International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 3(10), 1-5, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 1 The Relationship between Child’s age and Psychopathology in children of Martyred people in TehranLak Afsaneh, Atef Vahid Mohammadkazem, Masafi Saideh3 and Rezaei omid4* Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, IRAN Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, Center for Mental Health Research, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IRAN Department of Psychology, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish, IRAN Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IRANAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 7th January 2014, revised 29th April 2014, accepted 4th June 2014Abstract This study was carried out to analyze the relationship between the age of missing father and psychopathology among the children of martyred people at the ages of 25 to 39. Present work was a study of causal events. The statistical universe was composed of children of martyred people in Tehran. A total of 97 subjects were selected. The samples were divided into two groups: the children who were under 7 years old and who were 7-14 years old at their fathers’ martyrdom time. Personality patterns of both groups were compared by Millon Clinical multi-axial inventory (MCMI-III). ANOVA test was used for data analysis. The results indicated insignificant difference between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and extent of severe personality pathology among children of martyred people. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between father’s martyrdom time and clinical syndromes among children of martyred people. Moreover, children of martyred people had no difference in terms of clinical personality patterns. In contrast, according to estimated value of F (F=9.242) which was significant at =0.003, there existed a significant difference between obsessive personality disorder and child’s age at father’s martyrdom time. The findings of present work can provide authorities of Martyr foundation, treatment centers and corresponding organizations with suitable solutions to resolve psychological problems related to missing one of the parents. Keywords: Psychopathology, millon clinical multi-axial inventory (MCMI-III), Martyred people.Introduction Educational factors, family structure and family members relations, especially parent-child relationships play an important role in social and psychological adjustment. Understanding how parents influence on children and studying role of each of them in social and character growth of children and teenagers are always interesting and important topics for psychologists and socialists. Researchers often agree about father’s role in family and the corresponding positive impact on academic achievement, cognitive development, moral development, and the revolution proportional to sexual role. Adverse effects caused by the withdrawal of the Father can be directly effective on social growth which is caused by the lack of an appropriate model for the identification of children and lack of parental control and supervision. Hence, impact of life events is clear as the main role to make psychological disorders and disturbances. In this regard, missing one of the parents before 11 years old is a life event which is the most correlated with depression. In addition, panic disorder due to child’s separation from parents before 10 years old (whether by divorce or parents’ death and so on) is also considerable. Given the statistics, between 1981-1989, Iranian nation missed at least 2.3% of its youth in an 8-years war so that during 94 years of war, 2272 people were on average martyred every month. Missing such a quantity of society members (particularly in a traditional society where the man is in charge of all heavy duties) has absolutely imposed several damages on the society and particularly families. Green and Parker (1999) conclude, in a study on 66 male and 60 female teenagers, that increased anti-social behaviors (particularly aggression in adolescents and youth) are dependent on one of the parents’ death. In this regard, Esfahaniasl compares individual and social adjustment and academic achievement of male and female students among both children of martyred people and children of non-martyred people. His results indicate that children of martyred people have lower individual and social adjustment and academic achievement compared to children of non-martyred people. Also, Goodarzi studies the relationship between religiosity tendencies and individual-social characteristics of children of martyred people in high-schools. He addresses that academic achievement of children of non-martyred people is higher than that of children of martyred people so that only 6 percent of children of martyred people have an average of 17 and higher International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 1-5, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 2 and more than 60 percent of them had experienced conditional status of courses. Besides, Ansari compares social growth of male and female students among both children of martyred people and children of non-martyred people. This study is carried out on 100 students which indicate that social growth of non-martyred people’s sons is higher than that of children of martyred people. This is while Shajari (2003) in a study titled “a comparative study on social growth between children of martyred people and children of non-martyred people” concludes that there is insignificant difference between social growths of students in both groups. Furthermore, Eliasi measures incidence level of different kinds of personality disorders by “Millon Clinical multi-axial inventory (MCMI-III)” measurement scale on a research on 112 students (including 60 children of martyred people and 52 children of non-martyred people). His results show that totally the prevalence of personality disorders (e.g. paranoid, schizoid, hysteria and dependent) is one of the results of father’s absence. Given the extent of the consequences of father’s absence on children's personality, knowledge and awareness on various aspects of the effects of this absence can absolutely better identify, control and treat such disorders and also provide a background to be considered by organizations and institutions concerned with these families for preventive and supportive measures. Therefore, present study was carried out to examine 25-39 years old children of martyred people’s psychopathology in Tehran. Material and Methods Present work was a study of causal events. The statistical universe was composed of children of martyred people in Tehran who were 25-39 years old at the project running time. In addition, the children studied here were either not born or were at most 14 years old at their fathers’ martyrdom time. Their mothers did not get marry again after martyrdom and were in charge of their children’s tutelage. Also, the subjects undergoing pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment of mental disorders were excluded from sample. Therefore, a total of 97 subjects were selected among documents in Foundation for Martyr and Veterans Affairs of Tehran. The sampling was systematic and random and subjects were selected from both genders. The samples were divided into two groups: the children who were under 7 years old and who were 7-14 years old at their fathers’ martyrdom time. Personality patterns of both groups were compared by Milon Clinical multi-axial inventory (MCMI-III). In order to obtain consent of the subject to participate at the research, the subjects were informed that their name will be kept and the desired information would be used only for present study. Data collection tools: Demographic information questionnaire: This questionnaire was about data for age, gender, level of education, marital status and income level. Millon Clinical multi-axial inventory (MCMI-III): MCMI is a standardized self-assessment inventory which measures a wide extent of information associated with personality, emotional adjustment and clients' attitude toward tests. MCMI test is one of the unique tests where personality disorders and the corresponding symptoms and signs are emphasized. The current version (i.e. MCMI-III) includes 175 articles which are scored under 28 separate scales and based on following classifications: variability indices, clinical personality patterns, severe personality pathology, clinical syndromes and severe syndromes. The studies about validity and reliability of MCMI show that this questionnaire is generally a well-organized psychometric tool10. Aluja et al report alpha coefficient and pretest- posttest scores reliability for Millon inventory in a range between 0.67 to 0.89 and 0.88 to 0.93, respectively. Also, high test-retest reliability coefficients with a median of 0.91 are reported for MCMI-III.ANOVA test was used for data analysis and this was carried out by SPSS software11. Results and Discussion As it can be seen from table-1, there was no significant difference between two groups in terms of Schizotypy personality disorder (F=0.768 and sig=0.383). Also, there was insignificant difference between border personality disorder and child’s age in father’s martyrdom time (F=0.213 and sig=464). In addition, there was no significant difference between Paranoid personality disorder with child’s age in father’s martyrdom time (F=0.001 and sig=0.977). Totally, insignificant differences were seen between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and extent of severe personality pathology among children of martyred people. Table-1 The relationship between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and extent of severe personality pathology among children of martyred people through ANOVA test Factor Level Sum of Squares df Mean of squares F Sig Schizotypy Inter-group Intra-group 327.78 40555.77 1 95 327.78 426.89 0.768 0.383 Border Inter-group Intra-group 63.68 24438.97 1 95 6863 299.35 0.213 0.464 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 1-5, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 3 Table-2 The relationship between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and prevalence of clinical personality patterns in children of martyred people through ANOVA test Factor Level Sum of Squares df Mean of squares F Sig Schizoid Inter-group Intra-group 58.86 45431.15 1 95 58.86 478.22 0.123 0.726 Avoidant Inter-group Intra-group 250.06 40771.87 1 95 250.06 429.17 0.583 0.447 Depressed Inter-group Intra-group 206.86 63722.41 1 95 206.86 671.28 0.308 0.580 Dependent Inter-group Intra-group 25.94 39196.94 1 95 25.94 412.95 0.063 0.803 Histrionic Inter-group Intra-group 65.39 43314.72 1 95 65.39 455.94 0.143 0.706 Narcisstic Inter-group Intra-group 50.2.72 28047.43 1 95 502.72 295.23 1.703 0.195 Anti-social Inter-group Intra-group 1449.61 39815.41 1 95 1449.61 419.11 3.459 0.066 Sadistic Inter-group Intra-group 1101.26 35777.75 1 95 1101.26 376.60 2.924 0.091 Obsessive Inter-group Intra-group 3444.02 35401.52 1 95 3444.02 372.64 9.242 0.003 Negativism Inter-group Intra-group 438.34 48467.98 1 95 438.34 510.18 0.859 0.356 Self-harm Inter-group Intra-group 106.62 45597.83 1 95 106.62 479.97 0.22 0.638 According to estimated value of F in table-2 (F=9.242) which was significant at =0.003, there existed a significant difference between obsessive personality disorder and father’s absence age. However, given the calculated F in other disorders (Schizoid, Avoidant, Depressed, Dependent, Histrionic, Histrionic, Anti-social, Sadistic, Negativism and Self-harm), the differences were insignificant. As the estimated value for F in table-3 was insignificant at all factors, hence there was no significant relationship between father’s martyrdom time and clinical syndromes children of martyred people. As it can be seen from table 3, the differences were insignificant in both inter-group and intra-group in terms of anxiety disorder (F=0.230 and sig=0.633). Also, no significant difference was seen in terms of Somatoform disorder (F=0.355 and sig=0.552). No significant difference was seen in such factors as Manic (F=0.580 and sig=0.448), Dysthymia (F=0.083 and sig=0.773), Alcohol dependence (F=4.274 and sig=0.041), Drug dependence (F=4.457 and sig=0.036) and Post-Traumatic Stress (F=0.026 and sig=0.872). In other words, insignificant differences were seen between father’s martyrdom time and clinical syndromes (Anxiety, Somatoform, Manic, Somatoform, Alcohol dependence, Drug dependence and Post-Traumatic Stress) among children of martyred people. Generally, everybody has a certain tolerance threshold against stress in specific time and conditions. When psychological stress exceeds from individual capacity, behavioral and emotional disorders will be arisen. One of the stresses providing high psychological pressure is the stress caused by the war which can have short-term and long-term impacts and seriously endanger basic foundations of the family12. Since father’s absence in family can have some mental impacts on family structure, present work studied the relationship between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and psychopathology among children of martyred people. The results indicated that martyrs’ children had no difference in terms of clinical personality patterns. The subjects were normal in terms of all personality factors (including: Schizoid, Avoidant, Depressed, Dependent, Histrionic, Histrionic, Anti-social, Sadistic, Negativism and Self-harm). These results are somewhat in contrast with Green and Parker. Green and Parker address that anti-social behaviors are typically related with parents’ absence and the children who have missed one of their patterns show more aggression compared to other children and teenagers. Also given the results of present work, only Obsessive Personality Disorder as one of personality patterns was correlated with child’s age in father’s martyrdom time. Among the children of martyred people, there existed some symptoms of Obsessive Personality Disorder. This result was in line with Eliasibecause he argues that personality disorders are typically existed among the children of martyred people. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 1-5, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 4 Table-3 The relationship between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and clinical syndromes among children of martyred people through ANOVA test Factor Level Sum of Squares df Mean of squares F Sig Anxiety Inter-group Intra-group 124.20 51313.33 1 95 124.20 540.14 0.230 0.633 Somatoform Inter-group Intra-group 167.71 44822.53 1 95 167.71 471.81 0.355 0.552 Manic Inter-group Intra-group 337.64 55304.99 1 95 337.64 582.15 0.580 0.448 Dysthymia Inter-group Intra-group 35.95 40967.031 1 95 35.95 431.23 0.083 0.773 Alcohol dependence Inter-group Intra-group 1210.02 26895.95 1 95 1210.02 283.11 4.274 0.041 Drug dependence Inter-group Intra-group 1549.69 32376.33 1 95 1549.69 340.80 4.547 0.036 Post-Traumatic Stress Inter-group Intra-group 15.87 58108.62 1 95 15.87 611.67 0.026 0.872 Besides, present study declared that there is no correlation between child’s age in father’s martyrdom time and clinical syndromes (including: anxiety, somatoform, manic, somatoform, alcohol dependence, drug dependence and post-traumatic stress) of children of martyred people. In order to explain our findings, it should be mentioned that martyrs’ families may not represent all families without father because martyrs’ families commonly receive considerable financial, social and ideological support from the government and relatives. It can be one of the reasons for lack of alignment of results of present work with those of other similar researches. Another result here indicated that severe personality pathology was not existed among the children of martyred people. In fact, Schizotypy, Border and Paranoid personality disorders were not seen among the children who had experienced father’s absence at childhood. This finding is in contrast with Eliasi. Eliasiargues that prevalence of personality disorders such as Paranoid, Schizoid, Hysteria and Dependent is of father’s absence results. In order to explain this result, it can be mentioned that our sample included the children of martyred people whose wives had no remarriage and had family support. It is likely that mothers’ remarriage would provide more unfavorable conditions for children of martyred people. As the subjects declared, after the father’s martyrdom, one of the relatives (Grandfather or uncle) played his role so that his absence is felt less and they can tolerate it. In this regard, Keramatiet al indicate that average yield of family in remarried martyrs’ wives is lower compared to un-remarried ones whose children are in better mental health status. Hence, present is in line with Keramatiet al since it was carried out only on the children of martyred people whose wives had no remarriage. It can also be addressed that the mothers without remarriage have mostly paid their children into attention13. Conclusion Review of psychological literature shows that social support always acts as a smoothing, moderating or even strengthening factor against the problems14. Positive status of martyrs’ families’ supportive network resulted in more feeling of security and honor for such families. Also, most of the people with strong belief on religious ideals have more powerful and reasonable justification force and show better adjustment against problems and absences15. Since several factors can affect on children’s mental health, understanding these factors and the ways to resolve existing problems can provide authorities of Martyr foundation, treatment centers and corresponding organizations with suitable solutions. The findings of present work can be a useful approach to resolve psychological problems related to missing one of the parents. 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