Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Shonali Sud ¹, Akshita Sharma ², Astha Badalia ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, St. Bede's College, Shimla, IN
2 Department of Psychology, St. Bede's College, Shimla, H.P., IN

Abstract

The effect of environment and depression on health on N=30, (n=18, adults between 16-23 years and n=12, children between 9-15 years) subjects (bankers, administrators, academics and students) was undertaken in the urban areas of Shimla. Subjects responded to items on the Environment Awareness Scale (EAS-Cito-Arnhem,1994), depression(Goldberg Depression Questionnaire, Goldberg, 1993) and health habits(Nutrition and Exercise habits-Hindi, Chauhan & Sud, 2005), along with personal interviews for feedback regarding depression and its effect on health and disease. It was hypothesized, that as depression increases, health deteriorates, that youth between 16 and 23 years will show more depression as compared to children within the age 9 to 15 years and gender differences will emerge in terms of depression and health, regardless of age. Results support most of the hypotheses and indicate that due to depression there was a decrease in health habits although subjects irrespective of age and gender were conscious about protecting their environment. Furthermore it was observed that nutrition is an age/gender related factor. Interestingly, females showed significantly less concern for health, and it was seen that the older the person, the better were his nutrition and exercise habits. Depression appeared to be predominating in all subjects, environment awareness was prevalent and nutrition varied with age and gender. Exercise was not a popular activity among the subjects regardless of age and gender. More cross-sectional evidence is necessary on environment and exercise habits in curbing depression on larger samples and age groups, across cross sections of the Indian society.

Keywords

Depression, Gender, Health, Environment.

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Shonali Sud ¹, Nayantara Sud ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, St. Bede's College, Shimla, H. P, IN
2 Govt. Dental College & Hospital (HPGDC & H), Shimla, H.P, IN

Abstract

The aspects of education, environment awareness, health habits and dental anxiety affecting oral health were tested on 102 subjects between 17 and 65 years of Shimla and neighbouring districts in Himachal Pradesh. Level of education varied from uneducated (up to class 5), partially educated (up to graduation) to highly educated (professionally qualified) and they responded to questionnaires on environment awareness (EAS-Environment Awareness Scale (Cito-Arnhem,1994), the Oral Health and Quality of life measure for health habits (OHQoL, Strauss et al.l996). Nutrition and Exercise Habits (Schwarzer & Renner, 2000), Dental Anxiety (DAS-R, Corah, 1969) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12, Goldberg, 1992). The hypotheses stated that educated people will report less dental anxiety, those with low environment awareness will show an overall increase in oral health problems and poor general health, regardless of age and gender; and inadequate nutrition and poor exercise habits will be related to low dental care and disease, and that there will be gender related differences. Results show that male dental patients were conscious of their oral health, had lower dental anxiety, exercised more, had better perceptions regarding their general health as compared to female dental patients who not only reported lower oral health, slightly higher dental anxiety but also poor perceptions regarding their general health. Surprisingly, healthy people had somewhat lower environment awareness in comparison to patients (either male or female). A study of this nature will curtail periodontal disease, and help improve the quality of life and mental and physical well being.

Keywords

Education, Environment, Dental Anxiety, Oral Health.

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