Applied Research in Consulting

Abstract Entrepreneurship and women's empowerment are technically related, the purpose of this article is to examine the strategy of entrepreneurship and women's empowerment for national development. Women in developed countries play an important role in national and economic development. With this in mind, the purpose of the article is why women are not empowered enough. How to empower them in the country. This study is qualitative in nature. The results of this study showed that women are definitely dominated in entrepreneurship because most business enterprises are controlled by men. In explaining this study, empowerment theory was used, this theory was proposed by Sara Langue in 1990. Basically, this theory is based on the empowerment of women and gender equality. The aim of this theory is to critically reach the level of empowerment and development of women. The premise of this theory is to guarantee equal opportunities for men and women to achieve gender equality. This theory helps to reduce gender differences and maintain equal access to education and economy. This study showed that cultural stereotypes, unequal access to education and insufficient capital have affected women's entrepreneurship and empowerment. Considering this issue, this study recommends that the government should empower women through free education and skill acquisition programs. The government and financial institutions should give free loans to women to empower them to start businesses.

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of Bond and Itzhak's psychological flexibility models in the relationship between positive parenting schemas and social anxiety in students. The research method is correlational and the statistical population includes students aged 18 to 48 in 1404. 250 people were selected for the present study through convenience sampling and responded to the Lewis Parenting Schema Questionnaire (2018), Hayes and Bond's Flexibility (2019), Itzhak et al.'s Flexibility (2014), and Oweyse et al.'s Social Anxiety (2021). The results of the correlation analysis showed that Bond's psychological flexibility has a significant and positive effect on the relationship between positive parenting schemas and social anxiety (p<0.01). The results of the structural equation analysis showed that Itzhak's psychological flexibility has a mediating role in the relationship between positive parenting schemas and social anxiety. Compared to Bond's psychological flexibility, Itzhak's flexibility seems to be more complex. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the results indicate the importance of parenting schemas in explaining cognitive flexibility. Therefore, attention can be paid to the aforementioned variable in the scope of interpersonal, educational, family, and therapeutic relationships.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to into the role of mothers' parenting styles in developing the career meta-competencies of high school students. The present research was conducted in two stages. The method of the first stage was quantitative and its purpose was to form two groups of teenagers with high and low meta-competenc. Therefore, the research population was all teenagers in the second year of high school in Isfahan city. The sample size was estimated using Cochran's formula, 382 students who were selected and participated in the research by multi-stage cluster random sampling method. The research tool was three questionnaires related to career meta-competences (career adaptability, emotional literacy skills and career identity). At this stage, the grades obtained from the three meta-competencies were converted into standard Z grades and T grades. Students who their scores were one standard deviation higher than the mean were assigned in high meta-competence group(n=39); conversely, students who their scores were one standard deviation lower than the mean were assigned in low meta-competence group (n=35). According to the mentioned theory, the main theme of the parenting style of the high Career Meta-competencies group was the responsive style and the main theme of the parenting style of the low Career Meta-competencies group was the independent style.

Abstract Abstract

Orphaned adolescents, due to the lack of emotional and familial support, face greater psychological and social challenges compared to regular adolescents. This research aimed to examine the psychological differences between orphaned adolescents and regular adolescents in the dimensions of motivational beliefs, emotional awareness, and social competence. The research method was descriptive with a causal-comparative design. The statistical population consisted of 120 adolescents (60 orphaned and 60 regular adolescents) from the city of Shiraz, who were selected through convenient sampling. To collect data, questionnaires on motivational beliefs, emotional awareness, and social competence were used, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results indicated that there were significant differences between orphaned adolescents and regular adolescents in all components. Specifically, regular adolescents scored higher in the components of motivational beliefs and emotional awareness. Additionally, in the social competence component, regular adolescents exhibited greater proficiency in social and emotional skills. This study shows that orphaned adolescents, due to the lack of psychological and emotional support, are more prone to psychological and social problems, and enhancing these psychological dimensions can help improve their psychological and social well-being.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the self-efficacy and self-control of adolescents with employed and unemployed mothers. The research method was a causal comparative type and the statistical population consisted of all high school girls who were studying in the second education district of Tehran in the academic year 2023-2024. The sample size was 80 people (40 with employed mothers and 40 with unemployed mothers) selected through an accessible and purposeful method. The general self-efficacy questionnaires of Sherer et al. (1982) and the self-control questionnaire of Tangi (2004) were used to collect data. The SPSS software version 24 and the analysis of variance method were used to analyze the research data. The findings showed that there is a significant difference between the self-efficacy and self-control of adolescents with employed and unemployed mothers (p=0.05). An examination of the average scores of students' self-efficacy and self-control showed that adolescents with employed mothers scored higher than adolescents with unemployed mothers. Accordingly, by emphasizing the role of maternal employment, adolescents' self-efficacy and self-control can be significantly increased.

Abstract The objective of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of emotion regulation training on loneliness and distress tolerance of female dormitory students. The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all female students aged 20 to 30 residing in the dormitory of Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) during the academic year 2023-2024. Out of this population, 40 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (20 individuals) and a control group (20 individuals). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of emotion regulation training using the Gross method. The levels of loneliness and distress tolerance in both groups were measured in the pre-test and post-test using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell et al., 1980) and the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons & Gaher, 2008). Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS27 software. The findings of the research indicated that emotion regulation training led to a decrease in loneliness scores (F = 61.49, p < 0.01) and an increase in distress tolerance (F = 26.73, p < 0.01) in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results of the present study indicate the effectiveness of emotion regulation training in improving loneliness and increasing distress tolerance of female dormitory students.