Quran and Medicine

Quran and Medicine

"Comparing the Effectiveness of Islamic Meaning-Centered Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy on Impulsivity and Mental Health in Adolescents with Suicidal Thoughts

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
behnam barzegar 1
maryam Movahedi 2
allah nazar allisoofi 3
mahsa hadian 4
esmat savadi 5
Narges Mirani Sargazi 6
1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran
2 Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Tolo Mehr University, Qom, Iran
3 Department of psychology and Counselling, Farhangian University, Tehran,Iran
4 Department of Family Counseling, Faculty of Psychology, Khomeini Shahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
5 Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, West Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
6 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objective: The increasing prevalence of high-risk behaviors, emotional instability, and psychological distress among adolescents has highlighted the urgent need for effective preventive and therapeutic interventions. In particular, approaches that are grounded in family systems and spiritual or meaning-based resources have gained attention due to their potential to address adolescents’ emotional, cognitive, and behavioral needs in a more comprehensive and culturally sensitive manner. Adolescents experiencing suicidal thoughts represent a particularly vulnerable population that requires targeted and evidence-based interventions. Accordingly, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of systemic family therapy and Islamic meaning-centered therapy on impulsivity and overall mental health in adolescents experiencing suicidal ideation.
Materials and Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures and included a control group. The statistical population consisted of all adolescents with suicidal thoughts in Tehran in the year 2025. Using purposive sampling, 60 adolescents were selected and then randomly assigned to two intervention groups and one control group. Data were collected using the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire and the Barrett et al. Impulsivity Questionnaire. The first intervention group participated in 12 group sessions of Islamic meaning-centered therapy, while the second intervention group received 10 group sessions of systemic family therapy. Each session lasted 90 minutes and was held twice per week. The control group was placed on a waiting list. Multivariate analysis of covariance, analysis of variance, and t-tests were used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings revealed significant differences among the Islamic meaning-centered therapy group, the systemic family therapy group, and the control group in post-test scores of impulsivity (F = 41.2, P = 0.001) and mental health (F = 43.65, P = 0.000). Islamic meaning-centered therapy showed a greater effect on mental health improvement (mean difference = 8.2), whereas systemic family therapy demonstrated a stronger impact on reducing impulsivity (mean difference = 15.2).
Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that both meaning-based and family-centered interventions are effective in improving adolescents’ psychological functioning. Spiritually oriented approaches appear more beneficial for enhancing mental health, while family-based therapies are more effective in managing impulsive behaviors, emphasizing the importance of selecting interventions based on adolescents’ specific psychological needs.
Keywords
Islamic semantic therapy
systemic family therapy
impulsivity
mental health
suicidal thoughts in adolescents
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