Indian Journal of Positive Psychology

Sibnath Deb ¹, Anjali Garesion ², Banhishikha Bhattacharyya ³, Sun Jiandong ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IN
3 Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata, IN
4 Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, AU

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to understand the teachers' perception about students' academic stress and other welfare related issues. A group of 125 secondary and higher secondary school teachers (43 male and 82 female) from five schools located in Kolkata were covered in the study following convenience sampling technique. Data were collected by using a semi-structured questionnaire developed by the first author. Findings revealed that more than half of the teachers (55.8% male and 54.9% female) felt that today's students are not brought up in child friendly environment while an overwhelming number of teachers stated that students face some social problems (88.4% male and 96.3% female) which affects their mental health and causes stress (90.7% male and 92.7% female). However, majority of them (79.1% male and 78% female teachers), irrespective of gender, denied the fact that teaching method followed in schools could cause academic stress. Vast majority of the teachers felt that New Education System in India i.e., making Grade X examination (popularly known as secondary examination) optional will not be beneficial for students. So far as motivation of the students is concerned, introducing innovative teaching methods like project work, field visit, using audio-visual aids in the schools has been suggested by more than 95% of the teachers. This apart, most of the teachers suggested reward system in the schools in addition to taking classes seriously by the teachers and punctuality. Reduction of load of home work was also suggested by more than two-fifth teachers. Although corporal punishment has gone down, it is still practiced by some of the teachers' especially male teachers in Kolkata. Male and female teachers differed significantly with respect to two issues only (p < .05) i.e., applying corporal punishment and impact of sexual health education. Male teachers apply more corporal punishment compared to female teachers and secondly, male teachers do not foresee any negative influence of sexual health education.

Keywords

Acadamic Stress, Welfare, Teachers.

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Anjali Gireesan ¹, Aneesh V. Kumar ¹, Sibnath Deb ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

Being a child is a gift. It does not matter what differences exist between them individually. Each one of them has a potential to become something important in this world, if they are given proper care and support. Children, who fall prey to hardships like mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and other related disabilities, are no different. They also have the right to care and support that other children enjoy and cherish. Rather, they need different and more extensive supportive care to realize their potentials. But they are often neglected, most often because of the lack of understanding in the society as a whole and several misconceptions pertaining to their disabilities. This study aims to understand the various aspects of care of children with special needs. Sources for effective child care, knowledge and understanding of child care measures and programs, expectations of guardians and service-providers and awareness about Government policies were explored. A Semi-Structured Questionnaire was developed by the investigators to conduct interviews with 25 guardians and 25 service providers of children with special needs who currently attend a Special School in Pondicherry. The data was then analyzed qualitatively following content analysis method. Some of the major issues that emerged from the study pertain to lack of implementation of Government policies, prevalence of negative perception in community and importance of effective communication between different people participating in taking care of children with special needs. The results throw light on different aspects like need for more training and resources, support from community, conduction of awareness programs and the need for effective communication between different departments of an organization as well as between guardians and service providers.

Keywords

Children With Special Needs, Child Care, Guardians, Service Providers

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Ria Saha ¹, Anjali Giressan ², Sibnath Deb ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology University of Calcutta, Kolkata, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

The study examined the impact of adverse childhood experiences on mental health of a group of 400 undergraduate students (221 females and 189 males) especially on self-esteem, satisfaction with life, feeling of security and suicidal ideation. Findings revealed that 70.8% (283/400) of the students experienced some form of adverse childhood experiences (57.5% males and 81.4% females). Out of the total of 283 subjects who experienced some form of abuse, about 49.5% (198/400), 37.8% (151/400), and 27% (108/400) of them experienced verbal/ psychological, physical, and sexual abuse respectively during childhood while 25.5% (102/400) witnessed violence in the family. A good number of them had multiple adverse childhood experiences. So far as impact of abuse on mental health is concerned, a direct link was found between childhood adverse experience and low self-esteem (p<0.001), and feeling of security (p<0.001). A significant difference was found between abused male and female students with respect to their self-esteem (p< 0.01), feeling of security (p<0.05) and life satisfaction (p <0.001) scores. Abused students, especially females were found to be more likely to develop a negative image about themselves and their lives than that of non-abused students. Suicidal ideation was more prevalent among abused students, irrespective of gender as compared to non-abused ones (p<0.05).

Keywords

Adverse Childhood Experience, Impact, Mental Health, Student

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Banhisikha Bhattacharya ¹, Sibnath Deb ²

Affiliations
1 Student's Counselor, Institute of Technology, Kolkata, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to understand the self-concept of 11th and 12th standard adolescent boy s and girls of Kolkata city.It was hypothesized that the self-concept of adolescents with respect to gender and educational standard will differ signicantly.A group of 370 adolescents(182boys and l88 girls)from six schools were covered in the study and they were selected following multi-stage sampling technique. A Semi-structured Questionnaire and Self-concept Scale were used for data collection. The study was earned out m 2011. The mean values of overall self-concept were found to be 169.7 for adolescent boys and l59.9 for adolescent girls i.e.,the self-concept of adolescent boys was significantly higher compared to girls (p7<.01). Further analysis of data revealed statistically significant difference (p<.001) between boys and girls with respect to components of self-concept like health and sex appropriateness, abilities, self-confidence, worthiness, present, past and future, beliefs and convictions, feeling of shame and guilt, and emotional component i.e., mean score of adolescent boys were significantly higher than the means score of girls with respect to the said components of self-concept. On the contrary, girls were found to be significantly higher in beliefs and convictions components compared to boys. No significant difference was observed between boys and girls with respect to self-acceptance and sociability components. So far as educational standard is considered, students of 11th standard were found to have higher mean score than the students of 12th standard in most of the components of self-concept and significant difference was found in four components only like health and sex appropriateness, abilities, self-acceptance and emotional component.

Keywords

Self-Concept, Adolescents.

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Aneesh Kumar ¹, Shinto Thomas ², Sibnath Deb ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bengaluru, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IN

Abstract

Adolescence is a major developmental stage characterised by marked growth and development. Family and other significant people play very crucial role during this developmental stage. Sibling relations are given due importance as children grow together and share the same environment. These relations whether positive or disturbing have impact on the adolescent's coping and development even it persists throughout their life. The present secondary research based article aims to understand the dynamics of sibling relations and its impact on adolescent's life. Evidence indicates that sibling relations depend on various factors such as family type, structure, size, economic conditions and gender of the siblings and other factors. A positive and congenial sibling relation helps moulding a child into a sound person whereas disturbing or unfriendly relations including rivalry, bullying and sexual or physical abuse has negative impact on development and can cause severe consequences ranging shame, aggression or fear to severe anxiety, depression and other mental and physical health hazards. Sibling relation often reflects in adolescent's personality, socialisation and interpersonal skills. Evidences also indicate that sibling support and healthy relation can boost up confidence and healthy mental development of adolescent even in adolescent with disability or other disorders. Parents and professionals often fail to understand the dynamics and importance of sibling relation and sometimes incidences of sexual abuse or other potential risks goes unnoticed. The paper recommends the need for family and community-based awareness and effective parenting programs. Also it calls for the attention from professional, parents and researchers to unearth the dynamics of sibling relations.

Keywords

Adolescents Mental Health, Sibling Relations, Abuse, Rivalry, Protective Factors.

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