Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 1428-1433
Vijayshri (Department of Psychology, Aligarh Mulsim University, Aligarh, UP)
Frah Sultana Farooqi (Department of Sociology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP)

Depression and loneliness are the two crucial feelings in everyone's life; affecting the mental as well as physical health of an individual. Though individual of every age is affected and susceptible to the loneliness feelings and depressive symptoms, the existence of the two in old age is much more dangerous for the older adults. The present study aims to investigate the relationship of feelings of loneliness and depression in the late years of life. A total of 320 participants (age range from 60 to 85 years) were drawn randomly from Delhi, India. The sample consisted of 160 aged persons who were living with their families and 160 aged who were living alone. The prevalence of depression and loneliness was assessed using BDI (1996) and UCLA loneliness scale (1996) respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between loneliness and depressive feelings among aged population. The relationship was positive among aged persons living with their families while negative among those who were living alone at their late stage of life. When comparing the two groups, aged living with family and aged living alone, it was found that both the groups differed significantly on loneliness and depression.

Pages: 1439-1444
Vismita Paliwal and C.K. Paliwal (Department of Psychology, NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan)

For the normal mental and social development of all children it is essential that the early emotional attachment and exchange of perceptions and experiences between children and their parents should take place. Early detection of impairments and developing strategies to uphold the normal development of the child is a primary and extremely important step in addressing problems associated with disabilities. Parents especially mothers often suffer from psychological problems that arise from disabilities of their children. The problems faced by the mothers of the children said to differ according to the gender of the mentally challenged child. The study is focused on determining the level of Subjective Well-Being, Social Support, Hope, Stress and Coping of the mothers of male and female mentally retarded children. Among the total sample, 50 mothers were of male mentally challenged children and 50 mothers were of female mentally challenged children. After the administration of the tests, scores were obtained and statistical measures like mean, SD, standard error of difference and t-ratio were applied. It was observed that mothers of male mentally challenged perceived significantly more subjective wellbeing and feeling of hopein comparison to the mothers of female mentally challenged children no significant difference was observed in the level of social support, stress and coping. Implications of the study were stated.

Pages: 1449-1452
Shobha Sharma and Sushma Suri (Department of Psychology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi)

The rapid developments in science and technology brought us convenient living, but that lifestyle does not give comfort. Due to these problems many psychological problems occur. Depression is one of them. Peoples with chronic disease, often suffer from physical and psychological distress, lowering their quality of life. During the past 50 years the use of meditation and yoga, commonly applied as an effective adjunct to conventional medical treatment. Mystic rose meditative therapy is one of the most effective therapy created by Osho. The therapy is three hour a day process which last for 21 days. Objectives of the study are: To Study the demographical profiles of the subjects; To examine the effect of Mystic rose meditative therapy on depression (All levels), and Quality of life (All domains). 100 subjects equally divided into two groups i.e. experimental (intervention N=50) and control (without intervention N=50) were taken from Osho Dham (meditation Center). Further on subjects were equally divided on gender basis i.e. Males & females (N=25 each) within the age range of 30 to 65yrs. Obtained scores were analyzed with the help of paired t-test and chi square (for categorical variables). Findings of the study indicated a significant decrement in depression and improvement in quality of life among the subjects who received intervention than non intervention group.

Pages: 1463-1467
Prachi S Vaish, Biswajit Dey and Ami Pathak (Institute of Behavioural Science, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gujrat)

The use of Internet has swept the current generations across the world. Worldwide, Internet is used for social interaction, fun seeking, information seeking and professional activities. However, excessive Internet use has been linked to problems like excessive preoccupation, inability to control urges, social or personal distress, isolation, social avoidance, so called 'Internet addiction' and declining quality of life. To examine the inter-relationship between patterns of internet use, coping strategies used by those individuals and their subjective quality of life. A survey questionnaire was prepared that assessed the usage pattern of Internet users in terms of hours spent and activities along with Ways of Coping questionnaire to assess coping strategies, and WHOQOL-BREF to assess Quality of Life (QoL). This survey was conducted online over social networks. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between hours of internet use and the use of Tension Reduction as a coping style. This establishes a significant relationship between high use of internet and the use of Tension Reduction as a primary coping style. The tension reduction hypothesis, previously used to explain alcohol addiction, can therefore be used to explain internet addiction as well. A weak negative correlation was also found between hours of internet use and Quality of Life.

Pages: 1472-1476
Sangeeta Khullar and Anusuiya Tyagi (M.K.P. (P.G.) College, Dehradun)

Finding a dearth of research on teacher-student relationship in the Indian context, 75 girls and 75 boys (N=150) of classes 5th, 6th and 7th from five private schools of Haridwar district were administered the Educational Inventory and the Self Esteem Inventory. Five subject teachers of each of these students were asked to fill the Student Teacher Relationship Scale. The average of five scores was taken as the Student Teacher relationship score and that of its components- Conflict, Closeness and Dependency. Results indicate that there is a low but significant relationship between Educational Adjustment and Student Teacher Relationship as a whole for the total sample (N=150) but not for boys and girls taken separately. Conflict appears to be negatively correlated with Self Esteem for the total sample and boys taken separately (N=75) and with Educational adjustment for total sample only. The other correlations were not significant. These are preliminary results from a larger study and are discussed in light of current theories and earlier studies.

Pages: 1483-1486
Shriparna Singh and Ashi Makkar (Department of Psychology, The IIS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan)

Personal attributes influence the way partners perceive each other, interact with each other, and determine how marital events are appraised and explained. This study attempts to examine whether similarity in self rating of personality among couples will correlate with relationship satisfaction. Also, whether discrepancy in perceived partner's rating and female self rated personality will correlate with relationship satisfaction. It was hypothesized that similarity in self rating of personality among couples will be positively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Difference score between perceived partners' rating and females self rating will be negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. The sample for the current study comprised 50 married couples (50 males, 50 females).Participants belonging to the age group of 25-40 years were taken for the study. The scales used for this study were NEO Personality Questionnaire, a short version called TIPI (Gosling et al., 2003), and Relationship Assessment Scale by Hendrick (1988). The data obtained were statistically analyzed using Pearson product moment correlation. Results show that actual similarity on personality dimensions of conscientiousness and agreeableness was positively correlated, whereas neuroticism was correlated negatively with relationship satisfaction. Further, discrepancy between perceived partners' rating and self-rating of personality on openness, and conscientiousness was significantly negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction among couples.

Pages: 1492-1495
Rohtash Singh (Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana)

Human suicidal behaviour has always been a source of dread and wonder to mankind. Suicide among youths' has emerged as a significant global public health problem and it is third leading cause of death. The present study is designed to examine the relationship of depression and social support with suicide ideation. Sample for the study consisted of 150 participants drawn from different colleges of Kurukshetra (Haryana). The participants were assessed with Scale for Suicide Ideation, Beck Depression Inventory and Social Support Questionnaire. The objectives of the study were (a) to examine the relationship of suicide ideation with depression and social support, and (b) to find out the predictors of suicide ideation. Results demonstrated that suicide ideation was positively associated with depression and negatively associated with social support. Multiple regression analysis found that social support satisfaction, a measure of social support and depression are the potent predictors for suicidal ideation.

Pages: 1499-1501
Prianka and S. Thenmozhi (Department of Psychology, IDE, University of Madras, Chennai)

Menopause as a permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from loss of ovarian, follicular activity which leads to many physical and psychological issues in middle aged women. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychological impact of menopause on 35 middle aged (45-54 years) working women under low socio economic status compared group of 35 high socio economic status working women were also studied. Beck's Depression scale and Menopause Rating scale (MRS) were used to collect data. Results indicate that women in low socio economic status show mild level of depressive symptoms than the high socio economic status women.

Pages: 1505-1507
Nidhi Aggarwal (Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi)
C. R. J. Khess (Director Professor of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi)
Masroor Jahan (Additional Professor of Clinical Psychology, Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi)

Theory of mind (TOM) refers to the capacity to infer one's own and other persons' mental states. Several studies provide convincing evidence of a specific deficit in the theory of mind (ToM) in patients with schizophrenia. The present study attempts to access role of chronicity on Theory of mind in schizophrenia patients. Total 25 patients with ICD-10 DCR diagnosis of schizophrenia were selected as sample for the study from the inpatient department. Theory of Mind Task was used for exploring TOM in Schizophrenia patients. To study the variables independent samples test and chi-square (2) test were used. There was no significant correlation found between duration of illness and Theory of mind in schizophrenia patients. Duration of illness does not influence the theory of mind deficit in schizophrenia patients. This study adds to the growing literature on ToM by suggesting that theory of mind deficit might represent a trait rather than a state marker in schizophrenia.

Pages: 1511-1513
Nirupama Bhuyan (The Cousellor, D.A.V Public School, Cuttack, Odisha)

Autism is a brain disorder also known as social communicative disorder that typically affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment. Some people with autism are relatively high-functioning, with speech and intelligence intact. Others are mentally retarded, mute, or have serious language delays. For some, autism makes them seem closed off and shut down; others seem locked into repetitive behaviours and rigid patterns of thinking. Among other causal factors like vaccines, genetics, immunological disorders, environmental toxins, nature of delivery and maternal infections etc. etc., maternal aging is playing an important role in the development of autism. Older mothers are more likely to have a child who develops an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than are younger mothers. The study was designed to find out the possible causal relationship between maternal aging and the development of autism. 200 subjects were taken for this study. The age range of the participants varied from 3 to 12 or 13 years. The samples were diagnosed through Autism Checklist (AC) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Later the total participants were segmented into three groups according to their mothers' age levels such as 20 to 30 years, 30 to 35 and 35 to 40 years. All the mothers were compared with each other with respect to their prevailing ages at the time of conception, and any other complications such as illnesses, accidents or miscarriages if they had overcome during their gestation period. It was found from the result that 9 percent of autistic children were having mothers coming below the age of 30 years. The increase in autistic cases moved to 27 percent and 64 percent at 30-35 and 35-40 years of maternal age respectively. However, the risk of having a child with autism was not influenced by the fathers' age. The relationship with fathers' age was not clear. It was also noticed that fathers of 40 or above the age of 40 years only had an increased risk of having a child with autism when the mothers were under the age of 30 years. However, it was concluded that advanced maternal age is linked to a significantly elevated risk of having a child with autism, regardless of the father's age. Maternal age is just one risk factor that is interacting with other genetic and environmental factors that lead to a child developing autism.

Pages: 1517-1519
Prarthna Swani (Department of Psychology, S.R. Government College for Women, Amritsar)

A comprehensive review of research relating emotions to health is presented. The consequences of negative and positive emotions on health are highlighted. It is opined that positive emotions produce optimal functioning not just within the present but over the long term as well. Negative emotions, on the other hand, can produce and intensify a variety of health threats and diseases, whose onset and course is influenced by the immune system. Some proven techniques for shedding negative emotions and increasing positive emotions are discussed. The bottom line message is that we should work to cultivate positive emotions in ourselves and in those around us as a means to achieving improved psychological and physical health over time.

Pages: 1523-1524
Azara Parveen and Champa Mathpal (Department of Psychology, M.B.P.G College, Haldwani )

The term of deprivation has been used in various ways. The word deprivation is derived from, the verb to deprived which to deprive which mean to dispossess or strip and it implies a felt loss the word. Deprivation literally refers to dispossession or loss of privileges opportunities, maternal goods and the like. It is also used as social disadvantage, cultural alienation and a condition in which particular external and internal factors merge to narrow a person's behavioral alternatives for achieving self fulfillment. It is the state of insufficient satisfaction of basic needs and deficiencies in individual and family setting. This research is a comparative study on deprivation among male female adolescents. For this study 150 adolescent 75 male and 75 female were taken. Deprivation scale by Dr (Smt.) Chandra Prabha Jain was used to collect data. The result revealed that girls are more deprived than boys.

Pages: 1529-1532
शैफाली अग्रवाल (जी.डी.एच.जी. कालेज, मुरादाबाद, यु.पी.)

व्यक्ति के अन्दर पायी जाने वाली प्रवृत्तियों को दो भागो (जन्मजात तथा अर्जित) में विभाजित किया जाता है। अनेक मनोवैज्ञानिकों ने यह सिद्ध किया है कि व्यक्ति में लगभग सभी व्यवहारों का निर्देशन एवं संचालन इन जन्मजात प्रवृत्तियों के द्वारा किया जाता है। इन्हीं जन्मजात प्रवृत्तियों में से एक बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण प्रवृत्ति ‘‘जिज्ञासा’’ है, जिसके कारण हम अपने बारे में चारों ओर की परिस्थितियों के बारे में, वातावरण के बारे में अधिक से अधिक जानकारी प्राप्त करना चाहते है। इसलिए व्यक्ति अनेक प्रकार के व्यवहार करते है। व्यक्ति अपने उन व्यवहारों को ग्रहण कर लेता है जिनके द्वारा उसे अपनी समस्या सुलझाने में सफलता मिलती है और भविश्य में ऐसी समस्या दोबारा उत्पन्न होने पर उस व्यवहार को दोहराता है। व्यक्ति के यही व्यवहार उसके व्यक्तित्व की नई-नई विशेशताओं को विकसित करता है तथा व्यक्तित्व के गुणों का विकास होता है। प्रस्तुत अध्ययन के लिए ‘‘स्नातक स्तर के छात्र-छात्राओं के व्यक्तित्व गुणों का तुलनात्मक अध्ययन’’ का चुनाव किया गया है, जिसमें डा0 एस0डी0 कपूर के 16 पी0एफ0 के माध्यम 200 स्नातक स्तर के छात्र-छात्राओं पर अध्ययन करके, क्रिटिकल रेशियों के परिणामों के आधार पर यह ज्ञात किया कि छात्र तथा छात्राओं के व्यक्तित्व के 16 कारकों तथा समस्त व्यक्तित्व गुणों में से केवल 7 कारकों में सार्थक अन्तर पाया गया है। इन 7 कारकों में छात्रों के पक्ष में 4 कारक (बी.सी.एफ. तथा एच) पाये गये तथा छात्राओं के पक्ष में 3 कारक (ओ.क्यू.1 तथा क्यू 4) पाये गये ।