Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 240-243
Mukta A. Karamadi (Dhempe College of Arts & Science Panaji, Goa, Research scholar on FIP at KUD)
Vijayalaxmi A. Aminabhavi (Department of Psychology, Karnatak University Dharwad, Karnataka)

The use of mother tongue against English, as medium of instruction, has created a wide spread debate all over the country. Decision about language (medium) of instruction in education policies is a challenging task to the policy-makers who have to give equal emphasis to students' native language to maintain linguistic and cultural identity, and to English to promote students' proficiency in the international language.The present study aimed at investigating the impact of medium of instruction on verbal, numerical and reasoning abilities and academic performance of school students. The sample comprised of 300 students studying in 8thstandard in the schools of Panaji city of Goa state. It was hypothesized that the students who had their primary education in mother tongue medium and those who had studied in English medium do not differ significantly in their verbal, numerical and reasoning abilities as well as academic performance. To measure these abilities sub tests of David's Battery of Differential Abilities by Sanjay Vohra (2011) were used. The data was analysed applying t-test. The results revealed that students with primary education in English medium have significantly higher verbal ability, numerical ability and academic performance than those with primary education in mother tongue medium.

Pages: 248-250
Arunashree B., Prachi Bhavesh Sanghvi and Pratiksha Praveen Kadkol (SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sion- Mumbai)

A large number of studies have found that individuals with learning disability are more likely to experience multitude of problems like school dropouts, loneliness, adjustment problems, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, etc. Attempts to promote positive outcomes in people with learning disability have become imperative. The current study, thus, examined whether there existed any relationship between self-determination and life satisfaction among adolescents with learning disability. Arc's Self-determination Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale were administered to thirty adolescents with learning disability and thirty six adolescents without learning disability. A chi square was computed to understand the life satisfaction among adolescents with high and low Self-determination. Results showed that adolescents with learning disability had high association between self-determination and life satisfaction with statistical significance level χ2 (1) =4.8, p > .05.Implications of the study include the basic understanding of positive constructs like self-determination andlife satisfaction which is primarily seen among adolescents with learning disability that can help in formulating training and skill building modules for better adjustment and satisfaction.

Pages: 254-258
Amandeep, Manju Sharma and S.M. Paul Khurana (Amity Institute of Biotechnology Amity University, Gurgaon, Haryana)
Rekha Kansal (NRC on Plant Biotechnology, IARI Pusa Road, New Delhi)

At present market is flooded with different types of cooking oils, viz. Soybean , Sesame , Olive, Mustard , Sunflower, Canola , Rapeseed, Peanut , Rice bran and Coconut etc. Various available brands of these oils promise good heart health to keep you fit. But before choosing oil for everyday use one has to examine the balanced amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The oils with low rancidity are preferred to escape event of oxidation. Besides, the smoking point of oils, also need to be taken into consideration to avoid consumption of trans fats. It is really difficult to choose from the pool of oils but it is true that making judicious selection is necessary to have palatable food for Indians, say sunflower, mustard, soybean etc.

Pages: 263-265
Akoijam Mamata Devi and Chinna Devi (Faculty of Nursing, S.G.T. University, Budhera, Gurgaon, Haryana)

Plastic baby/ collodion baby who looks like a rubber doll and sheds skin like that of reptile scales. The collodion baby is a descriptive term for the infant who is born encased in a tight shiny membrane that resembles plastic wrap. The collodion baby is not a disease entity but is the first expression of some forms of ichthyosis. The collodion membrane cracks and peels over the course of several weeks. The tightness of the membrane may cause the eyelids to turn out revealing the pink inner lid; a condition called ectropion. Eclabium, the turning out of the lips due to the tightness of the membrane, may accompany the ectropion, and may cause difficulties with nursing. When the membrane is completely shed the infant may display one of several ichthyosis skin types. Collodion babies are at high risk of some complications. The cracking and peeling of the membrane increases the risk of infection from microorganisms. These infants are also at risk for fluid loss, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, body temperature instability, and pneumonia. Collodion babies should be placed in a high humidity chamber, and monitored closely for complications. A high humidity environment will allow slow, gradual sloughing off of the membrane. The membrane will come off on its own and should not be peeled off. Application of mild petroleum-based moisturizers may help the infant feel more comfortable while the membrane is peeling off.

Pages: 270-272
Tania Ruby M. Thomas and Rajalakshmi M.S. (Department of Early Childhood Education and Administration, SMT. VHD Central Institute of Home Science, Bangalore)

Learning is an innate and natural process of exploration that children engage in from birth. 2-5 year olds are the most capable learners who require a quality early childhood educational setting. Recent research in the field of neuroscience, particularly on the brain, has provided convincing evidence of the 'critical periods' located within these early years for the forming of synaptic connections in the brain and for the full development of the brain's potential. Research has also indicated that if these early years are not supported by or embedded in a stimulating and enriching physical and psychosocial environment, the chances of the child's brain developing to its full potential are considerably, and often irreversibly, reduced. This stage in life is also important as a foundation for the inculcation of social values and personal habits, which are known to last a lifetime. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) drive its importance from this rationale. Against this rationale, it can be said that the need of the hour today in India is an enriched cost effective learner centric model of early learning environment to motivate children and prepare them for formal school readiness and also motivate parents to keep their children at early learning centres. In India, early childhood educational setting falls in a dual track mode, where the ICDS is a public sponsored initiative which caters to the disadvantaged group and private initiatives targeted for the higher socio-economic families. India does not have a regulatory body to evaluate the early learning centres, to develop curriculum and to assess children. This scenario has led to many other problems such as, children not being school ready, dropping out of school, variation in the cognitive and academic development between the same age group. In the present day set-up, children attend preschool or a kindergarten before schooling and it has become an integral part of the education system. As there are no regulatory body in assessing the early learning centres, the early learning centres are being started in garages and other inappropriate settings, with limited spaces for children. This concept paper highlights the need for designing need based quality early learning centres which are welcoming, vibrant and flexible, responsive to children and their changing needs, interests and abilities. This would in turn foster holistic development of the child and ensure formal school readiness.

Pages: 282-288
Hitesh Kumar B. Roz (Institute of Research and Development Raksha Shakti University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat)
Shreya Mondal (Clinical Psychologist Kolkata)
Priyanka Podder (Clinical Psychologist University of Calcutta, Kolkata)
Dimpal T. Raval (Department of Law, Raksha Shakti University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat)

With the current upsurge in stressful factors in everyday life, cardiac problems have increased at a rapid rate which in turn increases the burden of medical practitioners serving in this specific field. Research has focused little on the Occupational Stress and Burnout of Cardiologists. The aim of the current study is to explore the differences existing among Cardiologists belonging to eastern and western regions of India with respect to Occupational Stress and Burnout. The study further seeks to find out any differences existing among male and female Cardiologists belonging to eastern and western regions of India with respect to Occupational Stress and Burnout. It also seeks to probe into any differences existing among Cardiologist belonging to eastern and western regions of India with respect to the aforesaid variables on the basis of presence or absence of psychiatric morbidity in them. Using General Health Questionnaire a total sample of 180 Cardiologists was screened on Psychiatric Morbidity after they met the selection criteria. The sample was divided into two groups based on eastern and western region of India. These groups were further divided on the basis of their gender and Psychiatric morbidity sample were selected on the basis there consent and inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were assessed using the Occupational Stress Index and the Burnout Inventory. Results revealed that there are significant differences among cardiologists belonging to eastern and western regions of India with respect to role overload, role conflict, role ambiguity, and responsibility to persons, low status, unreasonable group and political pressure, unprofitability, strenuous working condition that contributes to high occupational stress in them. It further reveals that there are also significant difference existing among cardiologists belonging to eastern and western region of India with respect to distancing, neglecting, non-accomplishment, friction, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization that contributes to significant burnout. Significant differences were found to be present in these two groups with the respect to the aforementioned variables when compared on the basis of their gender and psychiatric morbidity. The study shows that cultural differences exist among Cardiologists with respect to stress and burnout in the workplace.

Pages: 296-301
Rayees Mohammad Bhat and B. Rangaiah (Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry)

Regular exposure to conflicts does have negative repercussions but people do adapt and report posttraumatic growth to mitigate their impact. Post traumatic growth is a challenging area and requires attention especially in conflict prone areas. This cross-sectional study comprised of 797 Kashmiri young adults between 18 years to 24 years of age who have been exposed to stressful life experiences regarding prolonged armed-conflict in Kashmir. The study explored the association of PTG with PTSD and trauma exposure, and whether the relationship of PTG with Trauma Exposure and PTSD symptoms were linear or curvilinear. Exposure to Kashmir Conflict Checklist, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) were used to assess trauma exposure, posttraumatic growth and PTSD symptomology respectively. The results found a curvilinear relationship between trauma exposure and PTG (β = -.39), whereas linear relationship was found between PTSD and PTG (β= -.17) with high PTSD scores associated with higher PTG scores. Older age was also associated with PTG (β= .10). The study found that both growth and negative symptoms can co-occur simultaneously. So, it becomes necessary to address both positive and negative symptoms when assessing and treating the traumatized population exposed to conflict like situation.

Pages: 308-310
Niharika Arora and Anuradha Sharma (Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh)

Diabetes and Arthritis are rapidly rising globally and the relation of psychosocial stress and happiness to diabetes and arthritis is not well investigated. Assessing from a denser perspective, women with arthritis and diabetes encounter numerous challenges in their life such as lack of sleep, pain, getting easily tiredand stress. Therefore women with arthritis and diabetes are prone to depression, anxiety and other mental problems. The present study aims to assess the perceived stress and happiness of women suffering from Arthritis and Diabetes.A sample of 80 women was taken up for the survey consisting of 40 women suffering from arthritis and 40 women suffering from diabetes. They were given Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale to assess their level of happiness and perceived stress respectively.The results indicated that there is a significantrelationship between stress and happiness among women suffering from diabetes and women suffering from arthritis. A significant negative correlation was found between happiness and perceived stress among women with diabetes and arthritis. Thusstress perceived in women with Arthritis was found more than women with Diabetes and level of Happiness was found low in women with Arthritis than Women with Diabetes.

Pages: 315-318
Ann Joma Job and Sherin P. Antony (Department of Psychology, Jain University, Bengaluru)

The study aimed at addressing the faulty thinking patterns among bullies and victims. For the purpose of the study 16 high school students between the age range of 13-16 years were selected using purposive sampling. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was administered on bullies and victims to find out any episodes of emotional distress and a semi-structured interview was chosen to explore the personal experiences of bullies and victims. Results revealed that seven of the participants had emotional distress. The cognitive distortions of minimization, labeling, all/none thinking, discounting the positives and incongruence of experience and expression might have led to the emotional distress in them.

Pages: 323-326
Jagpreet Kaur and Khushgeet Kaur Sandhu (Department of Education & Community Service, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

The study focused on exploring psychological capital among university students and its relation to stress. The data were collected from 200 students of Punjabi University, Patiala through Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) and Personal Stress Source Inventory (PSSI). The result of the study revealed significant gender differences in psychological capital among university students. Female university students were found to possess significantly higher level of psychological capital than their male counterparts. The results also revealed significant stream-wise differences in psychological capital among university students. University students pursuing arts stream were found to possess significantly higher level of psychological capital than their science and professional counterparts, respectively and university students pursuing professional stream were found to possess significantly higher level of psychological capital than there science counterparts. The results of correlation analysis revealed negative relationship between psychological capital and stress among university students, though not significantly so. These results of the study have implications for counsellors, teachers and parents.

Pages: 330-333
Gaukaran Janghel (Aakanscha College of Special EducationRaipur, Chhattisgarh)
Meeta Mukherjee (Department of Special Education (MR), Aakanksha College of Special Education, Raipur, hhattisgarh)

The present study was examined that the basic causes of the deprivation and its effects. The 46 children's were selected in the different slum areas of the Raipur city, in the capital of Chhattisgarh. The survey type research design was use in the present study and the regression analysis was computed in the data treatment. Finding of the result of the study were indicated that the basic causes of the deprivation, the factors was associated in the deprivation was positively such as factors namely- parents occupation (sig. level 0.000), family environment (0.000), available facilities of home (0.022), motivation (0.000), personal factor of child (0.037), family and other factor such as caring the elder brother and sister (0.028), family and other factor sharing in the working with parents (0.011), and other child disturbance (0.020). Finding of the study evidence that some family, environmental and economical factors were highlighted in the deprivation of child.

Pages: 337-341
Gagandeep Kaur (Clinical Psychologist, Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector- 32B, Chandigarh)
Vikas (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Care Centre, Sector-14, Faridabad)

Drug addiction is not an accidental process. Individual factors plays a pivotal role in dependence i.e., who will and who will not become addicted. It is found that even in highly prevalent areas there are individuals who are exposed to drug use, and with the help of will, strength of character or force of personality reject all contact with narcotic drugs. Personality factors, ones individual mechanism and family factors i.e. adjustment are determinants in the use of substance. Thus a need was felt to enhance the body of knowledge regarding personality characteristics, adjustment and coping processes in person with substance addicts. And our study is a first attempt with the aim to study the personality characteristics, adjustment and coping processes in person with substance addicts. Method: In the present study, a sample 100 male subjects (50 drug addicts and 50 non-addicts) were selected. Drug addict group matched with non addict on age, socio-economic status and educational level. The analysis included Independent sample t-test on Neuroticism scale questionnaire, Global adjustment scale and Ways of coping questionnaire scores between drug addicts and non addicts. Results: Results indicated that the mean scores of drug addicts were significantly high on submissiveness (p < 0.01), anxiety (p < 0.01) and overall neuroticism (p < 0.01). When different domains of adjustment compared our results revealed that drug addicts had significantly higher score on all the indices of adjustment such as emotional (p < 0.01), social (p < 0.01), health (p < 0.01) and family (p < 0.01). Finally when different domains of coping processes compared it was found that drug addicts scored significantly higher on distancing (p < 0.01), self controlling (p < 0.01), escape avoidance (p < 0.01), planful problem solving (p < 0.01) and positive reappraisal (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In conclusion our findings fit into the life process model of drug addiction, where addiction is not a disease but rather a habitual responses and source of gratification that can be understood in the context of social relationship or experiences. Such habitual responses can be altered through proper therapeutic deaddiction procedure and counselling for better adjustment in life.

Pages: 346-348
Anjana Bhattacharjee and Nabanita Banik (Department of Psychology, Tripura University, Tripura )

The objective of the present study was to determine the self-concept among pregnant and non pregnant women of Tripura, a North Eastern State of India. The study was also intended to ascertain self-concept of pregnant women of first trimester and third trimester. It was carried out among 120 pregnant women. A matched group of non pregnant women (N=120) was also selected to fulfil the objective of the study (Total N=240). All the respondents were selected following purposive sampling techniques from three districts (West, Gomati and South Tripura District) out of eight districts of Tripura. Data was collected by using Basic Information Schedule and Self Concept Scale. The analysis of data revealed significant difference between pregnant and non pregnant women with respect to their self concept. Further results found significant difference in the self-concept among pregnant women of first trimester and third trimester of pregnancy.