Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

Edward Hoffman ¹, Garima Srivastava ², Sonia Kapur ³

Affiliations
1 Yeshiva University New York, NY, US
2 All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, IN
3 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR, US

Abstract

Nursing education has increasingly recognized the importance of dispositional factors in affecting student attrition and motivation. Yet meager empirical research exists on intrinsic motivational attributes of nursing students. In our view, early peak-experiences can provide useful information in this domain. We therefore collected data among Indian nursing students attending two nursing programs at a medical university in New Delhi. Sixty-six females responded to a questionnaire asking them to describe a peak-experience occurring before the age of 14 and its impact on their subsequent view of life. They also rated the enduring impact of their peak-experience on a 5-point Likert scale. Among their 68 reports, those involving external achievement were most frequent (35.3%). These were followed in frequency by interpersonal joy (27.9%), developmental landmark (17.7%), and receiving a material gift (11.8%). Peaks related to nature, skill mastery, or a religious experience in an institutional or non-institutional setting, were relatively rare, each accounting for less than 3% of all reports. No other categories of peak-experience, such as pertaining to aesthetics, philosophical musing, or serenity, were reported. The implications of our findings for optimizing Indian nursing education are discussed. Future avenues for research are highlighted.

Keywords

Peak-experiences, Nursing Students, Nursing Education, Indian Nurses, Abraham Maslow

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Edward Hoffman ¹, Garima Srivastava ², Fernando A. Ortiz ³, Maria Paula Fonseca ⁴

Affiliations
1 Yeshiva University New York, New York, US
2 Lady Shri Ram College for Women New Delhi, IN
3 Director of Counseling Services Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, US
4 University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland, US

Abstract

Although emotion regulationhas gained attention in positive psychology, research among Indians has been scant. In this study, 150 women at a university in Delhi responded to a survey. It asked their frequency of deliberately recalling a happy memory as a strategy to influence mood, when they were most likely to initiate this strategy, their extent of social engagement while doing so, and the particular type of memory they recalled. Participants were also asked how much this strategy improved their mood and reduced stress. Finally, they were asked to rate themselves on overall health, amount of recent stress, coping ability with stress, and life satisfaction. Frequency of accessing a happy memory related significantly to both mood uplift and stress reduction after recall, and life satisfaction. Intriguingly, the tendency to engage in this strategy while socializing was negatively correlated with life satisfaction and self-reported health. Future avenues of research were suggested.

Keywords

Emotion Regulation, Positive Psychology, Happiness, Stress, Life Satisfaction, Indian College Students.

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