IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review

Pages: 154-159
Damanjit Sandhu and Kirandeep Kaur (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

Background: In spite of the growing concern about the effects of cyber bullying on youth, to date only a few studies have investigated this phenomenon among secondary school samples. Consequently, very little is known about the nature of cyber bullying and its impacts on the secondary school students. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence and nature of cyber bullying among a sample of secondary school students and also to determine whether significant differences existed between the mental and emotional health of cyber bullied and non-cyber bullied students. Method: A total of 357, 11th and 12th grade students in six schools completed the requisite measures. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence and nature of cyber bullying and t-test was used to find the differences between the mental and emotional health of cyber bullied and non-cyber bullied students. Results: The findings of the study revealed that a substantial number of youth (52.10 %; n = 186) reported being cyber victimized, predominantly through social networking sites. Only 12 % of cyber victimized youth knew the identity of the perpetrator and almost 42 % reported that they did not tell anyone about the incident. Results also revealed that the cyber victimized youths reported significantly poor mental and emotional health in comparison to non cyber victimized youths. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest the need for developmentally appropriate prevention and intervention programs implemented at the secondary school level if efforts to address this growing complex problem have to be successful.

Pages: 167-171
D. Barani Ganth (Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry)

The study aimed at understanding the variables associated with romantic relationship in unmarried youth. A sample of 453 students in the age range of 18-24 from two south Indian universities participated in the study. A survey was conducted among the participants using tools on personality, social influence on romantic relationship, interpersonal attraction, romantic inclination and socio-demographic and relationship status. Analysis of the data revealed that male students were more romantically inclined than female counterpart did. Students who had experienced a romantic relationship (Lovers) had more romantic inclination than those who had not experienced a relationship (Non-lovers). Lovers and non-lovers did not differ in their personality factors and interpersonal attraction. Lovers scored higher on media and peer group influence on romantic relationship than non-lovers. Romantic inclination was significantly related to personality factors, media and peer influences on romantic relationships and interpersonal attraction. Analysis of data using Structural Equation Modeling indicated that, personality, media influence and peer influence had a significant effect on romantic inclination. Romantic inclination in turn significantly predicted love status of youth.The study aimed at understanding the variables associated with romantic relationship in unmarried youth. A sample of 453 students in the age range of 18-24 from two south Indian universities participated in the study. A survey was conducted among the participants using tools on personality, social influence on romantic relationship, interpersonal attraction, romantic inclination and socio-demographic and relationship status. Analysis of the data revealed that male students were more romantically inclined than female counterpart did. Students who had experienced a romantic relationship (Lovers) had more romantic inclination than those who had not experienced a relationship (Non-lovers). Lovers and non-lovers did not differ in their personality factors and interpersonal attraction. Lovers scored higher on media and peer group influence on romantic relationship than non-lovers. Romantic inclination was significantly related to personality factors, media and peer influences on romantic relationships and interpersonal attraction. Analysis of data using Structural Equation Modeling indicated that, personality, media influence and peer influence had a significant effect on romantic inclination. Romantic inclination in turn significantly predicted love status of youth.

Pages: 175-179
Ranjana and Nandini Moudgil (Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana)

The internet is extensively used by adolescents today and excessive use has been found to have adverse consequences. Young (1996) has defined problematic Internet-using behavior as 'Internet addiction'. Internet addiction is characterized by 'difficulty in real life due to internet over-use', 'excessive time spent on the internet or replacement of genuine real relationships with superficial virtual ones' or 'weakness in self-control about internet use and if withdrawn, falling in psychological confusion. Internet addiction has been reported to be associated with depression and anxiety. Anxiety is a mental health constructs and brain response that warns of danger and prepares for upcoming challenges. On the one hand, it can act as motivational construct to take actions and on the other hand, it can act as an escapism mechanism. Depression involves persistent sad mood and hopelessness or loss of interest or pleasure in life .The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship of internet addiction with anxiety and depression and to study the gender differences, among adolescents. The participants comprised of 85 students belonging to the age range of 14 to 16 yrs, from various educational institutions in Haryana. Internet addiction test (Young, 1998) was used to assess internet addiction level of the sample selected. BDI-II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) was used to assess level of depression among adolescents. To assess anxiety, State trait anxiety inventory (Speilberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene,1983) was used. Pearson product moment correlation and t-test were used to analyze the data. It was found that depression and anxiety correlate well with internet addiction. T-test revealed significant differences between girls and boys on internet addiction and depression.

Pages: 185-188
Simarjeet Kaur, Sugandha Asgola, and Sukhminder Kaur (Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab)

The present study was undertaken in one block of Sangrur district on a sample consisting of 160 (10-14 years old) rural school going children (both boys & girls) engaged in agricultural labour. A Personal Information Sheet was used to assess the demographic profile of the children and a self structured Interview Schedule was used to determine the causes of participation by the children in agricultural activities and problems experienced by them at work and school. Various causes revealed by both girls and boys (100.00%) for their involvement in the agricultural related activities were to earn the livelihood and to carry on their family occupation. Children faced various problems at school and at work due to their involvement in agricultural activities. Most of the boys (97.80%) and girls (75.00%) were unable to cope up with studies due to their engagement in agricultural activities. Boys were found to be having more short of attendance and lack of understanding in school compared to girls. Significant differences were observed in the punishment experienced by both boys and girls at school and boys were more punished physically. Long and no fixed working hours were found to be major problems experienced by both boys and girls at work.

Pages: 194-196
Ajitha Eswaramangalam Ayyappan (Maharanis Science College for Women, Bangalore )
Pramod R. Shivcharan (Department of Psychology, Karnatak University, Dharward)

Psychological capital with components of hope, and resilience has recently emerged as a core construct in bringing positive psychology to the work place. Keeping these views as a scope for positive psychology research, this study sought to provide a comprehensive investigation of the impact of positive psychology variables of hope and resilience on occupational stress of information technology professionals. The data was collected from a sample of 100 information technology professionals from different software companies in Bangalore. A purposive sampling method was used for the study. The data were analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis. The results showed that there is an impact of hope and resilience on occupational stress of information technology professionals. The study reveals that people with high hope and resilience experience less occupational stress. The positive constructs like hope and resilience play major roles in predicting organizational behavior and its outcomes

Pages: 202-208
Nidhi Singh and Gurminder Sokhey (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab )

The present investigation is an attempt to explore reasons for better academic performance by comparing the cognitive ability and learning strategies of adolescents with different levels of academic achievement. The sample comprised 480 students classified into 160 each for high, moderate and low achievers. Each group was further divided into 80 males and 80 females for high, moderate and low achievers in the age range of 16-19 years, studying in 10th, 11th and 12th class. The criteria for assessing their academic achievement was based on the average academic score for the last two years. Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (Raven, 1981) and Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (Biggs et al., 2001) were administered to assess student's cognitive ability and learning strategies respectively. A 2X3 factorial design with equal numbers was applied with two levels of gender and three levels of achievement (high, moderate, & low). The results revealed that high achievers scored higher on cognitive ability than moderate and low achievers. Also, high achievers practiced more deep approach whereas low achievers use surface approach while learning. Probing the gender differences on cognitive ability, significant differences were more prominent in the low category with males obtaining higher score than females. Results on learning strategies revealed that in case of high achievers, females practiced more deep learning approach than males. While, surface approach was least applied by high female achievers.

Pages: 213-216
Komila Parthi and Radhika Gupta (Department of Psychology, Punjab University, Chandigarh )

Boredom has been defined as ''a state of weariness or ennui resulting from a lack of engagement with stimuli in the environment” (Vanden-Bos, 2007). Research suggests that students bring a variety of positive and negative emotions to classroom such as pride, enjoyment, anxiety, anger and boredom (Goetz, Frenzel, Hall, & Pekrun, 2007). These emotions interplay with the students emotions to impact their attention and performance. Despite being so important, studies in this field lack in exclusively focusing on academic domains (Goetz, Ludtke, Nett, Keller, & Lipnevich, 2013). In light of this, the present study aims to investigate boredom proneness, academic boredom, and mood awareness across Arts and Commerce students. For this purpose, 120 students were randomly selected from various departments of DAV college, Chandigarh. Of the 120 students, 60 students were from Arts department and 60 were from Commerce department. The data were collected with a set of questionnaires composed of a demographic form and three research instruments: Boredom Proneness Scale (Farmer & Sundberg, 1986); Academic Boredom Scale (Acee et al., 2010); and Mood Awareness Scale (Swinkels et al., 1995). The results indicate significant differences between Commerce and Arts students for boredom proneness, academic boredom and mood labelling. Similarly, significant correlations were observed among the variables under study. Future research suggestions and implications have been discussed.

Pages: 221-224
Adiba Ali and Shahina Maqbool (Department of Psychology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh )

The history of media in elective democracies around the world has been described as the emergence of a professional identity of journalists with claims to an exclusive role and status in society. It is observed that as developments and growth is taking place in the arena of media there are certain potential stressors are also getting attached to it which have influence on the work ability of employees. Maintaining and promoting work ability is an imperative social as well as organizational goal. Research on the population's work ability is a crucial subject from the viewpoint of social objectives. We require information on what variables contain work ability in order to promote it. In this paper the Professional Life stress and Work ability among media professionals are investigated in terms of how these values are challenged or changed in the context of current cultural and technological developments. This study was carried out on 70 media professionals. Results of correlation analysis indicate that Professional Life Stress were significantly negatively related with Work Ability. t- test analysis showed significant difference between male and female employees.

Pages: 230-239
Surbhi Kumar (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi )

The purpose of the present study was to garner a holistic understanding about the prevalence of myths of old age from the perspectives of both the young and the old. A sample of 40 participants (20 young, 20 old) was selected using purposive sampling keeping in mind the family structure joint v/s nuclear. Using a semi structured questionnaire, the participants (both male & female) were asked to reflect on 8 popular myths of old age like “To be Old is to be Sick” and their responses were analysed thematically and comparatively keeping the demographic variables in mind. The results indicate that the two age groups differ in many ways especially in the way they rationalize the old age. Further the type of family system joint or nuclear also has repercussions in the understandings that are created about the reality of old age, making space for myths and stereotypes. Such an exploration of persisting myths allows for breaking the ageist stereotypes and bringing about reform in public policy and gerontological education and creating useful interventions for the ageing workforce.

Pages: 245-248
Bhumika Kapoor (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi)

Health risk behaviors are a serious threat to health and well-being, often with grave current as well as future consequences. Previous research has recognized a particular vulnerability among adolescents for the same. Keeping this in mind, the aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence and magnitude of major health risk behaviors (namely, unhealthy weight control behaviors, substance abuse, & violence and physical aggression) among adolescents, living in Delhi and NCR, India. To this end, a self-report survey was administered on a large sample of adolescents (N=300), belonging to the age range of 16-20 years (mean = 17.48; SD = 1.42). Results depicted that a number of participants agreed to be struggling with body image issues, resulting in poor and unhealthy dietary habits. Participants reported avoidance of food (12.3%), binge eating (29%), purging (5%), and rigorous exercising (31.4%). Moreover, use of laxatives or diet pills (without a doctor's advice) was also reported. Substance abuse also elicited noticeable prevalence, with alcohol consumption generating most current use (25.1%), followed by tobacco (15%) and drug use (6.1%). Results also highlighted adolescent engagement in bullying and physical aggression. Significant differences were revealed between males and females on substance abuse and violence and physical aggression.

Pages: 253-258
Aswathi Mary Varghese and Swati Jaywant Rao Bute (Amity School of Communication (ASCO), Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh)

The use of media in development communication can be treated at two levels: one being mass media, often using television, radio, and print media and second being community media, mainly using radio and other folk expressions concerned with giving voice and representation to the various segments of local communities. Advertising is often an important part of the mass media strategy designed for changing perceptions in the course of merely shifting the relative salience of attitudes, especially when the receiver is not particularly involved in the message to induce the adoption of innovations or other changes in behaviors. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of anti-open defecation television advertising campaign designed for 'Swachh Bharat Campaign' in motivating people to give up and preventing relapse in those who had already given up to fight the sanitation crisis in India. The study attempts to answer some questions regarding the effects of television advertising in the short run as well as in the long run. It also tries to understand the role of media in social change and as to how television helps in bringing the critical social issues to the public sphere and moreover to the notice of the common masses of the country. Information gained from evaluation is highlighted, and recommendations for future media campaigns and initiatives are made.

Pages: 262-263
Sonu Bharti and Pallavi Bhatnagar (Department of Psychology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh )

Depression is the most common mental disorder in the world. It not only reduces the quality of life but also is potential cause for predisposing the person for various physical, as well as, mental health problems. Though depression has been empirically studied by mental health professionals, however these studies have an over representation of the urban and educated population. India's 72.2 % population is residing in rural area, hence it is important to study them. People living below poverty line are under represented on empirical researches for their wellbeing and mental health issues. India's 25.70% rural population is BPL, It is important to explore the mental health status of rural BPL groups who are by and large underprivileged and disadvantaged. The present study is an attempt to explore the depression of farm labour. The sample comprised of 200 farm labour of Lebrua village of Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Depression has been assessed by the depression sub scale of ADSS (Bhatnagar et al., 2011). The result clearly indicates gender differences, with females reporting higher depression as compared to their counterparts.

Pages: 269-275
Shadma Absar (National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi )

Teachers are the central actors in imparting quality education and deeply influence the teaching learning process in schools. It is important to study the factors which could enhance their productivity and work place well-being. The present study aimed at studying the impact of involvement of teachers in decision making process in the schools on their work place well-being in the Indian school education context. Teachers' organisational commitment, their organisational citizenship behaviour and job satisfaction were used as predictors of work place well-being of school teachers. Participative decision making and work place well-being of teachers were studied through standardised rating scales. Data was collected from 240 senior secondary school teachers in Delhi. Participative decision making and work place well-being of teachers was studied across two school managements (central and state government) and designation (TGTs & PGTs). Data was analysed quantitatively using 2X2 factorial design. Findings of the study revealed that organisational commitment and citizenship behaviour was found to differ significantly across the two school managements, also the job satisfaction of teachers was found to differ significantly across the two school managements and designation (PGT/TGT). Regression analysis revealed that the involvement of teachers in decision making process had significant impact on their organisational commitment, citizenship behaviour and job satisfaction, however there were differences across school managements.