulness, assertiveness skills as well as behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition among 15 year old boys of single parent families and those without parents in Gorgan city

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mahdiyeh Zakaei Ashtiyani 1
Nasireh Moghadam Far 2
1 MA. in family therapy psychology, Family Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 MA. student in psychology, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/jfmh.2017.8626
Abstract
Introduction: Single parent families have been recently increased. Due to the prevalence of divorce and increased single-parent families and those with no parents, the present study aimed to compare the mindfulness, behavioral inhibition and assertiveness skills among 15 year old boys of single parent families and those without parents in Gorgan city.
 
Materials and Methods: The statistical sample of this comparative descriptive study includes 76 15-year-old single-parent and parentless boys (40 single-parent and 36 parentless) in Gorgan city, who were randomly selected in the fall of 2016. They were selected and asked to answer the behavioral inhibition/activation systems scale questionnaires, Gambrill and Ritchie's assertiveness (1975), and mindfulness questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the method of multivariate analysis of variance.
 
Results: Overall, there is a difference between observation, and non-judgment, among the variable dimensions of mindfulness, assertiveness, and behavioral activation/behavioral inhibition in two groups of single-parent and non-parent boys according to one-way variance analysis. There is significance at the level (P< 0.001). Also, there is no significant difference in other areas of mental awareness, such as non-reaction, description, and action with awareness, in two groups of boys with single parents and without parents.
 
Conclusion: Due to the results obtained from the study, it can be concluded that lack of two parent families can highly affect the cognitive and behavioral process of the individual’s growth, and even single parent family plays an undeniable role in such relationships.
Keywords
Assertiveness
Behavior
Boys
Mindfulness
Parent
  1. Khedri Z, Asgari P. [Comparison of personality characteristics and individual adjustment - adolescents in single-parent and two-parent Isfahan]. Thinking and behavior (Applied psychology) 2012; 5: 45-54. (Persian)
  2. Hakim Shoshtari M, Hajebi A, Panaghi L, Abedi Sh. [Emotional and behavioral problems in children of single-parent families compared to two-parent families: Imam Khomeini Relief Committee]. Journal of Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2009, 66(3): 196-202. (Persian)
  3. Zare Bahram Abadi M, Kar KZ, Boroujerdi H, Mohammadifar MA. [Effectiveness of improving the quality of the relationship parent-child relationships in families, single parents, guardians girls]. Journal of clinical psychology 2013; 5(2): 14-24. (Persian)
  4. Chiesa, A, Calati, R, Serretti A. Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clin Psychol Rev 2011; 31(3): 449-64.
  5. Rostami A, Shariat Nia K, Khvajvnd Kh. [Examine the relationship between self-efficacy and mindfulness with rumination among students of Islamic Azad University]. Medical sciences journal 2014; 24(4): 254-9. (Persian)
  6. Flook L, Goldberg SB, Pinger L, Davidson RJ. Promoting prosocial behavior and self-regulatory skills in preschool children through a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Dev Psychol 2015; 51(1): 44-51.
  7. Mitchell JT., Zylowska L, Kollins SH. Mindfulness meditation training for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adulthood: Current empirical support, treatment overview, and future directions. Cogn Behav Pract 2015; 22(2): 172-91.
  8. Bayrami M, Movahedi Y, Alizadehgoradel J. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in reducing social anxiety and dysfunctional attitudes. Journal of adolescent social cognition 2015; 4(7): 41-52. (Persian)
  9. Barnert ES, Himelstein S, Herbert S, Garcia-Romeu A, Chamberlain LJ. Innovations in practice: Exploring an intensive meditation intervention for incarcerated youth. Child Adolesc Ment Health 2013; 19(1): 69-73.
  10. Ismailian N, Tahmasian K. [The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on symptoms of depression and acceptance of children with divorced parents]. Journal of clinical psychology 2013; 5(3): 47-57. (Persian)
  11. Mirzakhani N, Kangarani Farahani M, Rezaei M, Akbarzada Baqban AR, Sadeghi S. [Comparison of assertiveness and anxiety in Tehran elementary school students with learning disorders with normal counterparts]. Rehabilitation medicine 2016; 5(2): 209-18. (Persian)
  12. Demirbilek M, Otrar M. The Examination of assertiveness levels and self-respect of adolescents with single parent and whole Family. Int Online J Educ Sci 2014; 6(1): 215-41.
  13. Hassanzadeh M, Mohammad Hassanzadeh A. [The relationship between characters, family communication patterns and behavior in students]. Educational psychology 2015; 11: 103-17. (Persian)
  14. Han-Jong L. Relations of children's proactive and reactive assertiveness to peer acceptance: Moderating effects of social interest. Psychol Rep 2014; 114(3): 913-26.
  15. Khazayi F, Heidari Nasab L, Jalali MR. [Comparison of self-efficacy, self-esteem, social anxiety, shyness and aggression among high school students with different levels of assertiveness]. Journal of Kashan University of Medical Sciences 2014; 18(3): 229-38. (Persian)
  16. Purkurd M, Abolqasemi A, Narimani M, Rezaei Jmaluyi H. [Direct and indirect effect of self, impulsivity, behavioral activation and inhibition social skills substance abuse among students]. Journal of research in addiction 2013; 7: 11-28. (Persian)
  17. Kobeleva X, Seidel E, Kohler C, Schneider F, Hebal U. Dissociation of explicit and implicit measures of the behavioral inhibition and activation system in borderline personality disorder. Psychiatr Res 2014; 218: 134-42. 
  18. Mansouri A, Roodsari A. [The relationship between activation and inhibition of pathological and non-cognitive behavioral concerns]. Journal of Babol University of Medical Sciences 2010; 12 (1): 59-64. (Persian)
  19. Ross RR, Keiser HN, Strong JV, Webb CM. Reinforcement sensitivity theory and symptoms of personality disorder: Specificity of the BIS in cluster C and BAS in cluster B personality and individual differences. Pers Individ Diff 2013; 54(2): 289-93.
  20. Jasko K, Czernatowicz-Kukuczka A, Kossowska M, Czarna AZ. Individual differences in response to uncertainty and decision making: The role of behavioral inhibition system and need for closure. Motiv Emot 2015; 39(4): 541-52.
  21. Narimani M, Vahidi Z, Abolqasemi A. [Compare alexithymia, impulsivity and behavioral activation and inhibition in obsessive-compulsive and paranoid personality disorder symptoms and normal students]. Journal of clinical psychology 2013; 5(2): 55-65. (Persian)
  22. Sultan Mohammadlou S, Gharraee B, Fath Ali Lavassani F, Gohari MR. [The relationship between activation and behavioral inhibition systems, meta-cognitive emotion regulation difficulties and concerns]. Research in cognitive and behavioral sciences 2013; 3(2): 85-100. (Persian)
  23. Toozandehjani H, Nejat C, Kamalpur N. [Comparison of effectiveness gradual desensitization techniques, assertiveness and their combination in patients with social phobia]. Andeesheh va Raftar 2007; 2(6): 63-74. (Persian)
  24. Dehghani M, Ismaili N, Akbari F, Hasanvand M, Nikmanesh E. [Evaluate the psychometric properties and factor structure Five Facet Mindfulness]. Andeesheh va Raftar 2014; 9: 77-88. (Persian)
  25. Ahmadvand Z, Heidari Nasab L, Shaeeri MR. [Explaining the components of mindfulness-based psychological well-being]. Journal of health psychology 2012; 2: 60-69. (Persian) 
  26. Mohammadi N. [Behavioral activation and inhibition system]. Shiraz University, Scientific journal of Shahed University 2009; 15: 61-9. (Persian)
  27. Ghadiry Zabihi S, Abolghasemi A, Aqajani SA. [To compare the inhibition system- Enable behavioral and emotional clarity in students with and without traumatic experience]. Journal of school psychology 2015; 4(2): 69-88. (Persian)
Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 19, special issue
May and June 2017
Pages 205-211