Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Amreen Ahmad Ali ¹, Neena Kohli ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, UP, IN

Abstract

Facebook or any other social networking site (SNS) is meant to have social interaction among individuals. The interaction via social networking has become an important part of an individual's life. The emergence of social networking sites has caught attention of psychologists leading them to study social capital, interpersonal relationship and motivation of facebook users. The aim of the present research was to understand the motivation for facebook use, how facebook enhances social capital, informational access and strengthens interpersonal relationship of its users. For this purpose, the most popular SNS in India was selected. 85 facebook users participated in the study out of which 62 were females and 23 were males. Data was collected online. Results indicated that motivation for using facebook is mostly maintaining offline contacts. SNS does not enhances social capital and informational access of its users. Not even it strengthens their interpersonal relationships. The correlational analysis revealed that with increase in the amount of time spent on facebook social capital and informational access also increases. And with increase in social capital informational access also increases.

Keywords

Facebook, Motivation, Social Capital, Interpersonal Relationship, Informational Access.

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Amreen Ahmad Ali ¹, Neena Kohli ¹, Shreshtha Yadav ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, IN

Abstract

The present paper reviewed studies on cancer patients in India, with the aim of identifying a) the nature and content of illness representations among Indian cancer patients and b) Coping approaches in the same population c) the role of distress in the relationship of illness representation and coping. 14 papers were included in the present review. The inclusion criteria were, studies must examine illness perceptions, stress/distress and coping among adult cancer patients and it should be empirical based on sample from India. Studies dealing with drugs or biological measures, reviews, meta-analysis, cancer in children and adolescents, and primary care giver were excluded from this review. Except time line, all dimensions of illness cognitions were dealt with. Identity of the illness overlapped with its causality. Most of the patients were found to be unaware of their diagnosis as well as prognosis. Avoidance and denial coping was prominent among Indian cancer patients. Role of distress could not be determined on the basis of the present group of researches, yet it can be suggested that, distress acts as a moderator between illness cognitions and coping because perception of distress will determine the coping strategies to be selected. Number of studies in the area under review is very less in India. The genesis of the CSM lies in the fact that patient should be aware of diagnosis, i.e. the identity. How will the stages interpretation, coping and appraisal of CSM commence unless and until there is any label attached to the disease?.

Keywords

Illness Cognition, Distress, Cancer, Coping, Common Sense Model.

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