Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Pages: 470-473
Surender Kumar (School of Studies in Library & Information Science, Vikram University, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh)

This paper presents the results of a study conducted on the use of internet services of Nehru Library, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Survey method was used to collect the data from the users with the help of structured questionnaires. The present study examined the different aspects of internet searching behavior of the students. The study shows that 35.52 % of the users having more than 4 year experience with internet. The majority of the users i.e. 28.94% access the internet at daily basis. The most preferred place of using internet was 67.76% at Nehru Library. Most of the users were using internet for the web based library resources like CeRA, Indiastat, Krishi Prabha (e-theses), e-learning portal and Britannica online etc. Google was the most favorite search engine among the users. The majority of the users were fully satisfied with the present internet services offered by the Nehru Library, CCS HAU, Hisar

Pages: 479-484
Vatsala Saxena (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Dehli)

The findings documented in the paper are a part of the larger project that attempted to study how morality is constructed in the everyday conversation between parents and children. For this purpose everyday family discourses were collected from 12 upper middle class Delhi based families. These families had at least one child between 3-5 years of age. He/she was the participant child, and the discourses involving him/her were the focus of the study. The discourses pre-dominantly revolved around four values, namely 'respecting elders', 'sharing', 'harm' and 'reference to God'. This paper addresses the concerns of inflicting harm. The 'harm' here is characterized by the minor physical fights which transpires between children, but warrants no major injury. The paper seeks to discuss how the mothers address such instances of physical fights or threats reported by their children, and consequently how the children construe the notion of harm. The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, the everyday conversations between the child and the adult (s) were recorded and subjected to discourses analysis. The analysis was guided by the paradigm of discursive psychology. The analysis suggests that the mothers do not focus on the issue of righteousness of the act, but emphasize more on the combative action. In the second phase, the parents were interviewed to triangulate the discursive findings. The semi-structured interview schedule was based on the understanding developed from the analysis of the discourses. Both the methods of study seem to converge on a common understanding. The focus on reaction, without reflection, seems to guide the child in understanding harm as something that warrants retaliation and as a legitimate manifestation of power.

Pages: 492-497
Navin Kumar, Himanshi Bhati and Vandita Sharma (Department of Psychology, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, Delhi)

The notion of happiness and life satisfaction are directly relevant to encouraging some sense of the worth of living. Measuring feelings can be very subjective, but in nonetheless a useful complement to more objective data when comparing quality of life across various section of society. Life satisfaction measures how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings. It captures a reflective assessment of which life circumstances and conditions are important for subjective well-being. Within the evolutionary framework of human nature, meaning and purpose of human existence is an important conception of positive psychology. The present study focus to assess level of life satisfaction among 60 women of unprivileged section of society the method was interview using quantitative approach of measuring subjective well-being based on Ed. Diener life satisfaction scale (2000). Arithmetic mean a measure of central tendency used as satisfied technique and finding were reported that is the level of life satisfaction among women of slums are low.

Pages: 501-507
Pooja Rawat (Department of Psychology, Lady Sri Ram College for Women, Delhi University, Delhi )
Richa Malhotra (Department of Psychology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi)

A state of positive health and well-being ensures an individual's functioning in various spheres of life. There exists an urgent need to attend to mental health as it remains largely neglected, that can potentially have adverse implications for the general healthcare. The current study aims at understanding the perception of mental health amongst adolescents and various misconceptions attached to it. A pre-drafted questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was used. For this purpose, participants between 17-19 years were selected through convenience sampling. An ex post facto design was used. Data was subjected to content analysis to elicit the broad themes. Prominent themes that emerged as findings included conception of mental health, challenges faced, factors contributing to mental health issues and mental health as a shameful and stigmatizing disease. This study brought to light certain limitations such as small sample size and use of convenience sampling. Based on the research findings, it is suggested that further attempts must be encouraged to understand various facets of mental health, and appropriate interventions be introduced by mental health professionals and policy makers at a community level, such that a larger section of our society can benefit.

Pages: 511-514
Yamini Ambikar and Preeti Mathur (Department of Psychology, Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan)

The present study is conducted with the aim to compare juvenile delinquents and normal adolescents on the level of aggression and self-concept. The sample consisted of 50 adolescents (25 juvenile delinquents & 25 normal adolescents). Data for delinquents was collected from juvenile reform home, Jodhpur. Aggression questionnaire and Self-Concept inventory were used to measure aggression and self-concept respectively. The statistical result was obtained using mean, standard deviation, 't' test and Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient. The result indicated no significant difference between juvenile delinquents and normal adolescents but it explored small positive correlation between aggression and self-concept of juvenile delinquents and slightly negative correlation between same factors among normal adolescents.

Pages: 518-524
Nisha Chaudhary (Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, Delhi)
N. K. Chadha (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi)
Salma Seth (Department of Applied Psychology, Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, Delhi)

Positive psychology has come up as a field which portrays a balanced view of human beings. The present research aimed at understanding the aspects of positive psychology (Quality of Life) in relation to geriatrics. The study tried to find the difference between elderly from different culture and living arrangements on Quality of Life. A pilot study was conducted to find the correlations between the English and the Hindi translated versions of the tool used, as the elderly sample was comfortable with the Hindi language. OPQOL (Older people Quality of Life Questionnaire) based on QOL ONS Omnibus Survey (2008) was used for study. The total sample under study were 179. The sample was classified on the basis of culture (rural & urban) and living arrangements (living with families, living with old age homes & those living only with spouses). The comparison of different aspects of Quality of Life on the basis of culture showed that rural elderly are much higher than urban elderly on their Physical health, Social relationship, Freedom, Psychological and Emotional well-being and also Finances. The overall comparison of different aspects of Quality of Life for whole sample, showed that for Health, Home and Freedom; the mean scores portrays a higher level for rural elderly living with families, then comes urban elderly living with families after that urban elderly living only with their spouses and at last urban elderly living in old age homes. For overall Life and Social Relationships the mean values are highest for urban elderly living with families then comes rural elderly living with families after that urban elderly living only with spouses and at last urban elderly living in old age homes. For Psychological well being and Finances, the mean values were highest for rural elderly living with families, then comes urban elderly living with families, after that urban elderly who are living in old age homes and at last urban elderly staying only with their spouse. The research observed that rural elderly showed a better Quality of Life.

Pages: 530-534
Subhash Chander, Jatesh Kathpalia, and Rashmi Tyagi (Department of Sociology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana )

The dowry system is a cultural system in India in which the parents of the bride pay a large sum of money, expensive jewellery and other gifts such as car or other household items to the parents of the groom during marriage. The social and cultural efforts of the dowry system are devastating to the society as a whole. Dowry is the result of long standing power in balance between men and women and thus seriously compromises the well being, productivity and contribution of one half the populations. Therefore it was important to bring to light the issues affecting women in this reason. Two hundred women were randomly selected from Karnal and Sirsa districts of Haryana and out of those of 39, who were affected the problem related to dowry in both reasons. It was found that more than half of respondents (51.28%) reported that dowry was demanded before marriage, 30.77% at the time of marriage while 17.95% demanded it after marriage. The maximum numbers of cases regarding dowry demand were made by their husbands (41.03%) in the form of vehicles, cash-money, Jewellery etc. The core reason for dowry was greed like purchase of motor vehicles, business expansion and employment. Customs and ritual were also found as main reason for dowry. Concerted efforts are required to curb violence against women regarding dowry in Haryana.

Pages: 538-543
Surbhi Kumar (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi )

The focus of the present study is to look at alternative paradigms to understand development of adolescents. Although adolescents make up about 20 per cent of the world's population, they have traditionally been neglected as a distinct target group. In the western framework, adolescence has been described as a period of “storm and stress” fraught by conflicts with parents, mood disruption including extreme emotions, increased substance abuse, heavy reliance on peers and vulnerability to peer pressure and risky behaviour and therefore adolescents as problems. Indian Psychology has grown as discipline offering the approach to growth of self and others and a refreshing change of ideology from focussing on the problem to focussing on the possible alternatives. Through analysis of 9 verses of Bhagavad Gita or the “Song of the Divine One”, a guide for adolescents has been formulated to fill in the lacunae that western psychology has failed to address. This study attempts to move in the direction of guidance that is from “this is wrong” to “this is right” such it helps them have a better understanding of their being and facilitate well-being in this difficult age.

Pages: 548-550
Neeti Kaushik (Department of Psychology, D.D.U Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur)

In the present scenario health is a broad topic for social science researcher. The concept of health is changing with the passage of time. Now, health is viewed not only as the total absence of disease, but also it includes social and behavioral well-being. Violence has an array of possible expressions and consequences: someone could become disabled after being caught in cross-fire on their way to school or work; could be shot and sexually violated whilst fleeing a war zone; or could be tortured and humiliated at gunpoint with no shot actually fired. Human rights are not the exclusive preserve of any individual and group. They are neither owned by anyone nor can be doled out as a gift by one to another. They belong to all of us individually and collectively. They are universal and indivisible. This paper attempts to provide a review about the mental health status of youth, violence and their human rights because mental health and well-being is influenced by the social circumstances in which individuals find themselves and the environment in which they live.

Pages: 554-556
Shivani Saini and Kiran Maheshwari (Department of Psychology, MJRP University, Jaipur, Rajasthan)

he present study aimed to examine the relationship between personality and mental health of male and female army officers. Sample consisted of 200 army officers out of which 100 were males and rest 100 were female officers. The sample was assessed on Singh's Differential Personality Inventory by Arun Kumar Singh and Ashish Kumar Singh and Mental Health Inventory by Jagdish and Srivastava, correlation between the samples revealed that there is a positive and significant relation between personality and mental health of male and female officers.

Pages: 559-561
Swati Gaur (Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi)

Mass communication is plainly amidst a monstrous move. What shape will it take, the truth will surface eventually. Every development includes something the one hand and subtracts something on the other. In any occasion, every single such development has unforeseeable impacts. A final point on which there can be little uncertainty is that the mass media, regardless of whether molders or reflectors of progress, are without a doubt messengers about change, or seen accordingly by their producers and their groups of onlookers, and it is around this perception that the primary viewpoints on mass communication can best be composed. This paper in view of studies made so far will relook at the wonders where media is probably going to influence changes socially and politically, especially in a just set up where they should work openly and talk courageously.

Pages: 568-570
Jaishree Jain (Department of Psychology, SMS Medical College Jaipur, Rajasthan)

It is observed that there is a tremendous increase in brain drain in India. It is clearly not just a matter of increasing their income which in any event would be difficult or impossible to do on a large scale. So a present study aims to investigate the personality factor (Locus of Control) in making decision for migration. A sample of 50 male Indians intending to migrate to USA was compared on Locus of control with a matched sample of 50 Indians who planned to remain in India. The data were collected by Locus of Control scale by Rotter et al. (1976). A mail questionaire procedure was used. Mean, SD and Anova indicated that there is a significant difference between Locus of Control of emigrants and non emigrants. The findings indicate that Locus of control has influential role in decision making for migration.