Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

Pages:187-189
Pooja Surana (Department of Psychology, Jain University, Bangalore, Karnatka)

A distinctly positive trend in applied psychology is the increasing awareness about strength-based, positively oriented and solution-focused interventions in the place of problem-focused approaches. How is the 'solution-focus' applicable in educational settings? Do studies support their effectiveness in addressing student's issues? Can newer brief group interventions help in empowering a large number of students in a short time? The present paper explores the components and scope of solution-focused interventions with students. It then explores the relevance of the same in Indian academic context. Preliminary research in this area can lead to increased familiarity and interest in brief positive approaches in high schools and colleges. Some suggestions for future research are included.

Pages:193-199
Anita Sharma, Karuna and Jyoti Sharma (Department of Psychology, HPU, Shimla) Krishna Pal (Department of Education, HPU, Shimla)

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between family environment and adjustment (home, health, social, emotional) in adolescents. The adolescents (100 males and 100 females) were assessed by using the Moos and Moos Family Environment Scale and Bells Adjustment Inventory. Family environment appeared to influence the adjustment of the adolescents. Data was analyzed in terms of Correlation, Regression Analysis and t-test. Regression Analysis revealed that family environment has explained 80% of variance in gender (Males 32% Females 48%) and 92% of variance in schools (government schools 18% and private schools 74%). t test reveals that gender wise females have shown better adjustment than males and school wise private school students have shown better adjustment than government school students. Thus, it can be concluded that family environment plays a vital role in the adjustment of the adolescents.

Pages:205-211
Anita Sharma and Jyotsana Gautam (Department of Psychology, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla)

The study aimed at exploring the role of personality and subjective well-being in interpersonal attraction (social attraction, physical attraction, task attraction) in adolescents. The adolescents (100 males and 100 females) were assessed by using 16 PF, The Subjective Well-Being Inventory and Interpersonal attraction Scale. Data was analyzed in terms of Correlation, Regression Analysis and t-test. Regression Analysis revealed that personality has explained 10% of variance in interpersonal attraction in females only and subjective well-being has shown 14% of variance in interpersonal attraction by gender ( in Males 9% & in Females 5 %). t test has revealed that gender wise, females have shown better interpersonal attraction than males. Overall, Personality and subjective well-being appeared to influence interpersonal attraction of the adolescents. Thus, it can be concluded that personality and subjective well-being plays a vital role in the interpersonal attraction of the adolescents.

Pages:218-226
Fazeela Moghal and Sarwat Jahan Khanamq (Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan)

The objective of the present study is to investigate the association of gender, marital status and employment status with Subjective Well-Being (SWB). Research studies indicated clear advantages of married and employed people in terms of SWB as compared to their never married, divorced/separated/widowed and unemployed counterparts. However research findings related to effects of gender on SWB is inconsistent. ICP Subjective Well-Being Scale (Moghal, 2012) was employed to test the hypotheses 1) Subjective well-being would be higher in males as compared to females, 2) Subjective well-being would be higher in married males and females as compared to never married, divorced/separated/widowed males and females and 3) Subjective well-being would be higher in employed as compared to unemployed males and females. The sample consisted of 213 participants (126 females and 87 males) of ages between 18 to 50 years with mean age 31.277 years. The demographic variables of gender and employment were subjected to Independent Sample T test. One-Way ANOVA was calculated to examine the effect of marital status on subjective well-being. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between males and females in their level of positive affect [t (211) = 1.64, p > .05], negative affect [t (211) = .385, p > .05], and life satisfaction [t (211) = .693, p > .05]. However, there was significant effect of marital status on positive affect [F (2, 210) = 8.880, p < .001], on negative affect [F (2, 210) = 9.337, p < .001] and on life satisfaction [F (2, 210) = 15.792, p<.001]. Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean score of the divorced /separated/widowed group for PA, NA and LS were significantly different than the mean score of the married and never married singles. However, the married group did not significantly differ from the never married singles. Results also indicated that employed individuals had higher level of positive affect than did unemployed individuals [t (211) = 2.87, p < .05]. Employed individuals also had lower level of negative affect than unemployed individuals [t (211) = -2.53, p < .05]. Life satisfaction was also found to be higher in employed than unemployed individuals [t (211) = 2.35, p < .05]. It could be concluded males and females do not differ significantly in their level of well-being, married males and females are better in subjective well-being as compared to divorced/separated/ widowed individuals. Married and never married singles do not differ significantly in their level of well-being. Moreover, employed males and females have higher level of subjective well-being as compared to unemployed male and females.

Pages:235-243
Pooja V. Anand and Yukti Kumar (Department of Psychology, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi)

The present study was designed to assess the subjective well-being and self-efficacy of performing artists. The sample comprised of 75 performing artists (25 dancers, 25 musicians and 25 theatre artists). For data collection Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark& Tellegen, 1988), General Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995) and an interview prepared by the researcher were used. Results show that the subjective well-being and self-efficacy of performing artists are high. Significant differences were found between dancers, musicians and theatre artists on satisfaction with life, positive affect and self efficacy. A significant positive correlation was found between satisfaction with life and positive affect, between satisfaction with life and self efficacy and between positive affect and self-efficacy. Findings have implications for enhancing subjective well being and self efficacy.

Pages:251-257
Jayashree Sanghani, Usha Upadhyay and Smita Sharma (Centre for Positive Psychology, PRATYUSHA, Janakpuri, Secunderabad, AP)

This paper explores how Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI) is noteworthy in education and empowers educational institutions to enhance students' achievement and well-being. Positive psychology focuses on mental health promotion and prevention activities. It is generally a proactive intervention rather than reactive. PPI are interventions or intentional activities that aim to cultivate positive cognitions, positive feelings and/or positive behaviors that enhance well-being and ameliorate depressive symptoms. These interventions increase positive affect and life satisfaction as well as decrease negative affect through intentional activities; and are not just efficacious but of significant value in participants real lives. Schools are required to generate students who not only achieve high grades but are also capable of living a good life, one in which they find purpose, meaning and happiness. School success requires hope, optimism, emotional energy and motivation, elastic resilience, strong relationships, clearly understood values, refined purpose, and challenging, motivating goals. Parents also desire schools to teach more than academic achievement, i.e. to nurture a love of learning, creativity, resilience, optimism, character strengths, and wellbeing in their children. In the present scenario students as well as teachers experience high levels of psychological stress and anxiety due to various factors, and the prevalence of depression among young people is dreadfully high worldwide. We, at Reach BeYond centre for Positive Psychology have initiated two research projects in education, incorporating principles of positive psychology as follows: Positive Psychology Intervention in Education for the students of private schools belonging to grade 9, 10 and 11. Parents reported that there is a positive change in their wards. Self Efficacy and Language Skill Development through Positive Psychology Intervention for the underprivileged students of a school run by charitable trust. Both above mentioned projects are under process and a lot of constructive changes are noticed among students. The final findings of the research will open a new chapter in the field of Positive Psychology in India. PPIs into life and work of schools may act as buffer against aversive life events, stress and problems, and empower students to have increased levels of creativity, better critical thinking skills and increased levels of positive emotion and adventitious to the larger society.

Pages:262-269
Anita Sharma and Deepika Bali (Department of Psychology, H.P.University, Shimla, HP)

In this study, an effort has been made to investigate the role of self-esteem and well-being on resilience to stress in the university students. The main findings were gauged through ANOVA. The findings suggest that: (i) High self-esteem and high well-being subjects have shown significantly more resilience to stress as compared to their counterparts by scoring significantly low on deficiency focusing and necessitating and high on skill recognition.(ii)With regard to gender, difference has been found to be significant only on necessitating with females showing more resilience to stress to that of males.(iii)The three factor interaction effect of self-esteem x well-being x gender has also turned out to be significant on deficiency focusing and necessitating.

Pages:286-289
Divya Narang and Sarita Saini (Department of Human Development, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab)

The present study was undertaken to explore the status of metacognitive skillfulness and academic performance of rural adolescents (13-16 years) across two socio-economic strata. The study was carried out in rural schools of block-I, Ludhiana District. The sample comprised of 240 rural adolescents equally distributed over four grades (7th, 8th, 9th & 10th grade), two sexes and two socio-economic groups i.e. middle & low socio-economic group. Metacognitive skills of the subjects were assessed using a Self-structured Questionnaire adapted from Metacognition Inventory (Govil, 2003) and Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (Schraw and Dennison 1994). To assess the academic performance of the subjects, the aggregate percentage of marks obtained by them in the last school examination was procured from the concerned teachers. Socio-economic Status Scale developed by Meenakshi (2001) was used to ascertain the socio-economic status of the selected subjects. Results revealed significant gender differentials in metacognitive skills of rural adolescents with major proportion of female respondents having high level of metacognition as well as better mean scores as compared to their male counterparts. Adolescent girls also surpassed boys with better academic achievement.

Pages:296-300
Are. Suresh Babu (Department of Psychology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)

In this changing global scenario sales organizations have to manage change in an effective way. Emotional Intelligence plays an important role in helping the employees and management to cope with this dynamic change in the sales environment. Emotional intelligence is the employee's ability to recognize and understand emotions and using emotional intelligence to manage oneself and his relationship with others (Singh, 2001). The application of emotional intelligence in the organization includes the areas like personnel selection, development of employees, teams and the organization. 1.to assess the impact of emotional intelligence on job performance of respondents. 2. to study the contribution of demographic variable type of company on sales executives job performance in relation to emotional intelligence. The researcher has met the participants by taking prior permission from their leadership during their periodical meetings. The academic interest of the study is explained to them and their doubts were clarified. After having willingness of the participants and consent from their leadership the questionnaires were introduced and data were collected. The study reveals that emotional intelligence has an impact on the performance of sales executives. The study reveals that there is significant impact of type of company on job performance. Emotional intelligence is an important predictor of job performance in pharmaceutical sales. Comparatively sales executives working in multinational companies have better performance than the executives of national companies.