Quarterly of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Development of a Verbal Intelligence Training Package and Evaluation of Its Effectiveness on Marital Conflict Resolution and Marital Adjustment

Leila Rahimian Sabet iD , Aboutaleb Seadatee Shamir ^* iD , Mohammad Azad Abdollhpour iD , Mohammad Ghamari iD

Objective: The present study aimed to develop a verbal intelligence training package and evaluate its effectiveness in improving marital conflict resolution and marital adjustment.

Methods and Materials: This mixed-method exploratory sequential study was conducted in two phases. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 couples experiencing marital conflicts and 15 family psychology and couple therapy experts. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step thematic analysis, resulting in six main categories: psychological–communicational factors, communicational performance, cultural–economic contexts, intervening factors, coping strategies, and outcomes. These categories formed the basis for a ten-session intervention package, whose content validity was confirmed by 15 experts using CVR and CVI indices. In the quantitative phase, a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up was employed. The sample included 24 couples with marital conflicts from Tehran counseling centers, selected purposively and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Data were collected using the Sanaei Marital Conflicts Questionnaire (2008) and the Spanier Marital Adjustment Scale (1976).

Findings: The results showed that the verbal intelligence training package significantly reduced marital conflicts and increased marital adjustment in the experimental group compared to the control group, and these effects persisted at the two-month follow-up. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and repeated-measures ANOVA confirmed significant differences between pretest, posttest, and follow-up mean scores (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The developed verbal intelligence training package can serve as an effective intervention to improve verbal communication, enhance marital adjustment, and reduce marital conflicts, providing practical guidance for family counselors and couple therapists.

Predicting the Mental Well-Being of Female Secondary School Students Based on Academic Identity and Social Well-Being

Azam Madadi Varzaghani ^* iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/qecp.279

Objective: This study aimed to predict the mental well-being of female secondary school students based on academic identity and social well-being. Methods and Materials: This was a descriptive correlational and predictive study. The statistical population consisted of all female students in the second year of secondary school in Tehran's districts 5 and 22 during the 2022–2023 academic year. A sample of 300 students was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. The data collection tools included the Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan & Frederick), the Academic Identity Status Questionnaire (Wass & Isaacson), and the Social Well-Being Questionnaire (Keyes). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, simple linear regression, and simultaneous multiple regression using SPSS-26. Findings: Results indicated that both academic identity and social well-being significantly predicted mental well-being (p < 0.001). Social well-being alone explained 55% of the variance in mental well-being (R² = 0.55), academic identity explained 10% (R² = 0.10), and together they accounted for 67% of the variance in students' mental well-being (R² = 0.67). Conclusion: The findings suggest that academic identity and social well-being are significant contributors to students’ mental well-being. Programs that foster a strong academic self-concept and enhance students’ integration within the social environment can meaningfully increase vitality and mental energy among adolescent girls. Strengthening these components may lead to better psychological outcomes and academic motivation.

Designing and Standardizing a Talent Identification Program for Upper Elementary Students

Masoumeh Moghimi Firouzabad ^* iD , Gholam Ali Afrooz iD

Objective: The present study aimed to design and standardize a talent identification program for upper elementary students to provide a valid and reliable native instrument for assessing students’ academic talents.

Methodology: This descriptive-correlational and psychometric study involved all students aged 10–12 years from public and private schools in District 6 of Tehran. A total of 400 students (200 girls and 200 boys) were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Maher Talent Assessment Test (Saadatee Shamir & Zahmatkesh, 2023). Content validity indices (CVI, CVR), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (Varimax method), Pearson correlation, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability were applied for data analysis.

Findings: Exploratory factor analysis revealed nine underlying factors—environmental tools and facilities, fluid intelligence, personality competencies, attitude, interest and enthusiasm, motivation, abilities, skills, and valuable goals—explaining 42% of the total variance. Model fit indices confirmed the adequacy of the structure (CFI=0.98, RMSEA=0.07). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.96, with 0.91 for the total scale, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.85. Normative analysis across age groups (10–12 years) demonstrated acceptable consistency and discriminative power of the test.

Conclusion: The Maher Talent Assessment Test demonstrated satisfactory validity, reliability, and structural fit, making it a useful and standardized tool for identifying academic talents among upper elementary students.

The Effectiveness of a Media Literacy Skills-Based Psychological Empowerment Package on Positive Development and Emotional Self-Awareness in Students with Behavioral Problems

Yazdan Goodarzi iD , Maryam Akbari ^* iD , Qumarth Karimi iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/qecp.205

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a psychological empowerment package based on media literacy skills on positive development and emotional self-awareness among students with behavioral problems.

Methods and Materials: This study is applied in purpose and employed a repeated-measures design including pre-test, post-test, and a two-month follow-up, with a control group. The statistical population comprised all male lower-secondary school students with behavioral problems in District 1 of Tehran during the 2023–2024 academic year. The research sample consisted of 30 students identified as having behavioral problems based on higher scores on the Quay and Peterson Behavioral Problems Questionnaire, and confirmed by school teachers and counselors. These students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, each consisting of 15 participants. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS-26.

Findings: The results showed a significant group effect, indicating that the levels of positive development and emotional self-awareness differed between the psychological empowerment group based on media literacy skills and the control group. The psychological empowerment package had a significant effect on emotional self-awareness in male lower-secondary students with behavioral problems.

Conclusion: Therefore, the findings of this study may be of interest to the Ministry of Education, students, and teachers.

Designing a Model of Marital Relationship Stability Based on Marital Future Orientation with the Mediating Role of Emotional Maturity

Ahmad Raisi Sheykhvisi iD , Seyed Feyzollah Afrasizadeh ^* iD , Ali Reza Maredpour iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/qecp.257

Objective: The aim of this study was to design a model of marital relationship stability based on marital future orientation with the mediating role of emotional maturity among couples in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Methods and Materials: This survey-based study employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population included all married couples in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, from which a sample of 400 couples was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using standardized instruments including the Marital Instability Index (MII), the Marital Future Orientation Questionnaire (Khakbazan & Rafiei-Honar, 2019), and the Emotional Maturity Scale (EMS). Data were analyzed using SPSS and PLS software. Findings: Path analysis in the SEM model indicated that marital future orientation had a significant direct positive effect on marital stability (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), and also an indirect effect through emotional maturity (β = 0.14, p < 0.001). Model fit indices such as RMSEA = 0.045 and CFI = 0.94 confirmed the adequacy of the proposed conceptual model. Conclusion: The findings suggest that marital future orientation enhances marital stability both directly and indirectly via emotional maturity. Therefore, enhancing future-oriented thinking and emotional maturity can serve as effective strategies in premarital counseling and marital quality improvement programs.

A Structural Model for Predicting Marital Adjustment Based on Mental Health with the Mediating Role of Marital Commitment

Masoome Azimi gadikolaei iD , Farideh Dokaneheefard ^* iD , Sedigheh Ahmadi iD , Hassan Piriaei iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/qecp.226

Objective: The aim of this study was to present a structural model for predicting marital adjustment based on mental health, with marital commitment as a mediating variable. Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design with a positivist paradigm and cross-sectional data collection. The statistical population consisted of 270 married individuals visiting health houses in Tehran in 2023, selected via multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires: Spanier's Marital Adjustment Scale (1976), Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (1972), and Adams and Jones’s Marital Commitment Scale (1997). Data analysis was conducted through structural equation modeling using SPSS-V27 and SmartPLS-V3.3 software. Findings: Path analysis revealed that mental health significantly predicted marital adjustment both directly and indirectly via marital commitment. All path coefficients were greater than 0.73 and statistically significant at the 0.01 level, confirming the proposed model. Mental health strongly predicted marital commitment, which in turn significantly predicted marital adjustment. Conclusion: Mental health is a key prerequisite for enhancing marital adjustment, and marital commitment plays a crucial mediating role in this relationship. Therefore, promoting mental health and strengthening marital commitment can improve the quality of marital relationships and overall family cohesion.

Formulating a Work-Family Balance Model in Rotational Families of the Oil and Drilling Company

Mozhdeh Hosseinpour iD , Mahmoud Goodarzi ^* iD , Omid Moradi iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/qecp.254

Objective: The present study was designed and conducted with the aim of formulating a model for achieving work-family balance in rotational families affiliated with the oil and drilling company. Methods and Materials: This research employed a qualitative methodology using a grounded theory approach. Data analysis was based on the Strauss and Corbin model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with couples living in rotational family arrangements within the oil company. Sampling was purposive and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding, leading to the identification of core concepts and the development of a model addressing the work-family balance in rotational families within the oil and drilling industry. Findings: The results of the study led to the development of a work-family balance model consisting of six selective codes and twenty-two axial codes. The core phenomenon was identified as emotional-affective mutual support, parallel management of work and family responsibilities, and adaptation to multiple roles. The causal conditions included organizational support, role compatibility within the occupation, and perceptions of organizational justice. Contextual conditions were found to include a family-supportive organizational and social culture, organizational transparency, job flexibility, and job attractiveness. Intervening conditions comprised the maintenance of family social interactions, the ability to sustain financial provision, balanced workloads, and perceived adaptability to work-family demands. Strategic responses identified in the study involved conserving energy required for family life, punctuality and time regulation, participatory family management, timely intra-family dialogue, and the expansion of an electronic administrative system. The outcomes of these strategies included effective parenting, a satisfying family life, and the fulfillment of job commitments. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that both families and institutional policymakers must adopt a dynamic and strategic approach to establishing work-family balance in the context of rotational employment in the oil and drilling sector. By recognizing and applying the identified central phenomena, causal mechanisms, contextual and intervening conditions, as well as implementing the derived strategic responses, it is possible to pave the way for sustained work-family balance in these families.

Modeling Wisdom Based on Cognitive Abilities and FamilyAtmosphere with the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulationamong University Students

Nazanin Karimzadeh Soreshjani iD , Reza Ahmadi ^* iD , Mohammad Ghasemi Pirbalouti iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/qecp.252

Objective: The aim of this study was to model wisdom in university students based on cognitive
abilities and family atmosphere, with the mediating role of emotion regulation.
Methods and Materials: This applied study used a descriptive-correlational design within the
framework of structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all male
and female university students in Shahrekord during the 2024–2025 academic year. Following
Stevens’ rule of 15 participants per indicator, a sample size of 510 was determined and selected
using available and random sampling. Data were collected through four standardized instruments:
Ardelt's Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (2003), Nejati's Cognitive Abilities Scale (2013), HillBurns Family Atmosphere Scale (1964), and Garnefski and Kraaij's Cognitive Emotion Regulation
Questionnaire (2001). Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 and Amos-24.
Findings: The results revealed that cognitive abilities had both a direct effect (β=0.11, p<0.01) and
an indirect effect through emotion regulation (β=0.06, p<0.01) on wisdom. Family atmosphere also
had significant direct (β=0.11, p<0.01) and indirect effects (β=0.03, p<0.01) on wisdom.
Furthermore, cognitive abilities (β=0.26, p<0.01) and family atmosphere (β=0.16, p<0.01) were
both positively associated with emotion regulation, which in turn showed a direct effect on wisdom
(β=0.14, p<0.01). Model fit indices (CFI=1, GFI=1, AGFI=0.98, RMSEA=0.039) confirmed that
the proposed model had a good fit with the data.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that wisdom among students is significantly influenced by both
cognitive capacities and the emotional quality of the family environment, with emotion regulation
serving as a meaningful mediator. Educational planners and psychological counselors are advised
to focus on strengthening cognitive skills, improving family interactions, and teaching emotional
regulation strategies to promote wisdom development in student populations.

Quarterly of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

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The Effect of Self-Awareness and Communication Skills on Problem-Solving Ability: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

The Effectiveness of Philosophy for Children (P4C) Training on Future-Oriented Thinking and Responsibility among Elementary Students: The Moderating Role of Abstract Thinking

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Meta-Worry and Cognitive Flexibility in Psychosomatic Patients with Migraine

Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy and Group Schema Therapy on Resilience and Emotion Regulation in Neglected Adolescent Girls

Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based Education and Metacognitive Therapy on Resilience and Marital Adjustment of Married Teachers

Examining the Relationship Between Family-of-Origin Functioning and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Psychological Flexibility

Development of a Model of Love Trauma Symptoms Based on Mindfulness Skills with Cognitive Distortion as a Mediator in Adolescent Girls Experiencing Emotional Grief

Explaining the Causal Relationship Between Effort Beliefs and Academic Well-Being in Female Junior High School Students: The Mediating Role of Goal Orientation

The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance in Employed Female Athletes: The Mediating Role of Mental Toughness

The Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Emotion Regulation With Adolescent Smartphone Addiction: The Mediating Role of Experiential Avoidance

Quantitative Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Psychological Problems among Dormitory-Resident Students in Iran: An Update of Studies from 2011 to 2025 with Moderator Analysis of Gender and Educational Level

Predicting Irrational Beliefs and Positive and Negative Perfectionism Based on Communication Skills of Women Seeking Divorce in Zabol

Effectiveness of a Work–Family Balance–Based Training Program on Family Functioning, Marital Adjustment, and Sexual Function in Rotational Families of Ahvaz

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