Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 1232-1236
Pooja Rai, Tara Singh, Indramani L. Singh, and Trayambak Tiwari (Cognitive Science Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)

Human brain aging is a complex process, involving changes in anatomy, physiology and cognition. The process which actively suppresses task-irrelevant response for task-appropriate responses is referred as response inhibition. Older adults have particular deficiencies in the inhibitory attentional control mechanisms that serve to prevent or stop the processing of task-irrelevant stimuli (i.e., distraction). The present study examined differences in the performance of the young and older adults on tasks evaluating response inhibition by using a distracter-response binding flanker task. The sample comprised of 10 young (Age range: 18-35 years) and 10 older adults (Age range: 55-65 years) and the responses of the participants were taken across congruent and incongruent conditions. Results were discussed in terms of accuracy and reaction time measures for young and older adults. ANOVA was performed to investigate whether there was a significant difference in response inhibition between young and older adults.

Pages: 1240-1245
Rubina Kausar (Department of Applied Psychology, Himayat-e -Islam Postgraduate Women College, Lahore, Pakistan)

The present research explored gender differences in coping with stress. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) cognitive model of coping with stress was used as the theoretical basis for this research. The sample was comprised of 616 students between the age ranges of 18-25 years, from different public colleges at Lahore, Pakistan. Carver, Scheier, and Weintraub's (1989) Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced (COPE) was individually administered to assess the participants coping strategies under stress. Permission has already been granted by the relevant author to use this test in the current research project. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 16.0) vas used to calculate percentages for gender. Results suggest that there is significant difference in percentages of gender and adaptation of different strategies. The findings of this research have implications for utilization of coping strategies by graduate students when they are under stress in Pakistani society.

Pages: 1250-1255
Aradhana Shukla (Department of Psychology, Kumaun University Campus, Almora, Uttarakhand)

Mental health is an integral part of health and it is more than the absence of mental illness and it is paralleled to physical health. It is the foundation of well-being and effective functioning for an individual, in particular and society, in general. It aims to deal with the promotion of mental strength in people so that they could cultivate them. Mental strength can be defined as a capacity of feeling, thinking and behaving in a way that allows optimal functions in the pursuit of valued outcomes. It is a combination of talents, knowledge and skills. Strength envisages the person and can be seen in terms of well-being, gratitude, forgiveness, empathy, virtues, hope, optimism, resilience and many more. It is determined by efficacy/, confidence, hope, optimism and resiliency. This paper is based on the study, observation and experience of the author about the promotion of mental health and the understanding of the concept of mental strength as an important tool of the enhancement of mental health. This paper is divided in four subsequent subsections. Section one deals with the concept of mental strength as described by Western and Indian thinkers. Section two reveals the determinants and process of mental strength. The third section describes the indicators and hazards of mental strength and finally in fourth section tips to raise the magnitude of mental strength is discussed.

Pages: 1260-1264
Sonia Elizabeth Prasadam and Anuradha Sathiyaseelan (Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka)

Children of dual earning nuclear families tend to spend some time after school alone at home. The time spent without the supervision of adults is known as 'self-care'. The present study aimed to explore the past experiences of young adults (19 23 years) who have been in self-care during their early adolescent years. Participants were interviewed through an in-depth interview (n=7). The interviews were conducted orally, meeting face to face with the participants. The data acquired from these interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings of the study reflected positive aspects of their experience, negative aspects of their experience and role of telephonic parental supervision.

Pages: 1268-1270
Sandeep Kumar, S.P. Dahiya, Sunil Kumar, and Ankit Magotra (Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana)

Cow milk is a source of micro-nutrients required for good health. Now a days, a new debate on type of milk and its possible effect on human health has started, some people says that A2 milk is more beneficial for health than A1 milk. As the milk and milk products are essential components of human diet, hence the present paper reviews studies conducted on type of milk and human health. A1 allele is more frequent in exotic cattle while Indian breeds of cattle and buffaloes have A2 allele. Some of the studies on consumption pattern of A1 / A2 beta-casein and human health have shown that A2 milk is beneficial for health; however, more detailed investigations are required to prove the hypothesis that A1 milk could facilitate the immunological process that leads to health problems in humans.

Pages: 1276-1280
Shyamlata Juyal (Department of Psychology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand)
Rashi Bhatnagar (Department of Psychology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar & Psychologist, Latika Roy Foundation, Dehradun, Uttarakhand)

Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug dependence has never been easy, and it's even more difficult when there is co-occurrence of mental health problems. Both, the mental health issue and the drug or alcohol dependence have their own unique symptoms that may get in the way of the ability to function, handling life's difficulties, and relating to others. To make the situation more complicated, the co-occurring disorders also affect each other and interact. When a mental health problem goes untreated, the substance abuse problem usually gets worse as well. And when alcohol or drug abuse increases, mental health problems usually increase too. The present case-study brings forward a clear picture of both, substance abuse and mental health issues, by ways of discussing chief complaints, signs and symptoms, investigation from different point of views, diagnosis, and management. The follow up revealed remarkable recovery as the result of integrated interventions after a period of one year. Implications of this study have been discussed from the perspective of importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

Pages: 1285-1290
Nandini N. (Gujarat Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Priyanka Kacker (Institute of Behavioral Science, Gujarat Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat)

The study was conducted to examine brain activities for induced paranormal experience and also to examine the difference between memory for remembrance and recognition. The research design was prepared on the basis of gap found in the previous researches. This was the first kind of study which was conducted to study induced paranormal experience using BEOS instrument. Parapsychology is a field of study concerned with the investigation of paranormal and psychic phenomena which include telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, psycho-kinesis, near-death experiences, reincarnation, apparitional experiences, and other paranormal claims. The BEOS profiling test uses a recording of brain electrical activity as a parameter, the NSS System records the electrical activity of the brain produced while presenting stimuli in the form of auditory and visual probes. BEOS is used for eliciting electro physiological evidence of a person's participation in the event. It is a non-invasive scientific method of interrogation. To determine the presence of specific information in the brain. A Neuro-psychological method generally referred as Brain Fingerprinting The study consisted sample size of 16 participants, they were further classified into experimental and control groups. Experimental group was presented with 100 minutes of horror video, whereas control group was provided with the narration of the video. Both the groups were instructed to fill Revised Paranormal Belief Scale prior to BEOS recording, to examine the level of paranormal belief of the participants. The findings of the study supported all the hypotheses formulated. The results revealed that, the experimental group were elicited more number of visual imagery recall responses as compared to control group and control group elicited more number of information recall responses as compared to experimental group. In addition to this, the study also revealed gender differences in eliciting visual imagery recall and information recall responses. The female participants elicited more number of visual imagery recall responses as compared to male participants, whereas male participants elicited more number of information recall responses as compared to female participants. In the study it was observed that, female participants had slightly high paranormal belief as compared to male participants. Therefore it can be concluded that, BEOS instrument can differentiate between memory for remembrance and recognition.

Pages: 1300-1303
Jaswinder Kaur (Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab)
Anoop Beri (Director of Educational Planning & Development C. T. Intuitions, Jalnadhar, Punjab)

In the present era, life evolution increased exposure and effects students with extensively recognized issues and stressors. The study aimed to (1) measure the multi factors of perceived stress among students, and (2) development and validation of students' perceived stress scale. UG and PG students were randomly selected from two universities of Punjab (India). The result of EFA revealed eight factors consist 28 items of the Students' Perceived Stress Scale (SPSs). The SPSs has high content, construct and intrinsic validity and it has high internal consistency (0.887) alpha (α) for overall scale; 0.777 α for positive items; and 0.813 α for negative items of SPSs; 0.905 split half reliability and 0.815 test retest reliability. The present scale comprehensively covers the concept of Students' Perceived Stress and shows satisfactory reliability and validity and distinguished that the SPSs is appropriate for students.

Pages: 1309-1319
Amreen Ahmad Ali, Neena Kohli, and Shreshtha Yadav (Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh)

The present paper reviewed studies on cancer patients in India, with the aim of identifying a) the nature and content of illness representations among Indian cancer patients and b) Coping approaches in the same population c) the role of distress in the relationship of illness representation and coping. 14 papers were included in the present review. The inclusion criteria were, studies must examine illness perceptions, stress/distress and coping among adult cancer patients and it should be empirical based on sample from India. Studies dealing with drugs or biological measures, reviews, meta-analysis, cancer in children and adolescents, and primary care giver were excluded from this review. Except time line, all dimensions of illness cognitions were dealt with. Identity of the illness overlapped with its causality. Most of the patients were found to be unaware of their diagnosis as well as prognosis. Avoidance and denial coping was prominent among Indian cancer patients. Role of distress could not be determined on the basis of the present group of researches, yet it can be suggested that, distress acts as a moderator between illness cognitions and coping because perception of distress will determine the coping strategies to be selected. Number of studies in the area under review is very less in India. The genesis of the CSM lies in the fact that patient should be aware of diagnosis, i.e. the identity. How will the stages interpretation, coping and appraisal of CSM commence unless and until there is any label attached to the disease?

Pages: 1325-1334
Safa P. Shamsudheen (Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu)
Bishmi P. D. and Aneesh V. Appu (Department of Psychology, Christ College, (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Kerala)

Machiavellianism refers to a personality type that does not choose to be but simply is a master manipulator. They are temperamentally predisposed to be calculating, conniving and deceptive. Essentially amoral, they use other people as stepping stones to reach their goals. Emotional maturity is a process in which the personality is continuously striving for greater sense of emotional health, both intra - physically and intra-personally. Self-control is defined as the ability to control one's emotion, behavior, and desires in the face of external demands, to function in society. The study comprised of 68 office workers of 23 60 years of age. Simple Random sampling was used to collect the data. The tools used in the study include Mach IV Scale, Emotional Maturity Scale, and Brief Self-Control Scale. The statistical technique such as moderator regression, correlation and t test were carried out to analyze the calculated data. The main objective of the study was to analyze the moderating effect of Self-control on the relationship between Emotional maturity and Machiavellianism. The result shows that Self-control is negatively moderated on the relation between Emotional maturity and Machiavellianism. The study also got the evidence for negative correlation between self-control and Machiavellianism. The study implicates the importance of self-control which is essential for reducing deceptive and manipulative behavior for making success at career.

Pages: 1340-1346
Kailash Chand and Suresh Kumar Darolia (Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana)

The present study was conducted with the aim of to establish relationship between multiple intelligences, interests and aptitudes among school students of Kurukshetra District of Haryana state were selected. The total sample consisted of 300 students in the age group of 14 to 17 years were selected a stratified random manner. The descriptive analysis method and Pearson correlation were used. To meet the objective of the present study multiple intelligence profiling questionnaire by Tirai et al. (2008); Chatterji's (1975); non-language preference record form-962, and differential aptitude test (Hindi Edition) by Ojha (1975) were administered. The results of the data analyses indicate that a. There are positive significant correlation between variables of multiple intelligence and variables of interest. b. The variables of multiple intelligence and aptitude are significantly correlated. c. The significant correlations are found between various measures of interest and aptitude.

Pages: 1353-1356
Kavita Gautam and A.V.S. Madnawat (Department of Psychology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan)

Coping is conceptualized as thoughts and actions or emotions, cognitions, and behaviors which an individual engages in to reduce, ameliorate or adjust to different stressors. Life satisfaction is one of the indicators of apparent quality of life. Together with indicators of mental and physical health, it indicates how well people thrive. Having effective coping mechanisms may be one of the most important predictors of well being across life span. Applications of coping strategies can increase a person's level of happiness. The aim of present study was to know the different coping strategies used by college girls of different faculties and their level of life satisfaction. The purpose was to seek whether there would be any difference in coping strategies used by students of Arts and Science Faculty and if there was any relation between coping strategy used and the level of life satisfaction.The coping strategies scale and life satisfaction scale were used for data collection. The sample comprised of 100 students (50 girls each) from Arts and Science faculty of Government Girls College Chomu, Jaipur. Statistical techniques of Pearson correlation and t-test were used to analyze the data. Significant difference was found in one of the coping strategy used by students of different faculty and significant relationship which was negative in both cases was seen between coping strategies of cognitive approach and cognitive avoidance and level of life satisfaction.

Pages: 1361-1364
Anita Fatemi Rezvan and N. L. Srimathi (Department of Studies in Psychology, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore, Karnataka)

This study examined the prevalence of stress and its relationship with depression and anxiety among Iranian students. The data is collected from Iranian students who are studying in Indian universities and colleges, especially among Iranian students who are studying in Bangalore and Mysore (Karnataka). Stress Vulnerability Scale (SVS) was used to measure stress, I.P.A.T Anxiety Scale is used to assess anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory-Revised used to assess depression. The findings of this study showed that the out of 600 students (36.3%) of the students had some resistance to stress, followed by (31.5%) of them experienced some vulnerability, (9.0%) of them had excellent resistance and remaining (6.0%) of them had serious vulnerability. When relationship between stress, depression and anxiety was examined, result showed that scores of depression and anxiety are correlated. In other words, these variables were positively and linearly related to each other, as scores in depression and anxiety increase, scores in stress also increase linearly and significantly and vice versa. Therefore, they may need more attention in counseling and stress management strategies compared to younger groups.