Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 428-432
Komuwo Sebastian (Project Officer, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Assam)
Sreehari Ravindernath (RGNIYD, Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu)

The present study is aimed to find out the level of self esteem among the tribal and non-tribal students of Manipur and examine its influencing factors among them. The study covered 9 Schools and Colleges from the two Districts of Senapati and Imphal West. A sample of 82 students - 41 tribal and 41 non-tribal, studying in class 10, 10+2 and graduates were randomly selected for the study. The sample consisted of both male and female students from tribal and non-tribal schools and colleges. The Self-esteem scale developed by Morris Rosenberg (1965) was employed for assessing the level of self-esteem of the respondents. To determine the influencing factors of self-esteem, an open-ended questionnaire developed by the researcher was used. The majority of the non- tribal students(90.2%) seem to fall in the normal range of self-esteem, where as only (75.6%) of the tribal students fall in the normal range of self esteem. The major influencing factors affecting self esteem also differs from tribal and non-tribal students. Gender differences were found in the levels of self esteem between male and female. The factors influencing the self-esteem are discussed.

Pages: 436-440
Atasi Mohanty (Center for Educational Technology, I.I.T., Kharagpur)

The present study was an attempt to examine the impact of landslide disaster on the life styles of common people in the hills of Darjeeling district in West Bengal of North-East India where it is a regular feature in rainy season. The primary objectives were to assess the mental health status of landslide victims, the probable causes and after-effects of this disaster. A sample of forty families, twenty victims and their families and twenty non-victims with their family members were taken for an in-depth study. A culture-fair mental health check list developed by Pramod Kumar and observation and interview schedules both prepared by the researcher were administered on the victims as well as non-victim samples. The findings revealed that the victims and non-victims didn't differ significantly so far as the physiological symptoms (like headache, tiredness, disturbed sleep, indigestion and acidity etc.) are concerned. But the victims differed significantly from the non-victims with regard to their psychological symptoms such as anxiety, tension, restlessness, nervousness, loneliness, hopelessness, and anger. The observation and interview analyses of cases showed that the victims were suffering from traumatic stress due to many socio- economic factors like death of close ones and children, loss of home and property, loss of jobs, improper rehabilitation and relief, financial as well as emotional insecurities. The victims were utterly shocked by this trauma and these fearful thoughts were still embedded in their mind for a quite long time. However, in general the mental health status of villagers in this region was not satisfactory and they were in need of proper rehabilitation and counseling. Besides this, the researcher also examined the root cause of these frequently occurring landslides in the region and suggested some remedial steps. It has been realized that though it may not be possible to prevent natural disasters, but these can certainly be tackled in a better way by adopting certain strategies like eco-friendly lifestyle, adequate preparedness to absorb the shock and proper counseling and rehabilitation for the people.

Pages: 445-449
K. G. Patel (Department of Psychology, Idar Anjana Patidar H. K. M. Arts & P. N. Patel Commerce College, Idar, Patan, Gujrat)

The present study shows the sociometric cluster's effects on total adjustment in adolescents and vice versa. Total Adjustment included four adjustment areas Like….Home, Health, social, and Emotional. The sample comprised of 120- Stars, 120 -Isolates and 120 - Rejectee. The whole sample is selected for study by the randomize method. For the present study two instruments (Tests) namely Sociometric -Questionnaire and Bell Adjustment Inventory have been used. In order to derive the conclusions from the data gathered, statistical analysis has been undertaken such as: `F - test' " and (L S D) test ( an extension of t - test based directly on Mss error in ANOVA table ). Conclusions shoes that, (1) The patterns of interpersonal relationship in urban and rural demographic area and Total adjustment are not interdependent. (2) The patterns of interpersonal relationship in male and female sex difference and Total adjustment are mutually interdependent. The Total adjustment of Male group is better than that of the female group. (3) The patterns of interpersonal relationship and Total adjustment are mutually interdependent. The Total adjustment of Star group is better than that of the Isolate group and the Total adjustment of the Isolate group is better than that of the Rejectee group.

Pages: 454-457
Awasthi Ankit, Koolwal G.D., Sanjay Gehlot and Surender Kumar (Department of Psychiatry, Dr. S.N.Medical College, Jodhpur)
Ravi Gunthey (Department of Psychology, J.N.V.U., Jodhpur)

Research into stress among health care professionals has tended to neglect staff employed in psychiatric settings. This study compares nurses working in psychiatry department with nurses working in other departments on variables, namely, perceived stress and subjective quality of life. To compare the socio-demographic variables, level of perceived stress and subjective quality of life among nurses working at psychiatry department and those working at other departments of the hospital. This was a cross-sectional comparative study carried out on a sample of 60 nurses; 30 of whom working at Psychiatric centres of Jodhpur and Jaipur and rest 30 nurses working at other departments of M.D.M. Hospital, Jodhpur. Three questionnaires were applied: a semi-structured socio- demographic proforma, perceived stress scale and subjective well being inventory. In our study, no significant difference was found between the two groups of nurses for perceived stress and well being. Pearson's correlational analysis suggested strong negative correlation between perceived stress scale scores and subjective well being scores. The study found that there was no significant difference between nurses from psychiatry ward and those from other departmental wards of the hospital for the variables perceived stress and subjective well being. Multiple intervening variables may be responsible for above finding. However, it is concluded that higher levels of stress may adversely affect nurses' subjective well being.

Pages: 460-461
Fareedi Mukram Ali, and Prasant, M.C. (Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, SMBT Dental College, Sangamner, Maharashtra)
Safiya, T, Anupama, M., and Mahesh, A. (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, SMBT Dental College, Sangamner, Maharashtra)
Sujatha P. (Clinical Psychologist, Mumbai)

Facial disfigurement can result in a severe loss of confidence and can cause long term psychological suffering often to resurface long after the aesthetic healing is underway. The management of facial injuries should integrate a multidisciplinary approach that addresses the psychological needs of the patients in both the short term and the long term. Close attention by surgeons towards patient's behaviour may aid in early identification of post traumatic stress disorder in facial trauma patients.

Pages: 466-468
Babita Prusty (AIBHAS, Amity University Uttar Pradesh)
Nirlipta Patanaik (Department of Psychology, Centre of Advanced Studies, Utkal University, Orissa)

The present study is an attempt to examine and compare the simultaneous and successive processing of high and low academic achievers in grade four students in a government school of Orissa. For the assessment of academic achievement the final examination results of three consecutive years are taken (collected from the school register) in to account. The students, who obtained better score( in examination) are considered to be high academic achiever and the student ,who obtained low score( in examination) are put under the group of low academic achievers. The sample consisted of thirty students of grade four, fifteen from each of the following groups (a) high academic achievers (b) low academic achievers, selected on the basis of the marks obtained by them in the last school examination. The subjects were administered tasks of simultaneous and successive processing. Result revealed that the performance of high achievers in tasks of simultaneous and successive processing was higher than that of their counterpart on the same task.

Pages: 475-477
M.V.R. Raju and Tarakaramarao, K. (Department of Psychology, Andhra University, Andhra Pardesh)
Seema, N.D.S. (Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad, Andhara Pardesh)

Academic stress is a mental distress with respect to some anticipated frustration associated with academic failure or even an awareness of possibility of such failure. The present study explored the influence of personal correlates on the prevalence of academic stress among adolescents studying in government, private and residential colleges in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The total sample consisted 411 adolescents (Boys =211; Girls=200). Students Academic Stress Scale (SASS) developed by Kim (1970) and it was adapted to Indian conditions by Rajendran and Kaliappan (1991) and a demographic questionnaire developed by the researcher was administered. The data was obtained and analyzed by means of t-test and ANOVA. The results indicated that adolescents are prone to academic stressand are influenced by personal correlates such as type of college, medium of language,, classand religion.

Pages: 481-484
Dipika Sangwan (Department of Psychology, Punjab University, Chandigarh)
Ravinder Yadav (Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh)

The concept of mental health is as old as human beings. It includes those behaviors, perception and feelings that determine a person's overall level of personal effectiveness, well being, success, life satisfaction and excellence of functioning as a person. The objective of the study is to find out well being, life satisfaction, depression and aggression in teenage boys and girls. It further aims to find out whether teenage boys and girls exhibit same level of mental health or there are differences. This explorative study was carried out in urban area of Jind (Haryana), with a sample of 100 teenagers, from middle socioeconomic group, in the age range of 17 to 19 years. PGI General well being scale, Life satisfaction scale, Beck Inventory, Aggression Questionnaire were administered individually to each participant. Mean, SDs and t test revealed that non significant difference emerged on well being, life satisfaction, depression and aggression in both groups. Correlational analysis revealed highly significant positive relation between life satisfaction and well being. Aggression and depression were also found to be positively related. Results further indicated that well being is negatively correlated with both depression and aggression.

Pages: 488-491
Mehmoodun Nisa, Sadaf Hameed and Shaheen Zehra (Department of Psychology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh)

The present study was undertaken to assess how perceived quality of home environment i.e. family relations, continuing parental conflict and family members associations with adolescents vary by gender and contribute in the development of social intelligence. For this purpose data was collected on a representative sample of 156 adolescents. Studying in class IX, X, XI and XII (78 males and 78 females) aged 14-17 years from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. After building rapport participants were requested to give response on Home Environment Inventory (HEI) developed by Misra (1983) and Social Intelligence Scale developed by Chadha and Ganesan's (1986) administered individually. The findings of study after applying multiple regression analysis (step-wise) revealed that gender as a factor associated with social intelligence operates differently in terms of home environment. Male adolescents perceive their home environment in more negative manner in terms of rejection, deprivation of privileges and punishment emerged as significant predictors for most of the dimensions of social intelligence. But in females most of the dimensions of home environment were positive in nature like protectiveness, reward, permissiveness and nurturance showed positive influence on social intelligence. Further findings indicated that confidence was the only dimension of social intelligence that emerges significant predictor for control in male group. In females in spite of having positive influence permissiveness also showed negative influence on patience and nurturance on sensitivity aspects of social intelligence. Finally females were found to be more outgoing and socially more socially more intelligent in comparison of male adolescents.

Pages: 497-499
Mahvish Fatima and Zulfiqar Ullah Siddiqui (Department.of Psychology Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh)

The present study was done to examine the relationship between perception of meaning in life and psychological well being among females diagnosed with breast cancer. 100 female breast cancer patients (married = 50; unmarried =50) in a hospital set-up, were administered standardized measures of meaning in life and well-being. Independent sample t tests were conducted to test mean differences in meaning and well-being between married and unmarried patients. Results revealed that unmarried women participants scored significantly higher on both the measures than the patients who were married. On the whole, life meaning was found to be significantly and positively correlated with meaning in life for the total sample.