Hospital Practices and Research

Abstract Background: Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent among adolescents, particularly girls. These disorders can significantly impair academic performance, social relationships, and overall quality of life, with long-term consequences into adulthood.
Objectives: The research aimed to predict anxiety in adolescent girls using a multilayer perceptron model based on self-awareness and metacognitive beliefs.
Methods: In this correlational study, the statistical population consisted of adolescent girls aged 16-18 enrolled in secondary schools in Ahvaz during the academic year 2022-2023. A total of 215 individuals were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) to assess anxiety, self-awareness, and metacognitive beliefs, respectively. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, simultaneous regression, and a multilayer perceptron model, performed with SPSS version 27 and MATLAB version 2019.
Results: The results revealed a significant negative correlation between self-awareness and anxiety in adolescent girls (r = -0.60). Furthermore, metacognitive beliefs also showed a significant negative correlation with anxiety in adolescent girls (r = -0.53). Additionally, a significant combined predictive effect was found for self-awareness and metacognitive beliefs on anxiety in adolescent girls (P<0.001). The results of the multilayer perceptron model indicated that self-awareness had the strongest predictive power in relation to anxiety in adolescent girls.
Conclusion: Higher self-awareness and stronger metacognitive beliefs correlate with lower anxiety levels in adolescent girls. Interventions aimed at improving these cognitive factors, such as mindfulness and cognitive restructuring, could effectively reduce anxiety. Integrating these strategies into clinical and educational settings can empower adolescent girls with crucial coping mechanisms. By fostering self-awareness and healthier metacognitive beliefs, we can equip them to manage anxiety, improve their overall mental well-being, and enhance their academic and social functioning.

Abstract Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease requiring ongoing self-care, which can be emotionally challenging and lead to difficulties with coping and adherence, ultimately impacting health outcomes.
Objectives: This study investigated the impact of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on self-care behaviors and coping strategies in individuals with diabetes.
Methods: The present study used a quasi-experimental design incorporating pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments with a control group. The study population consisted of female patients aged between 30 and 50 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes who were registered with the Ahvaz Diabetes Association between January and April 2023.Thirty participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited using convenience sampling and subsequently randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). The intervention group participated in eight weekly 90-minute sessions of ACT, whereas the control group received treatment as usual. Data were collected at three time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up) using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using SPSS version 26 for data analysis.
Results: Findings indicated a significant effect of ACT, leading to decreased utilization of avoidance strategies and increased engagement in problem-focused coping and self-care behaviors among individuals with diabetes (P<0.001). Conversely, ACT did not demonstrate a significant impact on emotion-focused coping strategies in this population.
Conclusion: This study supports the potential benefits of ACT for improving diabetes self-care. Significant reductions in avoidance and increases in problem-focused coping and self-care following ACT suggest its potential to empower individuals to actively manage their condition. While ACT did not demonstrate a statistically significant impact on emotion-focused coping, its positive effects on other coping mechanisms and self-care highlight its potential to improve patient outcomes.