Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 1370-1373
Aditi Kadyan and Sonia Malik (Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana)

Women can have a huge impact in nation building but only empowered women can do this effectively. It will take some time and perseverant effort to build that self-esteem and confidence among women. Sports and physical activity can be a great tool to empower women folk lacking in self-confidence and achievement of the desired goal. Hardiness and self-esteem are the two variables that were chosen for the present investigation. A correlational design was adopted; 180 female wrestlers across the wrestling facilities across Haryana and Delhi with mean age 20.76 ± 2.281 with age range 18 to 22 were selected. Hardiness Scale developed by Maddi and Kobasa (1982) and Self Esteem Inventory by Virk and Chauhan (2003) were used for the present investigation. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used. Significant and positive correlations were found between the self- esteem and hardiness and also between the constructs of hardiness i.e. control, commitment and challenge. Results revealed that sports can be a great tool to enhance the self-esteem and hardiness levels of women.

Pages: 1377-1379
Vandana, Mamta, and Sandeep Singh (Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana)

The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between mindfulness and aggression among youth. The problem of aggression and violent behavior is of major concern to the psychologists and researchers. The incidence of aggression is increasing day by day. The level of aggression can be reduced by mindfulness practices. Mindfulness is a psychological state of awareness. It is a process of bringing one's attention into the present moment. In the present study, mindfulness attention awareness scale (Brown & Ryan, 2003) was used to measure mindfulness and Buss and Perry aggression questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992) was used to measure aggression among university students. Correlation analysis was done to find out the relationship between mindfulness and aggression. The result showed a negative and significant relationship between mindfulness and aggression.

Pages: 1386-1392
Damanjit Sandhu (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)
Kirandeep Kaur (ICSSR-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)
Veena Bhatt (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

Adolescent risk-taking behaviour is a global public health and safety issue and adolescence is a turbulent period, a time when young people are particularly prone to engage in a variety of potentially risky behaviours such as drinking, smoking, illicit-drug use and sexual activity. The period of adolescence (ages 1121) is a time of multiple transitions, namely, the transition to puberty and transitions involving parent child relationships, school, peers, and cognitive and emotional abilities. This period is also characterized by an increase in risk-taking behaviours, e.g those linked to careless driving, substance use, unprotected sexual behaviour, eating disorders, delinquency, homicidal and suicidal behaviours, and dangerous sports. These behaviours are defined as risky since they are usually volitional, their outcomes are uncertain and they entail negative consequences. Several research has shown that parental attachment has a major role to play in adolescent risk-taking behaviour, for instance, adolescents who are more securely attached to their parents are less likely to get involved in various risk behaviours in comparison to adolescents who are insecurely attached to their parents. The present study aims to explore gender differences in adolescent risk-taking and association of parental attachment in terms of parental trust, communication and alienation with adolescent risk-taking. A total of 400 adolescents (males & females) age range 16 to 18 years were sampled. t-ratio and Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were computed. The results shows that no gender differences exists in adolescent risk-taking and that parental trust and communication are negatively correlated with adolescent risk-taking whereas parental alienation is positively correlated with adolescent risk-taking.

Pages: 1397-1400
N. D. S. Naga Seema (Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana)
Aarti N. Nagpal (ICSSR, Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana)
Shravanti. G.B (Department of Liberal Arts IIT, Hyderabad, Telangana)

Pregnancy is a complex psychophysiological process. The presence of obesity and stress increases the complexity in pregnant women. Therefore, the present study attempted to find out the level of perceived stress and examine the prenatal psychosocial risk in obese and non-obese women during their first trimester. Basing on a between-group survey design, 60 young pregnant women (30 obese & 30 non-obese) in their first trimester were selected. The Perceived Stress Scale and Prenatal Psychosocial Profile Scale were administered individually. The results revealed that the perception of stress of both obese and non-obese pregnant women was similar during first trimester. The findings showed that the obese pregnant women experienced significantly higher prenatal psychosocial risk compared to their non-obese participants. The condition of obesity was found to have large effect on the prenatal psychosocial risk. The implications and shortcoming were also discussed.

Pages: 1404-1408
Vishakha Bodhi and Jagpreet Kaur (Department of Education & Community Service, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

The Internet as a global village has become an important information and entertainment source for students, serving substantial role in changing the social lives of people. Aside from its positive effects, what have garnered researchers' attention are its adverse side effects and students' addiction to it. College going students are particularly vulnerable group for the Problematic Internet Use (PIU). The present study aimed to determine the psychological correlates of Internet addiction among college students. A descriptive study design with quantitative approach was used to collect data from 200 undergraduate college students, at college affiliated to Punjabi university, Patiala and Punjab University, Chandigarh to assess the relationship of internet addiction with depression, anxiety and stress. Data was collected using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Young (1998) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 42) by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995). The data was analyzed using correlation analysis to study the relationship of internet addiction with depression, anxiety, stress and total DASS. The use of t-test was made to study the gender difference. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship of internet addiction with depression, anxiety, stress and total DASS scores. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Pages: 1414-1417
Hemant Bhatt (Indo Global College of Education, Abhipur, Mohali)

The use of ICT in teaching-learning process is a relatively new phenomenon and it has been the educational researchers' focus. The effective integration of this technology into classroom practices poses a challenge to teachers and administrators. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of information and communication technology skills development program on computer achievement of prospective teachers. The sample of the study comprised of 102 prospective teachers selected randomly from the Private B.Ed colleges of Punjab affiliated to Punjabi university, Patiala. The 60 items computer achievement test was constructed and validated. The present study had experimental design, included an experimental group (n=51) and a control group (n=51), and used pre test and post test measures. Statistical differences have been found in favour of the experimental group. The finding of the study revealed that there was significant difference in the computer achievement of students taught with different instructional treatment. These results strongly support the effectiveness of ICT skills development program in improving computer achievement of prospective teachers.

Pages: 1421-1424
Mansi Verma (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi)
Salma Seth (Department of Applied Psychology, Vivekananda College University of Delhi, Delhi )
Narendra K. Chadha (Faculty of Behavioral and Social Science, Manav Rachna International University, Faridabad, Haryana )

Over the past few decades, increase in life expectancy has facilitated longevity of family members but decreasing fertility rates have reduced the number of members to support each other, thereby giving birth to more complex family structures. This change in inter-personal dynamics has instigated major scientific attention towards its possible implication on various facets of intergenerational relationships and family life. Although the Theory of Intergenerational Solidarity and Theory of Ambivalence, have been by far the most widely utilized theoretical contributions, borrowed from social sciences, for conceptualization of this interpersonal exchange, however, they do not essentially cover all the underlying dynamics and therefore it is argued that still a need exists for theoretical guidance and further consolidation of the discipline, specially from the psychological and developmental perspective. With this respect, in the present article, the usefulness of the concept of generativity, from Erikson's theory of life span development, is reviewed and its contributions, limitations and prospects for understanding intergenerational relationships have been explored.

Pages: 1431-1435
Mona Makhija (Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Pt Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh)
Promila Singh (Prof SOS in Psychology, Pt Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh)

Exposure to unending Maoist violence and uncertain course of life can generate long-lasting effects on emotional and mental health of young population. Present research was an attempt to explicate the current status of mental health and emotional intelligence among youth of Maoist conflict affected districts of Chhattisgarh state and to compare these with youth from main stream. The main objectives of the study were (Anderson, 2014). To investigate the effect of gender and welfare schemes on the mental health of youth of Maoist conflict exposed regions (Baider et al., 1989). To examine the effect of gender and welfare schemes on emotional intelligence (Barlow, 1985). To study the interaction effect (Basow, 1986). To determine the effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on the mental health. A random sample of 80 youth (40 boys , 40 girls) studying in Prayas, a residential school meant for youth from maoist hit districts, 80 youth (40 boys, 40 girls) from Nishthha, a scheme for youth of maoist violence victim families and 80 youth (40 boys, 40 girls) from main stream were selected. Mean age of the participants were 16.8.Tools used to assess variables under study were the Mental Health Scale by Sharma (1996) and Youth Emotional Intelligence Scale by Ajawani (2008). 40 participants of Nishthha scheme who scored low on mental health scale were randomly assigned in experimental and control group. Only experimental group was given training to enhance mental health through emotional intelligence (10 sessions, 60 minutes; twice a week). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for analyzing the data. Two way ANOVA results indicated a significant effect of gender on mental health (F=7.88, p < .05) and on emotional intelligence (F=6.19, p < .05). The findings revealed that boys have higher level of emotional intelligence and mental health than girls. Further, significant effect of various welfare schemes is also found on mental health (F=5.17, p < .05) and on emotional intelligence (F=9.06, p < .05). Youth from mainsteam have shown high level of Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health while Nishthha students were on least level. Interaction effect is not significant for both the variables. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) between experimental and control group in relation to mental health after participation in intervention sessions.

Pages: 1440-1443
Manisha Sethi and Sandeep Bains (Department of Apparel and Textile Science, College of Home-Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab)

The aim of the present research was to explore the occupational health hazards encountered by the workers working in spice manufacturing units in Ludhiana. In spice manufacturing units, the raw materials are cleaned, crushed, ground, mixed and packed. This work to a large extent is done manually; as a result the skin of the workers is heavily exposed to irritant dusts of spices. Causing adverse health effects, including upper respiratory tract irritation, skin complaints and allergies. It was observed that only 37.5 per cent of the workers use plastic gloves as a protective measure. None of them use mask and ear muffs as protective accessory. However, majority of the female workers use dupatta to cover their face. The need of the hour presses upon the awareness on the use of protective clothing / accessory. Reduction of exposure to causative agents is the principle preventive method for dermatitis and contact allergies. Thus, it is recommended that awareness should be generated among the spice mill workers about the use of personnel protective devices like face mask, gloves and ear muffs.

Pages: 1449-1453
Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj and Shalini Singh (Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana)

Migration is a permanent or temporary change of the citizens typically recognised as some type of administrative boundary occurring across region or country. Unlike the singularly occurring demographic events of birth and death a person may migrate many times, for varied durations and beyond numerous territorial boarders (Wood, 1994). The aim of this study was to explore the differences in Adjustment and well-being in first generation and second generation of Kashmiri migrants. A mixed sample of 500 subjects was taken, out of which 250 was of first generation migrants and 250 of second generation migrants. First generation subjects belonged to an age group of 45 to 60 years and second generation subjects belonged to an age group of 21 to 25 years. Friedman well-being scale, and Bell adjustment inventory were used to measure the above variables. The data was analyzed by using t-test. Results revealed that second generation migrants had higher Adjustment and well-being than first generation migrants.

Pages: 1463-1467
Sadaf Anjum (Department of Psychology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh )

The present study explores the role of hope and perceived social support among the parents of disappeared persons in Kashmir. This study is conducted to explore the role of hope and social support in posttraumatic growth among victims of Kashmir. Positive psychological states like hope and perceived social support could be effective in minimizing the negative outcomes associated with stressful experiences emanating from conflict situations in people living in conflict zones. In this study 150 victims (fathers of disappeared persons) were taken from four main districts of Kashmir, Baramulla, Kupwara, Kulgam, and Srinagar. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. Posttraumatic Growth Inventory developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun in 1996, The Hope Scale (Snyder, Harris, Anderson, Holleran, Irving, & Sigmon, 1991) and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1998) were used for data collection. Results revealed that significant difference was found between the scores of hope and perceived social support on posttraumatic growth among the victims.

Pages: 1472-1475
Neelam Rathee (Department of Psychology, Govt. College for Girls, Sector -11, Chandigarh)

Obesity is a common disorder that is becoming even more common. Prevalence of depression among present population is also increasing. For years, it was assumed that any relationship of depression to obesity in the general population was largely coincidental. Research in the recent past, however, has uncovered a large number of mediating variables that relate depression and obesity. Depression influences obesity under some circumstances and obesity influences depression under others. The present study is an attempt to gain some insight into the complex relationship of obesity and depression using Body Mass Index (BMI) for obesity factor and depression score obtained by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Findings revealed significant positive correlation between the level of obesity and depression of normal, overweight and obese subjects. The test of significance of difference (t-test) revealed significant difference between the means of depression of the three groups.