Clinical and Counselling Psychology Review

Self-Compassion as Moderator in the Relationship between Attachment Styles and Interpersonal Communication among University Students

2025-08-12T05:15:11+00:00

This study investigated the relationship between attachment styles and interpersonal communication among university students and how self-compassion acts as a moderator between them. A convenience sample of 200 university students (100 males, 100 females) aged 18-25 years was selected to participate in the study. The Attachment Styles Questionnaire, Interpersonal Communication Inventory, and Self-Compassion Scale were used to assess the participants’ attachment styles, interpersonal communication, and self-compassion, respectively. Secure attachment style showed a non-significant but positive link with interpersonal communication and self-compassion. Insecure styles, that is, anxious-preoccupied, fearful-avoidant, and merging, were found to have a significant negative correlation with both. Whereas, dismissive-ambivalent style showed a non-significant negative correlation. On the other hand, interpersonal communication and self-compassion were found to be significantly and positively correlated (r = .29, p < .01). Moreover, regression analysis showed that secure attachment had a non-significant but positive effect, while insecure styles had a significant but negative effect on interpersonal communication. The results of moderation analysis revealed that self-compassion doesn’t moderate the relationship between attachment styles and interpersonal communication. Similarly, t-test results showed a non-significant difference between male and female students with reference to interpersonal communication. The findings of the study highlight the importance of promoting self-compassion in extenuating the impact of different attachment styles on interpersonal communication among university students

Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, and Well-being of Unemployed Adults in Pakistan

2025-08-08T07:18:43+00:00

This study scrutinized the relationship between perceived stress, coping strategies, and well-being of unemployed adults in Pakistan. By using the purposive sampling technique, data were collected from 180 unemployed adults (men = 78%, women = 22%) within the age range of 20-40 years (M = 29.58, SD = 6.17 and M = 26.17, SD = 3.44 for men and women respectively). Urdu versions of the Perceived Stress Scale, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson product moment correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, and independent sample t-test. The findings indicated that perceived stress is significantly but negatively correlated with well-being in unemployed adults. Whereas, coping strategies and their types are significantly and positively correlated with well-being and its domains in such adults. Similarly, perceived stress significantly but negatively predicted well-being. Whereas, active-practical coping significantly and positively predicted well-being and its subscales. While, avoidance-focused significantly but negatively predicted the emotional well-being of unemployed adults. Significant gender differences were found in well-being, emotional well-being, and psychological well-being of these adults. Additionally, significant differences in the emotional well-being of single and married unemployed adults were found to exist. This study aimed to assist the mental health professionals in the sense that they could guide unemployed individuals regarding how to cope with stress caused by unemployment in an effective way. Moreover, it also helped in the implementation of proper interventional programs to introduce adaptive ways of coping. The study also helped policymakers in planning and implementing better strategies to manage this issue in Pakistan.

Urdu Achievement Test Norms: Implications for Identifying Learning and Emotional Risks for Grade 3 Students

2025-08-08T07:17:23+00:00

The present study aimed to develop the norms of Achievement Test of Urdu reading and writing in a private school for Grade 3 in Lahore, Pakistan. Previously, norms of the Urdu Achievement Test were not developed so efforts were made to develop the normative scores to make the test useable in the future. The test included all the elements of reading and writing in order to assess the achievement of a child. It consists of 389 items and has 10 subscales. The seven subscales used to measure the reading ability of students include Letter Word Identification, Word Attack, Reading Comprehension, Receptive Coding, Syllables, Phonemes, and Quick Reading. Moreover, the other three subtests were used to evaluate Urdu writing of students which included Writing Alphabets, Dictation and Proofing. Scoring was based on 1 and 0 points. A descriptive research design was employed using Purposive Sampling to collect data. The test was administered on a sample size of 200 students (100 girls & 100 boys). A private school from Lahore, Pakistan was selected for this purpose. The first phase of data collection was the screening phase in which Slosson Intelligence Test and Colored Progressive Matrices were used to screen out the below averaged students. After measuring their IQ, Urdu Achievement Test was administered to evaluate their current understanding about Urdu Language. After data collection, the data was entered in SPSS software. The mean, standard deviation, percentiles and independent sample t-test were calculated for the development of norms. Norms provided a way to evaluate the participant’s performance by comparing it to the broader, representative sample. The results revealed that the girls outperformed boys in Urdu Achievement Test. The research will assist professionals in screening and identifying the learning difficulties among students in specific areas.

Moderating Effects of Optimism, Happiness, and Psychological Well-being on Resilience and Pain Catastrophizing among Chronic Pain

2025-08-08T07:16:36+00:00

The current study aimed to examine whether optimism, happiness, and psychological well-being impact resilience and pain catastrophizing. It is widely recognized that individuals with chronic pain often catastrophize about their condition, which can lead them into more distressing situations. The study determined that resilience has a relationship with pain catastrophizing and positive constructs, for instance, optimism, happiness, and psychological well-being moderate this relationship. Using a cross-sectional research design, the study recruited 375 participants through purposive sampling from different public and private hospitals in Abbottabad and Swabi. Bivariate correlations, independent sample t-test, and multiple moderation analyses were run to analyze the data using SPSS version 29. The study revealed a handful of insights that resilience, optimism, happiness, and psychological well-being are positively related to each other significantly. It was concluded that optimism, happiness, and psychological well-being significantly moderated the relationship between resilience and pain catastrophizing. The study empowered counselors, community workers, and medical experts to implement resilience training programs at community levels so that individuals would be mentally equipped before facing any health crisis due to chronic pain.