Journal of Counseling Research

Key Factors Shaping Emerging Patterns of Adolescents’ Career Aspirations toward the 2050 Horizon

Marzieh Jalali — 2026-01-27

Aim: Given the lack of future-oriented and multi-level frameworks for explaining adolescents’ career aspirations under the uncertain conditions of the future of work, this study aimed to identify key influencing factors and emerging patterns shaping these aspirations toward the 2050 horizon. This was achieved by analyzing the interaction of political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental, and psychological factors within the extended PESTEL-P model. ▌Methods: This study employed an exploratory mixed-methods design, integrating expert interviews with a scoping review of the scientific literature. In the qualitative phase, 14 experts from relevant fields were purposively selected and interviewed using semi-structured protocols. In the scoping review phase, 16 peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Scopus database (2000–2024) were analyzed based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. ▌Findings: Five emerging patterns were identified: (1) a semantic shift in career aspirations from stable, status-oriented goals toward immediate and symbolic success; (2) increasing economic pressures accompanied by fragmentation of career identity coherence; (3) the growing influence of technology, digital media, and virtual identities; (4) the declining authority of family and educational institutions alongside the rise of media-based role modeling; and (5) a widening gap between formal policymaking and generational realities, resulting in unstable and short-term career choices. ▌Conclusion: Adolescents’ career aspirations are increasingly shifting from traditional, meaning-oriented goals toward technology-driven, media-influenced, and short-term pathways. These findings underscore the need to critically rethink educational policies, skill-development programs, and career counseling practices in order to better support adaptive and future-oriented career design.

Developing a Causal Model of Marital Stability Based on Differentiation with the Mediating Role of Conflict Management

Mokhtar Arefi — 2026-01-27

Aim: The main aim of the present study was to develop a causal model of marital stability based on self-differentiation with the mediating role of conflict management. Method: This study employed a correlational design. The sample consisted of 200 married women selected through cluster sampling from among the parents of students attending first-level secondary schools in District One of Kermanshah. Participants completed the Conflict Management Questionnaire (ENRICH; 1982), the Self-Differentiation Questionnaire (Skowron & Smith, 2003), and the Marital Stability Questionnaire (Edwards et al., 1987). The collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) software, and structural equation modeling with path analysis was applied to examine the relationships among the research variables.Finding: This study employed a correlational design. The sample consisted of 200 married women selected through cluster sampling from among the parents of students attending first-level secondary schools in District One of Kermanshah. Participants completed the Conflict Management Questionnaire (ENRICH; 1982), the Self-Differentiation Questionnaire (Skowron & Smith, 2003), and the Marital Stability Questionnaire (Edwards et al., 1987). The collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) software, and structural equation modeling with path analysis was applied to examine the relationships among the research variables. Conclusion: Individuals with higher levels of self-differentiation manage marital conflicts more effectively, as they possess greater emotional regulation abilities and have achieved higher levels of personal growth. This enables them to engage in more constructive interactions with their spouses and to manage their behaviors more effectively, ultimately leading to greater marital stability and satisfaction.

The Effectiveness of an Acceptance- and Social Skills–Based Self-Help Educational Package on Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Flexibility in Adolescents from Blended Families

Rezvan Aminalroaya — 2026-01-27

Aim: Blended families, due to their distinct structure and specific relational challenges, may create emotional and cognitive pressures for adolescents. Self-help education that strengthens emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility skills can facilitate adolescents’ adaptation to new family conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an acceptance- and social skills–based self-help educational package on emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in adolescents from blended families. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population consisted of 120 female adolescents from blended families enrolled in lower and upper secondary schools in Yazd during the 2023–2024 academic year. Based on inclusion criteria (female adolescents from blended families in Yazd; at least one year having passed since the formation of the new family; enrollment in lower or upper secondary school; low scores on emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility measures; and adolescents’ and parents’ willingness and informed consent to participate), 40 participants were selected through purposive sampling and then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). Data were collected using the Gratz and Roemer Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Dennis and Vander Wal Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. The acceptance- and social skills–based self-help educational program was implemented for the experimental group in ten 60-minute sessions. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: The results indicated that the acceptance- and social skills–based self-help educational intervention led to a significant increase in emotion regulation (F = 60.30, p < .05) and cognitive flexibility (F = 55.05, p < .05) among adolescents in the experimental group, whereas the control group showed no significant changes in these variables. The findings also demonstrated that acceptance- and social skills–based self-help education can effectively enhance adolescents’ self-management abilities and cognitive–emotional adaptation in blended families. Conclusion: The findings suggest that acceptance- and social skills–based self-help educational interventions can serve as an effective tool for promoting mental health and improving cognitive and emotional adjustment among adolescents in blended families.

The Relationship between Depression and Neuroticism with Child Rejection in Parents: The Mediating Effect of Parental Burnout

Seyyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi — 2026-01-27

Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the mediating effect of parental burnout in the relationship between depression and neuroticism and child rejection in parents. Method: This study employed a correlational design. Accordingly, 206 parents (127 mothers and 79 fathers), aged 21–47 years, voluntarily participated in the study using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Persian version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (Mousavi et al., 2020), the Neuroticism scale developed by Gosling et al. (2003), the Parental Rejection scale by Rohner and Ali (2020), and the Depression scale by Kroenke et al. (2001). Finding: The results indicated that the total effect of neuroticism on parental rejection was not significant (β = .02, p > .05), whereas the total effect of depression on child rejection was significant (β = .03, p < .001). Furthermore, depression (β = .35, p < .01) and neuroticism (β = .16, p < .01) had significant effects on parental burnout. The effect of parental burnout on parental rejection was also significant (β = .69, p < .05). In addition, the indirect effects of depression (β = .24, 95% CI [.006, .05]) and neuroticism (β = .11, 95% CI [.005, .07]) on parental rejection through parental burnout were significant. Conclusion: Attention to high-risk personality traits such as neuroticism and mood disorders such as depression, which increase the likelihood of parental burnout in parents and may lead to negative parenting outcomes such as child rejection, is of considerable importance in the field of parenting. Therefore, helping parents to recognize and effectively cope with these high-risk factors can facilitate constructive parenting conditions and reduce the effects associated with parental burnout.

Identifying Dyadic Coping Strategies among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study

Yaghoob Verdi — 2026-01-27

Aim: Individuals employ various coping strategies when facing stressful conditions. Effective coping strategies can reduce the impact of stressors and prevent the short- and long-term consequences of stress. The present study aimed to identify dyadic coping strategies among nurses working in intensive care units for patients with acute respiratory conditions. Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and a descriptive phenomenological method. The participants consisted of 10 nurses working in the intensive care unit for patients with acute respiratory conditions at Rasoul Akram Hospital in Kalaleh County, Iran, in 2022, who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, and data analysis was carried out using the Colaizzi method. Findings: Data analysis led to the extraction of 136 initial codes. Based on semantic similarity, these codes were categorized into 33 sub-themes, which were subsequently grouped into six main themes, including: supportive and constructive behaviors; maintaining and strengthening attachment-oriented bonds; caring behaviors; incorporating enjoyable activities into daily life; providing appropriate conditions for meeting physiological needs; and spiritual support. Conclusion: Participants’ accounts indicated that spouses’ spiritual support, attachment-oriented behaviors, and supportive actions played an effective role in maintaining and enhancing nurses’ morale during multiple work shifts. In addition, spouses’ caring and health-related behaviors contributed to preventing nurses’ infection with acute respiratory diseases and to creating a calm and appropriate environment for rest and recovery from fatigue. The themes identified in this study can be used in the design and implementation of preventive and intervention programs for managing stressful situations.

Developing a Mystical Psychotherapy Framework Based on Rumi’s Perspective

SeyedehMaryam Farshadan — 2026-01-27

Aim: The aim of the present study was to develop a culturally grounded framework for mystical psychotherapy based on Rumi’s teachings; a framework that, drawing on the capacities of Iranian–Islamic mysticism, offers a deeper understanding of human nature, the origins of psychological suffering, and the path of treatment. Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Initially, the fundamental concepts of psychotherapy theories were identified as primary (deductive) themes. Subsequently, the six volumes of the Masnavi Ma‘navi were analyzed as the main data source, and themes related to Rumi’s teachings, along with emergent themes, were inductively extracted. In total, approximately 600 initial codes were generated, which were then integrated and organized into 44 subthemes and 11 main themes. To assess credibility, the findings were reviewed and confirmed by five experts in psychology and mystical literature, and the overall content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) was found to be higher than 0.79.Findings: According to Rumi’s perspective, human beings possess a divine, healthy “authentic self” while simultaneously becoming entangled in “false selves” generated by the mind, which constitute the primary source of psychological suffering. The most significant sources of disturbance include being trapped in mental consciousness, the illusion of perfection, and attachment to transient pleasures. Mental health depends on liberation from illusory selves and a return to authentic presence and the experience of inner unity and integration. Within this framework, interpersonal conflicts are rooted in intrapersonal conflicts, and the ultimate goal of therapy is the unveiling of the authentic self, the attainment of witnessing awareness, the experience of genuine inner peace and joy, and human transcendence. Conclusion: A mystical psychotherapy framework based on Rumi’s perspective can function as a culturally rooted and complementary approach to conventional therapies, contributing to the enhancement of psychological well-being, the management of inner conflicts, the cultivation of wisdom, and individuals’ spiritual growth. By emphasizing self-knowledge, transcending mental identities, and elevating awareness, this framework has the capacity to provide a foundation for developing therapeutic interventions aligned with Iranian–Islamic culture.

The Effect of Chemotherapy on Memory in Children with Cancer

Roghieh Mousavi — 2026-01-27

Aim: The present study examined everyday memory performance in children with cancer before, during, and after chemotherapy. Methods: This research employed a causal-comparative design and included 23 healthy children without illness, 12 children before treatment, 23 children undergoing treatment, and 14 children after treatment, aged 8 to 17 years. Participants were selected through convenience sampling from Mahak Hospital and schools in Tehran. Memory performance was assessed using the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (Wilson et al., 2008). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance). Findings: The results indicated that the performance of children and adolescents with cancer in everyday memory, new learning, spatial memory, orientation, verbal memory, and prospective memory did not differ significantly across the four study groups. However, the mean visual memory score in the cancer groups during and after treatment was significantly lower than that of the healthy group and the pre-treatment group, and this difference was statistically significant (F = 2.261, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the findings, chemotherapy leads to a reduction in visual memory performance in children with cancer during and after treatment. On the one hand, this decline may be attributed to the effects of chemotherapy drugs on the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, resulting in memory impairment. On the other hand, memory is strongly influenced by stress and psychological difficulties associated with cancer and its intensive treatments, as well as by the lack of adequate cognitive support.