Comparing of the Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Emotion Regulation Training on Diabetes Empowerment

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a widely diffused chronic condition that affects several aspects of patients’ lives. The patient’s life in this condition depends on diabetes management ability. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotion Regulation Training (ERT) on the diabetes empowerment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test-follow-up and a control group design. Of the statistical population of patients referring to the Diabetes Prevention and Control Center of Mashhad Province, Iran, 45 subjects were recruited by convenience sampling method; they were randomly assigned into three groups of ACT, ERT, and control (n=15/group). The study subjects were assessed using the Diabetes Empowerment Scale (F-DES-28) in the pre-test stage, after the intervention, and 3 months later. The obtained data were analyzed by repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in SPSS V. 22. Results: Both provided interventions presented a significant effect on the empowerment of the research subjects, compared to the controls (P<0.001). The effectiveness of ACT on the diabetes empowerment of patients was significantly higher than that of the ERT group (P=0.04). Conclusion: It is recommended to use ACT and ERT to empower patients with type 2 diabetes.

Effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Infertility Self-efficacy, Dyadic Adjustment, and Sexual Satisfaction in Infertile Couples

Background: Given the rising rate of infertility, the prevalence of mental health disorders in infertile couples is undeniable. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on infertility self-efficacy, dyadic adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in infertile couples. Methods: The present single-case experimental study used a multiple-baseline design. The statistical population of the study included all infertile couples referring to infertility centers in Ahvaz City, Iran, in 2019. The research instruments included the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale (ISE), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ). Following a diagnostic interview, 3 couples were selected using the convenience sampling technique. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was conducted in twelve 120-minute sessions for the intervention group. The second couple entered the study in the second session of the first couple; the third couple enrolled the treatment plan in the third session of the first couple and the second session of the second couple. All questionnaires were completed in the first, third, sixth, eighth, and tenth sessions; the study participants were followed up and re-assessed two months later. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS using chart analysis, reliable change index, and significance statistics. Results: The provided IBCT increased infertility self-efficacy (39.04%), dyadic adjustment (25.91%), and sexual satisfaction (55.01%) in infertile couples. Besides, the improvement lasted throughout the follow-up which indicated the effectiveness of IBCT on infertility self-efficiency, dyadic adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in the study subjects. Conclusion: IBCT can be effective in improving personal and marital variables in infertile couples with infertility problems in addition to their marital problems.

Investigating the Impact of International Markets and New Digital Technologies on Business Innovation in Emerging Markets

International markets and digital technologies are considered among the factors affecting business innovation. The emergence and deployment of digital technologies in emerging markets increase the innovation potential in businesses. Companies with an entrepreneurial orientation also strengthen their innovation capabilities. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of international markets and new digital technologies on business innovation in emerging markets, and to estimate the mediating effect of entrepreneurial orientation on this relationship. The present research was applied research in terms of aim and descriptive survey in terms of data collection method and quantitative in terms of the type of collected data. A standard questionnaire was to collect data. The study’s statistical population consisted of all companies providing business services in Tehran, Iran. To analyse the data, the structural equation modelling method with partial least squares method and Smart PLS-3 Software was used. The results revealed that international markets and digital technologies are positively associated with innovation. They also revealed that when a company’s entrepreneurial orientation increases, the digital technologies and international markets will be more involved in mutual relationships.

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Depression and Anxiety in People with Substance Use Disorder

Background: The comorbidity of substance use, mood disorders, and anxiety has been proven in various studies, leading to many clinical implications. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in depression and anxiety in individuals with substance use disorder. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all people with substance abuse in Urmia in 2019, including 220 subjects. The sample consisted of 50 individuals with substance use disorders selected by purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was trained in eight sessions, each lasting 90 min, based on the ACT protocol by Hayes et al. (2004), while the control group did not receive any intervention. The data were obtained using the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Pretest and posttest were performed in both groups. The collected data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) using SPSS23 software. Results: The results showed that after controlling for the pretest effects, a significant difference was observed between the mean posttest scores of the two groups in both depression and anxiety (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Acceptance and commitment therapy is an appropriate strategy to effectively improve depression and anxiety in people with substance use disorder.

Achieving Human Resource Management Sustainability in Universities

The sustainability of human resource management (HRM) is the basis for an organization’s future growth and success. This study aims to investigate achieving HRM sustainability in universities. We use a quantitative research method design to investigate the factors that affect HRM sustainability at universities. The study was conducted during the spring and summer of 2020 at Iranian state universities. As the study’s statistical population included 2543 employees, a sample size of 334 employees was calculated using the Cochran formula. A questionnaire with 32 statements based on a 5-point Likert scale was used to collect the data, which were analyzed using PLS3 software. The findings show that human resource practices, social factors, psychological factors, employer branding, and economic factors have positive and significant effects on HRM sustainability at universities. Findings indicate that it is essential to consider the implementation of adequate HRM practices and related socio-economic and psychological supports for HRM sustainability in universities that can lead to the competitiveness of the higher education institutions such as universities.

The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment and Problem-Solving Skills Training on Reducing Emotional Divorce

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the acceptance, commitment and problem-solving skills training on reducing the emotional divorce and the marital frustration. Method: The research method, with regard to the quasi-experimental nature of the subject, was selected with a pre-test post-test design with a control group. The statistical population was the couples attending the Family counseling centers in Kerman city in 2019. The study sample involved 30 participating couples who were selected using convenience sampling and were divided into two experimental and control groups. Training the acceptance, commitment and problem-solving was presented to the couples in the experimental group during eight two-hour sessions. The educational content was about couples' problems in marital relationships, choosing a common marital value and offering a solution based on it, and identifying internal and external barriers to action based on values. To assess the subjects in both groups, the Emotional divorce questionnaire, and the Marital Frustration questionnaire Completed before and after the intervention. In order to analyze the data, mean value, standard deviation (SD), and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were used. SPSS version 22 was further used. The significance level of the study was considered to be p=0.05. Results: The results of the covariance analysis for the participants who were 30-60 years old couples with at least five years of marital experience showed that training the acceptance, commitment and problem-solving was effective on reducing the emotional divorce and frustration. While the mean value of emotional divorce for the pre-test was (M=14.33), the results for the post-test changed to (M=11.80). Marital frustration was also changed from (M=48.93) in the pre-test to (M=44.60). Conclusions: According to the results, maybe we need to consider a more serious role for training the acceptance, commitment and problem-solving in the educational and therapeutic interventions related to reducing the emotional divorce and the marital frustration of the couples.

The Old Adults’ Emotional Wellness and Spiritual Well-being with an Emphasis on Physical Activity during COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Purpose: COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for improving health during lockdown. Unfortunately, the concern which is expressed as for the welfare and the health of the elderly contradicts the actions undertaken for their health and welfare. The psychological research conducted during COVID-19 pandemic rarely include the people over 60 years old. Hence, the purpose of the current study was to compare emotional wellness and psychological health of active and inactive old adults in Shahrood city with an emphasis on physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic. The subject of the present research is an interdisciplinary one. Materials and Methods: The current study was a practical descriptive survey. The statistical population of the research were all the elderly aged over 60 years in Shahrood in 2020 (based on the latest census equal to 17173 people). The sample size was estimated based on Cochran formula following convenience sampling method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel Software. Results: The findings indicated that the level of emotional wellness and spiritual well-being of active old adults was more than that of inactive old adults, and inactive old adults had higher levels of unpleasant feelings than active old adults. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is essential that the elderly keep doing the recommended amount of exercise and physical activity. Although this could be challenging for them both to have access to sport clubs and parks and to follow health protocols, there are extensive creative activities which could be replaced in order to stay in health and active at home.

Mediating role of intrinsic work motivation in relationship between job commitment and professional ethics with firefighters' extra-role performance

Introduction: A firefighting job is a demanding job that has a high degree of stress due to constant exposure to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the present study investigates the mediating role of intrinsic job motivation in the relationship between job commitment and professional ethics with extra-role performance among firefighters in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: The type of study was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population included all firefighters in Isfahan, from which 228 people were selected as a sample through random sampling. The instruments used include internal job motivation questionnaires (Gagne et al., 2015), job commitment (Blau, 2009), professional ethics (Hackerina, 2011), and extra-role performance (Lee and Allen, 2002). Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling (SEM). SPSS23 and Smart PLS3 software were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that professional ethics has a direct effect on intrinsic job motivation, extra-role performance toward organization and individual; Intrinsic job motivation affects directly on the extra-role performance toward an individual; Job commitment has a direct effect on intrinsic job motivation and extra-role performance toward the organization (P <0.05). Also, the proposed model has a good fit and by examining the indirect and mediating effects through the bootstrapping method in PLS software, was shown that intrinsic job motivation mediates the effect of job commitment and professional ethics on the extra- role performance toward the individual. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that professional ethics and job commitment could increase extra-role behaviors through intrinsic job motivation. Therefore, due to the role and importance of extra-role behaviors in the firefighting profession, attention to this should be considered by managers and policymakers of this organization.

A Study on Effectiveness of Training Programme for Intermediaries in Ing Vysya Life Insurance, Madurai

The Evaluation of any training programme has certain aims to fulfil. These are concerned with the determination of change in the staff behaviour and the change needed in the organizational structure. Hence evaluation of any training program must inform us whether the training programme has been able to deliver the goals and objectives in terms of cost incurred and benefits achieved. Training as the process of developing skills, Habits, Knowledge and attitudes in employees for the purpose of increasing effectiveness of employees in their present positions as well as preparing employees for future positions in organization Purpose of current research is a Evaluation Effectiveness of training courses in Islamshahr University by Kirkpatrick Model. The study is an applied one and the data collection method has been descriptive. The statistical population consisted of personnels, Managers and teachers. The data was collected through the application of sampling, questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used in order to measure the main indicators of effectiveness Evaluation of training courses. Research findings show that effectiveness of training courses is below the standard level. also data gathered about effectiveness evaluation indicated that reaction, le arning, behaviour and organizational levels need to be improved. The study showed that the effectiveness evaluation in the subject centre needed to be improved through implementation of optimizing training design, redefining training roles, providing enough budget, management commitment, attention to individual, job and organizational needs, motivation mechanism, use of ongoing and summative evaluation.

WEB QUESTING IN TEFL COURSES: WHAT FACTORS DETER THE STUDENTS’ INFORMATION-SEEKING BEHAVIOR?

The survival and the continuity of an organization’s operations depend upon the use of information. As such, investigating the Webquesting behavior of university students in general and TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language) students in particular during the Covid 19 seems essential. Since information-seeking behavior can be influenced by various factors we aimed to explore the attitude of TEFL students towards webquesting. In the next phase of the study, we sought the barriers to TEFL students’ Webquesting behaviour. Accordingly, the present research employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The statistical population consisted of 128 TEFL students and the sampling method was purposeful. The findings of this study revealed that the students were not satisfied with their webquesting and that there were two major obstacles in their webquesting, namely, learners’ constraints and teachers’ constraints. The inhibitors included lack of familiarity with Internet sources, poor information seeking skills, lack of interest in some topics, lack of skills in using the Internet, poor English proficiency, teachers’ lack of CALL (computer assisted language learning) preparation, lack of help from the side of teachers, teachers’ lack of attention to non-textbook resources, and students’ lack of motivation and time. Findings have implications for TEFL teachers, since, based on the qualitative data, the most important source of information for students is textbooks and the most important goal of searching for information is for doing homework. The importance of textbooks for students is the result of the pivotal role given to the text books by teachers and the final exams. Perhaps students’ lack of interest in webquesting is partly due to such an undue emphasis. On the other hand, students’ lack of interest in Webquesting was also due to the lack of attention and encouragement from the side of teachers to use the Internet resources.