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Introduction: Depression is one of the most common mental diseases that it is not limited to a special time, place and the person and encompasses all the groups and levels of community. The most harmful effect of long time stress is reported to be the impairment in learning and thinking capabilities. The social supports reduce the vulnerability of people against stress, depression and other physical and mental diseases. The goal of current study was to determine effective factors on depression, perceived stress and perceived social support and their relationship among students living in dormitories of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science Materials & Methods: In the cross-sectional study, participants included 390 students who lived in the dormitories of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science. They were selected through simple random sampling method in 2 dormitories (sisters and brothers' dormitories). The questionnaires of depression (Beck), multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and perceived stress scale were completed by the students. Data were analyzed by SPPSS V.16 software. The descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA, correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test, Chi square and Fisher exact test were used for analyzing data with the confidence level 0.05. Findings: Job and academic status were the sources of stress in 30.5 percent of students. The mean of perceived stress score, perceived social support score and depression score were 26.84±8.27, 28.32±9.56 and 12.1±9.02, respectively. Also, 49.7 percent of students had different degrees of depression. There was a significant relationship between perceived stress, perceived social support and depression (P<0.001). Discussion & Conclusion: Since a half of the students were afflicted with depression, paying attention to this problem is very necessary and important. It is suggested that the counseling sessions, promoting students into team working, and participating students in extra programs affairs be carried out for increasing the social support and decreasing the stress and depression.

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Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the emotion regulation method based on the Gross model and muscle relaxation technique on perceived stress, anxiety, and resilience in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Material & Methods: This study quasi-experimental study had a pretest-posttest design and follow-up and control groups. The statistical population included all patients in the age range of 30-50 years with coronary heart disease who were referred to medical centers and private cardiology clinics in Ilam, Iran, in 2020, of whom 60 people were selected using a random sampling method and divided into three groups by random distribution method. The data collection tools included standard scales of perceived stress, anxiety, and resilience.
Findings: The results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed the effectiveness of Benson’s relaxation exercises on perceived stress, anxiety, and resilience as well as the effectiveness of emotion regulation training based on the Gross model on perceived stress and anxiety in patients. The comparison of the two treatment models showed that Benson’s relaxation exercises could reduce patients’ perceived stress and anxiety more effectively. However, emotion regulation training based on the Gross model has been more effective in increasing patients’ resilience than Benson’s relaxation exercises.
Discussion & Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, emotion regulation training based on the Gross model and muscle relaxation exercises can be used as an effective intervention to complement medical treatment and improve patients' general health.

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Introduction:  Breast cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, the most common cancer among women, and the second cause of cancer-related death among them.The present study aimed to predict the meaning of life based on the sense of coherence and defense mechanisms with the mediation of perceived stress in women with breast cancer in Qazvin.
Material & Methods: The present research was conducted based on a descriptive-analytical design. The statistical population included all women with breast cancer in Qazvin in 2023 (n=200). From this population, 126 cases were selected using Morgan's table and available sampling. Data were analyzed in SPSS (version 26) and SmartPLS (version 3.0.1) software packages using structural equation modeling.
Results: An inverse and significant relationship was detected between sense of coherence and  perceived stress (P=0.006; r= -0.478), defense mechanisms and perceived stress (P=0.015; r= -0.458), and perceived stress and the meaning of life (P=0.044; r= -0.414. Moreover,  defense mechanisms had a direct and significant correlation with the meaning of life (P=0.005; r=  0.608). Perceived stress had a significant mediating role with (P=0.032; r=0.198) on the relationship between the sense of coherence and the meaning of life. Furthermore, perceived stress palyed a mediating role in the relationship between defense mechanisms and the meaning of life (P=0.040; r= 0.190).
Discussion & Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this research, an increase in perceived stress causes a decrease in the sense of coherence, an increase in incompatible defense mechanisms, and a decrease in the meaning of life. According to the proposed model, it is possible to improve the meaning of life in patients by controlling their level of perceived stress by increasing the sense of coherence and defense mechanisms. It is suggested to provide psychological services to control perceived stress and inconsistent defense mechanisms.
 

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