Ali Mohammadzadeh

Factor analysis and validation of the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief-RCOPE) in Iranian university students

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the factor analysis and validation of the Brief Religious Coping Scale among an Iranian population. The number of 339 university students participated in this research. Principal Component Analysis led to the extraction of positive and negative religious coping factors. Convergent validity coefficients were obtained equal to .85 and .83 for positive and negative religious coping subscales, respectively. Test–retest reliability of total and subscale was found equal to .90, .93, and .88, respectively. Split-half reliability of total scale and the two aforementioned subscales were, respectively, obtained equal to .75, .85, and .81. Cronbach’s alpha scores were also obtained equal to .79 and .71 for positive and negative factors, respectively. Results showed that the female group gained higher scores of positive religious coping. According to desired psychometric properties, the current instrument can be applied as a useful scale for screening the larger sample sizes in the studies related to religion.

Validation of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) in Iranian adolescents: Validation of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) in Iranian adolescents

BACKGROUND The main purpose of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) in Iranian adolescents. METHODS A number of 805 high school and freshman students answered the HPS, the Hypomania scale of the MMPI-2, the Borderline Traits Questionnaire (STB) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief. Data were analysed using explanatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient as well as independent t-test. RESULTS Principal component analysis led to the extraction of two factors namely mood volatility/excitement and social vitality. Convergent validity coefficients were equal to 0.71, 0.57 and 0.74 for the total scale, mood volatility/excitement and social vitality subscales respectively. Test-retest reliability of the total scale and its subscales were equal to 0.61, 0.67 and 0.57 respectively. Internal consistency and the split-half reliability of the total scale and the two subscales showed the same coefficients. The results showed that the female group gained higher scores on the total scale and the social vitality subscale. DISCUSSION The results supported the multi-dimensional structure and psychometric properties of the HPS among Iranian adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study confirm the use of HPS as a valid scale in investigating hypomanic characteristics, particularly among Iranian adolescents.

The comparison of impulsivity and craving in stimulant-dependent, opiate-dependent and normal individuals

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the severity of impulsivity and craving among stimulant-dependent (e.g. methamphetamine and crack) and opiate-dependent (e.g. opium and heroin) patients as well as normal subjects. Forty stimulant-dependent patients, 40 opiate-dependent patients, and 40 normal controls completed the Barratt impulsiveness scale-II (BIS-II) and the craving beliefs questionnaire (CBQ). The results showed that there were significant differences concerning the impulsivity and craving among the three groups. Stimulant-dependent and opiate-dependent patients had more impulsivity and craving than normal controls. Stimulant-dependent patients exceeded opiate-dependent ones on total impulsivity and its subscales except for cognitive impulsivity as well as craving. These findings indicated that increased impulsivity and craving in substance-dependent patients compared with normal community suggest the role of cognitive impairments in substance dependency. Also, impulsivity and craving may be more vulnerable factors to depend on stimulant than opiate substances.

The Comparison of Death Anxiety, Obsession, and Depression Between Muslim Population with Positive and Negative Religious Coping

Death anxiety, obsession, and depression constitute three dimensions of death distress which can be influenced by religious coping in religious individuals. The aim of this study was to compare death anxiety, depression, and obsession between Muslims with positive and negative religious coping. In a cross-sectional study, a sample of 339 participants were selected via stratified random sampling method. The participants were screened using the Brief Religious Coping Scale, in which 60 individuals were identified to have positive religious coping and 62 individuals were recognized as individuals with negative religious coping. They responded to Death Anxiety Scale, Death Obsession Scale, and Death Depression Scale. The data were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple analysis of variance. The results of principal component analysis showed that death anxiety, death obsession, and death depression were separate factors of death distress. The results also revealed that individuals with negative religious coping gained higher scores than those with positive religious coping in all the three variables of death anxiety, obsession, and depression. Consistent with the previous studies and Terror Management Theory, this finding lays emphasis on the role of positive religious coping in reducing death distress and the possible consequent psychopathology.

The Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form: a Persian Version Among a Large Sample of Psychiatric Patients

The Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), as a measure of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), showed good validity and reliability. Factor analytic studies have studied various models regarding first-order and second-order factors by using confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs). A limitation of prior psychometric studies on the YSQ-SF is the reliance on normal samples. This study aimed to assess latent factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Persian-translated version of YSQ-SF in a large sample of patients with different mental disorders. One thousand and six patients with different psychiatric disorders completed the YSQ-SF, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI). The results showed that the 15-factor first-order and five-factor second-order models had more acceptable fits than other models. The internal reliability of the YSQ-SF in terms of Cronbach’s alpha was found to be good. Criterion, predictive, and discriminant validity of the scale was confirmed to be acceptable. The findings suggest that among the proposed models of YSQ-SF, the 75-item YSQ-SF with 15-factor first-order and five-factor second-order models has acceptable fits among Iranian psychiatric patients.