Research programme
Her research asks how people stay open, engaged and well when they face uncertainty, demanding personal standards and strain in close relationships. Across several studies, psychological flexibility, a core process in the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) framework, is examined as a moderator of these links.
Interests
- Psychological flexibility, within the ACT framework
- Perfectionism, including appearance-related perfectionism and social appearance anxiety
- Intolerance of uncertainty, depressive symptoms and wellbeing
- Marital and family processes: conflict, intimacy needs and quality of life
- Mindfulness-, acceptance- and schema-based approaches
She also has a growing interest in compassion-focused approaches, digital mental health and women’s health, including IVF and the perinatal period.
Research themes
Psychological flexibility
Four of her studies examine psychological flexibility as a moderator: between intolerance of uncertainty and flourishing, between intolerance of uncertainty and perceived stress in women undergoing IVF, between perfectionism and depressive symptoms, and between intolerance of ambiguity and depressive symptoms. A longitudinal study of nurses examines psychological flexibility and psychological distress, together with second victim experience and self-compassion.
Perfectionism and appearance
Her work on perfectionism includes a longitudinal study of the pathway from body appearance perfectionism to social appearance anxiety, which examines digital filter use and fear of missing out, and studies of perfectionism and depressive symptoms in female university students.
Uncertainty, depressive symptoms and wellbeing
Intolerance of uncertainty and of ambiguity runs through several studies, in relation to flourishing, perceived stress and depressive symptoms.
Couples and families
Studies of marital conflict and marital intimacy, with interpersonal mindfulness as a moderator; of married women’s mental health and the emotional components of quality of life; and of the family emotional atmosphere of students with military parents.
Women’s health
Research with women undergoing IVF, and on the mental health of married women.
Education and learning
Studies of academic hope, academic self-efficacy and achievement; a psychometric comparison of the complete and short forms of the Persian Academic Procrastination Scale; and a review of game-based learning.
The full list, with DOIs, is on the publications page.
Samples
Her studies include adults, individuals in couples, adolescents (including a three-wave longitudinal school study), women undergoing IVF and nurses.
Methods
Her methodological contribution lies in research design, theory and interpretation of quantitative methodology. She is a co-author on studies applying structural equation modelling, confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup analysis, and has formal training in structural equation modelling (Universiti Putra Malaysia, Alzahra University).
International collaboration
Her publications include international co-authorship across Malaysia, India, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.
Most recent research appointment
Researcher (Remote), Strategic Research Institute (SRI), Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Kuala Lumpur. January to June 2026.
Education
- PhD in Counselling, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran. 2022 to 2026.
- MA in Family Counselling, University of Tehran. 2019 to 2021.
- MSc in System and Productivity Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran. 2013.
An interdisciplinary background
Alongside psychology, she holds an MSc in System and Productivity Management from a school of engineering. This combination of psychology with an engineering and management background gives her work a practical grounding in project design, coordination and evaluation.