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Papers by Neda Nazarboland
Journal of Family Research
Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal, 2015
Adolescent obesity is a complex condition affected by neuro-biological, psychological, socio-cult... more Adolescent obesity is a complex condition affected by neuro-biological, psychological, socio-cultural and environmental factors. The role of brain reward mechanisms and associated personality traits are of growing interest in eating behavior and obesity literature. However, the findings are inconsistent. The present study aimed to examine the link between body mass index (BMI) and personality factors including sensitivity to reward/punishment (SR/SP) and impulsivity in over-obese adolescents. Ninety-two adolescents, aged 12-18 years, classified as over-obese (n = 46) and normal weight (n = 46) participated in the study. Their sensitivity to reward/punishment and the trait impulsivity was assessed using Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) and UPPS-P Scale, respectively. Multistep hierarchical regression models were used to investigate the relative contribution of age, BMI and SR/SP on estimates of impulsivity. The BMI significantly predicted elevations in emotion-driven impulsivity (positive and negative urgency) in over-obese adolescents and SR was the main predictor of elevations in positive and negative urgency, and sensation seeking. Our findings demonstrate that increases in BMI are specifically associated with elevations in emotion-driven impulsivity.
Background & Aims: Supervisory Attentional System (SAS) model of information processing (Norman a... more Background & Aims: Supervisory Attentional System (SAS) model of information processing (Norman and Shallice, 1980) explains the overall voluntary cognitive control and regulation of mental processes during novel or complex tasks. From a functional point of view, “Impulsivity” is a multidimensional concept that incorporates failure of "response inhibitory control" –a key component in SAS– and other cognition processes. Even aggressive, suicidal, and violent behaviors are associated with impulsivity and difficulty in inhibiting responses. The aim of this descriptive-comparative study was to investigate whether SAS impairments play a role in impulsive behaviors of children. Materials & Methods: Students of 8 to 10 years old were categorized into groups of high impulsivity (1.2 SD higher than the mean (n=25)) and low impulsivity (1.2 SD higher than the mean based on the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-RS)). SAS performance was assessed by Continuous Performance Test (...
Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies, 2019
Background & Objective: Orphanage children and adolescents might experience major mental issues d... more Background & Objective: Orphanage children and adolescents might experience major mental issues due to lacking family-related advantages. Such problems include generating internalizing and externalizing disorders, as well as maladaptive and antisocial behaviors. Due to unsatisfied primary emotional needs, they may use maladaptive schemas, i.e., responsible for developing aggressive and antisocial behaviors in them. The early maladaptive schemas often unconsciously affect the information processing system and are activated automatically. Cognitive emotion regulation is defined as an individual's thoughts post negative events. Cognitive emotion regulation strategies are mostly dependent on an individual's metacognitive strategies; that refers to how one manages and modifies thoughts after assessing feelings and psychological status in different situations. Emotion regulation could be learned through family modeling and influenced by parenting styles during a child's development. Therefore, orphanages, who lack a regular family structure experience, may develop inappropriate behavioral expressions of emotions as a result of applying poor emotion regulation strategies. Thus, the present study aimed to compare early maladaptive schemas, metacognition, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies between the orphanage and non-orphanage adolescents. Data in this regard are scarce; therefore, the current research aimed to provide a framework for preventive and therapeutic programs while addressing the existing ambiguities. Methods: This was a retrospective (casual/comparative) study. The study population included all adolescents (13-17-year-olds) in Tehran and Karaj Cities, Iran. The study sample included 191 adolescents, 90 of whom were selected using a convenience sampling technique from orphanage adolescents. Moreover, 101 of the study subjects were non-orphanages and selected by the multi-stage cluster sampling method. To ensure the orphanage subjects enjoyed a healthy Intellectual Quotient (IQ) range (≥90), the Raven's Progressive Matrices test was performed in them. Additionally, non-orphanage adolescents were evaluated in terms of IQ, according to their school-provided academic scores (grade point average: ≥15.20). The study inclusion criteria included the lack of severe diseases or psychiatric disorders; for orphanage adolescents, a history of living in supporting organizations without their family since the age of ≤3 years, and non-orphanage adolescents to live with their family since birth. All study subjects completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), Metacognition Questionnaire (MCQ), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). The obtained data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Results: The collected results revealed a significant difference between the orphanage and non-orphanage adolescents' early maladaptive schemas in terms of its components. These components included emotional deprivation (p=0.009), failure (p=0.004), dedication (p=0.002), emotional inhibition (p=0.032), and unrelenting standards (p=0.027). The study groups also significantly differed in metacognitive beliefs; orphanage adolescents experienced lower cognitive confidence, compared to their non-orphanage counterparts (p<0.001) in the components of metacognitive beliefs. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the cope/reception (p=0.012) and blaming others (p=0.003) components of cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The two study groups demonstrated no significant difference in other components of the research variables. Conclusion: The present findings indicated that, compared to non-orphanage adolescents, orphanage ones used maladaptive schemas and experienced disrupted metacognitive beliefs, especially concerning cognitive confidence. Besides, they were weaker in applying appropriate cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Consistent with the expectations, these results highlighted the lack of family-related needs in orphanages. Additionally, their failure to exploit the family environment and parenting benefits may develop early maladaptive schemas in them, especially in components related to emotional fulfillment. This can unconsciously influence their metacognition abilities, and consequently, their failure to implement proper metacognition strategies, especially when emotional issues are considered. Such distortions in the cognitive processes of emotions may lead this group to use inappropriate cognitive emotion regulation strategies. These findings could be used to develop preventive, rehabilitative, and therapeutic plans by the experts.
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a wide range of physiological and neuropsychological sy... more Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a wide range of physiological and neuropsychological symptoms. Over 75% of MS patients complain about fatigue, which for many is one of their most debilitating symptoms, having a substantial impact on their quality of life and ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Previous investigations on effectiveness of different types of psychotherapy on MS fatigue are so limited, so the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a therapy for MS fatigue. Method: Using convenient sampling, 22 patients with fatigue symptoms (score of ≥5 on Fatigue Scale) were assigned randomly into experimental (n=11) and control (n=11) groups. Subjects in experimental group attended eight 50-minute sessions of weekly CBT based on van Kessel’s model, whereas the patients in control group attended in eight 50-minute weekly sessions of relaxation training. All the subjects completed the fatigue scale at the end of the therap...
Introduction: This study was conducted on Gray’s description of the impulsivity trait and its imp... more Introduction: This study was conducted on Gray’s description of the impulsivity trait and its impact on working memory performance and cortical arousal of the frontal cortex with a cognitive neurological approach. Method: At first, 793 female students who were 18–28 years old completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the Carver and White’s Approach/Avoidance scale. Based on their scores, they were divided into a group of 15 subjects whose scores were in the upper distribution of Neuroticism and Extraversion (N+E+) and another group of 15 subjects whose scores were in the lower distribution of those dimensions (N-E-). They then performed a package of working memory tasks, including 1-back, Paced Auditory Serial Adding Test (PASAT), and forward and backward Digit Span. The total scores in each task were used as an indicator of working memory performance, and EEG alpha oscillations during the 1-back task were used as a cortical arousal index. Data were analyzed using t-tests ...
Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Dec 15, 2011
Journal of Family Research
Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal, 2015
Adolescent obesity is a complex condition affected by neuro-biological, psychological, socio-cult... more Adolescent obesity is a complex condition affected by neuro-biological, psychological, socio-cultural and environmental factors. The role of brain reward mechanisms and associated personality traits are of growing interest in eating behavior and obesity literature. However, the findings are inconsistent. The present study aimed to examine the link between body mass index (BMI) and personality factors including sensitivity to reward/punishment (SR/SP) and impulsivity in over-obese adolescents. Ninety-two adolescents, aged 12-18 years, classified as over-obese (n = 46) and normal weight (n = 46) participated in the study. Their sensitivity to reward/punishment and the trait impulsivity was assessed using Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) and UPPS-P Scale, respectively. Multistep hierarchical regression models were used to investigate the relative contribution of age, BMI and SR/SP on estimates of impulsivity. The BMI significantly predicted elevations in emotion-driven impulsivity (positive and negative urgency) in over-obese adolescents and SR was the main predictor of elevations in positive and negative urgency, and sensation seeking. Our findings demonstrate that increases in BMI are specifically associated with elevations in emotion-driven impulsivity.
Background & Aims: Supervisory Attentional System (SAS) model of information processing (Norman a... more Background & Aims: Supervisory Attentional System (SAS) model of information processing (Norman and Shallice, 1980) explains the overall voluntary cognitive control and regulation of mental processes during novel or complex tasks. From a functional point of view, “Impulsivity” is a multidimensional concept that incorporates failure of "response inhibitory control" –a key component in SAS– and other cognition processes. Even aggressive, suicidal, and violent behaviors are associated with impulsivity and difficulty in inhibiting responses. The aim of this descriptive-comparative study was to investigate whether SAS impairments play a role in impulsive behaviors of children. Materials & Methods: Students of 8 to 10 years old were categorized into groups of high impulsivity (1.2 SD higher than the mean (n=25)) and low impulsivity (1.2 SD higher than the mean based on the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-RS)). SAS performance was assessed by Continuous Performance Test (...
Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies, 2019
Background & Objective: Orphanage children and adolescents might experience major mental issues d... more Background & Objective: Orphanage children and adolescents might experience major mental issues due to lacking family-related advantages. Such problems include generating internalizing and externalizing disorders, as well as maladaptive and antisocial behaviors. Due to unsatisfied primary emotional needs, they may use maladaptive schemas, i.e., responsible for developing aggressive and antisocial behaviors in them. The early maladaptive schemas often unconsciously affect the information processing system and are activated automatically. Cognitive emotion regulation is defined as an individual's thoughts post negative events. Cognitive emotion regulation strategies are mostly dependent on an individual's metacognitive strategies; that refers to how one manages and modifies thoughts after assessing feelings and psychological status in different situations. Emotion regulation could be learned through family modeling and influenced by parenting styles during a child's development. Therefore, orphanages, who lack a regular family structure experience, may develop inappropriate behavioral expressions of emotions as a result of applying poor emotion regulation strategies. Thus, the present study aimed to compare early maladaptive schemas, metacognition, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies between the orphanage and non-orphanage adolescents. Data in this regard are scarce; therefore, the current research aimed to provide a framework for preventive and therapeutic programs while addressing the existing ambiguities. Methods: This was a retrospective (casual/comparative) study. The study population included all adolescents (13-17-year-olds) in Tehran and Karaj Cities, Iran. The study sample included 191 adolescents, 90 of whom were selected using a convenience sampling technique from orphanage adolescents. Moreover, 101 of the study subjects were non-orphanages and selected by the multi-stage cluster sampling method. To ensure the orphanage subjects enjoyed a healthy Intellectual Quotient (IQ) range (≥90), the Raven's Progressive Matrices test was performed in them. Additionally, non-orphanage adolescents were evaluated in terms of IQ, according to their school-provided academic scores (grade point average: ≥15.20). The study inclusion criteria included the lack of severe diseases or psychiatric disorders; for orphanage adolescents, a history of living in supporting organizations without their family since the age of ≤3 years, and non-orphanage adolescents to live with their family since birth. All study subjects completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), Metacognition Questionnaire (MCQ), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). The obtained data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Results: The collected results revealed a significant difference between the orphanage and non-orphanage adolescents' early maladaptive schemas in terms of its components. These components included emotional deprivation (p=0.009), failure (p=0.004), dedication (p=0.002), emotional inhibition (p=0.032), and unrelenting standards (p=0.027). The study groups also significantly differed in metacognitive beliefs; orphanage adolescents experienced lower cognitive confidence, compared to their non-orphanage counterparts (p<0.001) in the components of metacognitive beliefs. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the cope/reception (p=0.012) and blaming others (p=0.003) components of cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The two study groups demonstrated no significant difference in other components of the research variables. Conclusion: The present findings indicated that, compared to non-orphanage adolescents, orphanage ones used maladaptive schemas and experienced disrupted metacognitive beliefs, especially concerning cognitive confidence. Besides, they were weaker in applying appropriate cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Consistent with the expectations, these results highlighted the lack of family-related needs in orphanages. Additionally, their failure to exploit the family environment and parenting benefits may develop early maladaptive schemas in them, especially in components related to emotional fulfillment. This can unconsciously influence their metacognition abilities, and consequently, their failure to implement proper metacognition strategies, especially when emotional issues are considered. Such distortions in the cognitive processes of emotions may lead this group to use inappropriate cognitive emotion regulation strategies. These findings could be used to develop preventive, rehabilitative, and therapeutic plans by the experts.
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a wide range of physiological and neuropsychological sy... more Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a wide range of physiological and neuropsychological symptoms. Over 75% of MS patients complain about fatigue, which for many is one of their most debilitating symptoms, having a substantial impact on their quality of life and ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Previous investigations on effectiveness of different types of psychotherapy on MS fatigue are so limited, so the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a therapy for MS fatigue. Method: Using convenient sampling, 22 patients with fatigue symptoms (score of ≥5 on Fatigue Scale) were assigned randomly into experimental (n=11) and control (n=11) groups. Subjects in experimental group attended eight 50-minute sessions of weekly CBT based on van Kessel’s model, whereas the patients in control group attended in eight 50-minute weekly sessions of relaxation training. All the subjects completed the fatigue scale at the end of the therap...
Introduction: This study was conducted on Gray’s description of the impulsivity trait and its imp... more Introduction: This study was conducted on Gray’s description of the impulsivity trait and its impact on working memory performance and cortical arousal of the frontal cortex with a cognitive neurological approach. Method: At first, 793 female students who were 18–28 years old completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the Carver and White’s Approach/Avoidance scale. Based on their scores, they were divided into a group of 15 subjects whose scores were in the upper distribution of Neuroticism and Extraversion (N+E+) and another group of 15 subjects whose scores were in the lower distribution of those dimensions (N-E-). They then performed a package of working memory tasks, including 1-back, Paced Auditory Serial Adding Test (PASAT), and forward and backward Digit Span. The total scores in each task were used as an indicator of working memory performance, and EEG alpha oscillations during the 1-back task were used as a cortical arousal index. Data were analyzed using t-tests ...
Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Dec 15, 2011