Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Damanjit Sandhu ¹, Haroon Shafiq ¹, Bikramjeet Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Punjabi University Patiala, IN

Abstract

Physical activity is any form of movement that causes our body to use energy. Physical activity can not only help individuals maintain a healthy weight and therefore reduce the risk for obesity, but also associated with a lowered risk for developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. It has also been suggested that physical activity may improve mental health and quality of life. Physical activity can promote mental well- being, prevent mental health problems and improve the quality of life of those experiencing mental health problems and illnesses. The present investigation aimed to study physical activity in relation to mental health. Adult physical activity was studied in relation to mental health. A representative sample of 200 males, of age range 40 to 45 years was drawn from Malerkotla City. The subjects were administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) - Long Forms (Craig, et al., 2003) and General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ) (Goldberg & Williams, 1991). Pearsons' Product Moment Correlational Analysis reveals that Physical Activity is inversely correlated with somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia , social dysfunction, & severe depression. Better Mental Health is evident when adult males are physically active.

Keywords

Physical Activity, Mental Health.

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Damanjit Sandhu ¹, Shubhdip Kaur ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, IN

Abstract

Disasters are mass traumatic events that involve multiple persons. As such there may be a wide range of people who may be considered “victims” of disaster, including those who nearly escaped death, those who are injured, family members of the deceased, and those who witnessed a catastrophic event. Accumulating evidences indicate that nature disasters can jeopardize severely the well being and normal functioning of the victims. Studies have thoroughly examined the psychological impacts of natural disasters. The most common impacts being Peritraumatic stress reactions, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, complicated grief symptoms, depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorders, distorted perceptions, pessimism, suicidal ideation and attempts. The gravity of such consequences being more pronounced for the children. To combat the impacts of these disasters, the implementation of psychological interventions such as Psychological First Aid, grief counseling, could actually be fruitful. There seems to be many challenges in providing psychosocial support to the victims, such as unawareness, stigma, lack of integration of physical and psychosocial support, and the acute shortage of trained professionals. The real challenge in the current scenario, therefore, is to make psychosocial support, following disaster, a norm and not an exception in the country.

Keywords

Disasters, India, Psychological Impacts, Intervention.

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Damanjit Sandhu ¹, Manjot Kaur ¹, Kirandeep Kaur ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, IN

Abstract

The problem of school bullying is on the rise world wide. Bullying has proven to be damaging and destructive for the pupils as well as for the society at large. In most situations, victims do survive but carry scars for a lifetime. Bullying tends to have negative affect on the physical, psychological, emotional, academic and social well being of a child. The present study was conducted to understand the relationship between school bullying and pupil well-being. This study highlighted the impact of bully-victimization on pupil well-being and it also explored the links between bully victimization and problem behaviour in Indian adolescent pupils. 200 school going adolescent boys and girls (age range 15-17 years) served as subjects in this study. Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (Mynard&Joseph, 2000), Youth Self Report (YSR) (Achenbach,1991) and Friedman Well-Being Scale (Friedman, 1992) were used. Reliability coefficients and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were computed. The results of the study showed that Bully-Victimization is linked with internalizing problem behaviour and it is negatively associated with happiness, joviality, sociability, self esteem/self confidence and emotional stability. Another very interesting finding which emerged from the present study is that pupils face physical victimization and attacks on property together.

Keywords

School Bullying, Bully-Victimization, Pupils, Adolescents, Well-Being, Problem Behaviour.

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Damanjit Sandhu ¹, Kirandeep Kaur ¹, Veena Bhatt ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, IN

Abstract

Adolescent risk-taking behaviour is a global public health and safety issue and adolescence is a turbulent period, a time when young people are particularly prone to engage in a variety of potentially risky behaviours such as drinking, smoking, illicit-drug use and sexual activity. The period of adolescence (ages 1121) is a time of multiple transitions, namely, the transition to puberty and transitions involving parent child relationships, school, peers, and cognitive and emotional abilities. This period is also characterized by an increase in risk-taking behaviours, e.g those linked to careless driving, substance use, unprotected sexual behaviour, eating disorders, delinquency, homicidal and suicidal behaviours, and dangerous sports. These behaviours are defined as risky since they are usually volitional, their outcomes are uncertain and they entail negative consequences. Several research has shown that parental attachment has a major role to play in adolescent risk-taking behaviour, for instance, adolescents who are more securely attached to their parents are less likely to get involved in various risk behaviours in comparison to adolescents who are insecurely attached to their parents. The present study aims to explore gender differences in adolescent risk-taking and association of parental attachment in terms of parental trust, communication and alienation with adolescent risk-taking. A total of 400 adolescents (males & females) age range 16 to 18 years were sampled, t-ratio and Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were computed. The results shows that no gender differences exists in adolescent risk-taking and that parental trust and communication are negatively correlated with adolescent risk-taking whereas parental alienation is positively correlated with adolescent risk-taking.

Keywords

Adolescent, Risk-Taking, Gender Differences, Parental Attachment, Trust, Communication and Alienation.

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