Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Princy ¹, Tejpreet Kaur Kang ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Human Development, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, IN

Abstract

India is a home to one out of ten senior citizens in the world. This population, estimated to be over 80 million at present, is projected to grow to 124 million by 2020. Significantly women are doing better with life expectancy at 68 years compared to 66 years for men. Among the total elderly population, those who live in rural areas constitute 78 percent. Sex ratio in elderly population, which was 928 as compared to 927 in total population in the year 1996, is projected to become 1031 by the year 2016 as compared to 935 in the total population. So, the issue to improve the quality of life of these “silver citizens” is unquestionable. Happiness is a multidimensional construct comprising of emotional and cognitive elements. It is related with positive emotions whereas intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth balance our material pursuits and make us happy. Happiness can be achieved provided one has the wisdom of discovery, the wisdom of contentment, the wisdom of gratitude, the wisdom of giving and wisdom of self actualization. Spirituality is to some extent an one-to-one communication with the divine without the influence of any organization or a set of dogmatic views. It is based more on personal experiences rather than the experience of others. The Study” Spirituality as a correlate of Happiness among seniour citizens of Punjab: A comparative study”. Hence the objectives of the present research was framed to study the state of Happiness and Spirituality among male and female senior citizens. To study the relationship and contribution of Spirituality with state of Happiness among elderly. The sample comprised of 360 elderly persons (180 males and 180 females) in the age group 65years and above, only those elderly were selected for the sample who were leading a retired life, were not suffering from any deadly disease and belonged to middle socio economic status families. The sample was equally distributed over the three cultural zones of Punjab naming Malwa, Majha and Doaba each selected District. Data was collected through questionnnaire cum interview method. Results revealed that majority of male as well as female respondents were in average level of spirituality followed by high and low. Non-significant gender differences existed in the level of spirituality among elderly. Maximum number of respondents were having average level of happiness followed by high and low. Male elderly perceived significantly more happiness as compared to their female counterpats. Significant association existed between spirituality and happiness among elderly males and females. Indicating that with increase in spirituality level of happiness also increases. All the dimensions of spirituality wre significantly positively correlated with happiness except biostoria and inner self spirituality was contributing significantly and positively as a protective factor for happiness.

Keywords

Happiness, Spirituality and Ageing.

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Vandana Kumari ¹, Tejpreet K. Kang ², Princy ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Home Science, Govt. Girls PG College, Ghazipur, UP, IN
2 Department of Human Development Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, IN

Abstract

The present study entitled "aggression among adolescents across different socio-economic developmental strata-A comparative study" was undertaken in the Ludhiana district of Punjab state. The study was designed to compare the aggression among adolescent boys and girls across different socio-economic and developmental strata. The sample comprised of 400 adolescents (200 boys and 200 girls) in the age group of 13-17 years equally distributed over two socio-economic developmental strata, i.e. low and middle. Socio-economic status scale by Bharadwaj and Buss-Durkee aggression scale by Sultama were used to collect the data. Results revealed that adolescent boys were more assaultive, negative and verbally aggressive than adolescent girls, while girls were more suspicious than boys. A significant mean difference was found among low and middle socio-economic developmental adolescents. Low socio-economic developmental adolescents were more assaultive and suspicious than their middle socio-economic development counterparts while middle socio-economic developmental adolescents supersedes low socioeconomic development adolescents in expression of indirect aggression.

Keywords

Adolescent, Aggression, Assault, Indirect Aggression and Irritability.

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Princy ¹, Tejpreet Kaur Kang ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Human Development, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, IN

Abstract

Aging is a natural phenomenon that refers to changes, which occur during the life span and result in differences in structure and function between the youth and the elderly. Traditionally the term elderly has been referred to people who have attained certain age chronologically. Ageing is an inevitable process in which physiological, emotional and mental changes are observed in declining form. It is also known as a closing period of life span. It is "moving away" from more desirable period. Life satisfaction is a sum total of the perception of an individual towards his various aspects of life. It is his life in family, society and the environment he lives in. It is a composite measure comprising of physical, mental and social well being as perceived by each individual or by group of individuals. Life satisfaction includes happiness, satisfaction and gratification as health, marriage, family, work, financial situations, belongingness and trust in others. Life satisfaction of an individual is influenced by various factors. Amongst them death anxiety is one of the major influencing factor. Death anxiety (Thantaphobia) refers to fear and apprehension of one's own death. It is the neurotic fear of loss of the self, which, in intense state, parallels feelings of helplessness and depression. Man's awareness of his own death produces anxiety in him. Death anxiety is feeling of dread, apprehension or solicitude when one thinks of what happens after death, the process of dying or ceasing to be. The study "life satisfaction as a correlate of death anxiety among elderly" was conducted on 360 elderly persons (180 males and 180 females) residing in Punjab state. Only those elderly were selected for the sample who were leading a retired life, were not suffering from any deadly disease, living with their spouses and belonged to middle socio economic status families. Socio-Economic Status Scale developed by Bharadwajwas used to assess the socio economic status of the respondents. Death Anxiety scale by Chouhan and Tiwari and Life satisfaction scale by Alam and Shrivastava were used to assess the death anxiety and life satisfaction of the respondents respectively. The results revealed that significant differences existed in death anxiety and life satisfaction among elderly males and females. A significant and negative correlation between life satisfaction and death anxiety was found indicating that with increase in life satisfaction there is a decrease in death anxiety.

Keywords

Death Anxiety, Life Satisfaction and Ageing.

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