Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Asha Rani ¹, Promila Batra ²

Affiliations
1 General Hospital, Rohtak,Haryana, IN
2 Department of Psychology, M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana, IN

Abstract

Each disease brings with it lot of additionally associated problems that the patient requires to cope with this additional burden and stress. Therefore, every patient has to cope with both the disease and the accompanying stresses in the form of biological, psychological and social problems. HIV/AIDS is also a disorder with high incidence and prevalence. It is a viral disease, which reduces the ability of immune system to defend the body against the introduction of foreign substances (antigens). Its negative impact on the individual and society itself is in alarming stage, as the disease is highly associated with a variety of loss, grief and stress. Each individual suffering from HIV/AIDS adopts a different style and strategy to cope with the disease. However, these patients can be enabled to cope with the disease related stress and worries by training them on appropriate ways of coping. The existing literature indicating about various methods categorized as better ways of coping with specific diseases but it is important to know what type of ways are being adopted by the patients and need to be changed for the success of interventions to teach appropriate ways of coping. Therefore, study aimed at assessing the patterns of emotion focused and problem focused ways of coping among HIV and AIDS patients. The present study was earned out in Haryana on 500 patients with HIV/AIDS having the age from 25 to 50 years (mean age 37.5 years). To assess and compare the coping styles adopted by HIV/AIDS patients, the selected subjects were tested with the ways of coping questionnaire by Folkman and Lazarus (1988). Frequencies of individual high on one type of coping (quartile based)and the mean of coping scores were calculated and analyzed. The Chi-square and 'f values reveal that most of the HIV/AIDS patients were going more with emotion focused coping than with problem focused coping.

Keywords

HIV, AIDS, PLHIV, Coping Strategies, Neurotic Complaints, Psychiatric Symptoms.

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Dinesh Singh ¹, Asha Rani ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Govt. College, Baund Kalan, Bhiwani, Haryana, IN
2 Civil Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana, IN

Abstract

The present investigation was made to study the psychological (personality) correlates of criminal behaviour. The objectives of the study were to compare criminals and non-criminals on different personality variables/traits and to identify the discriminant variables of criminality. It was hypothesized that criminals would score higher on extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism and subsequently on all the personality traits (EPP-SV6) For the sudy of psychological correlates of criminal behaviour two group design was adopted group I (n = 100) consisting of criminals and group II (n=100) consisting of non-criminals (normal subjects). Criminals were inmates of District Jail, Rohtak under section 302 and 307 and non-criminals from general population. The two groups consisted of 25-35 years old, semi-literate from rural as well as urban background. They were matched on sociodemographic variables. Eysenck Personality Profiler Short (EPPS-V6) Hindi translation was used to measure the personality variables/traits. The data were analyzed by employing t-test and two group discriminant to identify the psychological personality correlates of criminality. It was found that criminals were significantly higher than non-criminals on all the personality traits as per EPP-SV6. The major discriminant factors of criminality were unhappiness, anxiety, inferiority, risk taking, irresponsibility, assertiveness and impulsiveness in that order.

Keywords

Personality, Risk Taking, Impulsivity, Criminal Behavior.

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Asha Rani ¹, Promila Batra ²

Affiliations
1 General Hospital, Rohtak,Haryana, IN
2 Department of Psychology, M.D. University, Rohtak,Haryana, IN

Abstract

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) due to Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral disease that reduces the ability of a subject to defend the body against foreign substances. Many psychiatric and psychological syndromes accompanying HIV/AIDS may vary from one to another stage and every patient has to cope with both the disease and the accompanying stresses. This makes the patients doubly burdened, necessitating the positive coping and management among the HIV and AIDS patients. There are studies indicating that different coping strategies may influence the patients differently in managing the disease and mental health of the patients. It is important to study the differences in the ways of coping being adopted by these patients before designing interventions to train these patients about positive ways of coping. Gender is one of the important factors affecting how these coping strategies are mobilized. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess gender difference in adopting emotion and problem focused ways of coping by the HIV and AIDS patients. The investigation was carried out in Haryana on 500 patients suffering from this disease in age group of 25-50 years with mean age 37.5 years. An equal number of males and females, i.e., 250 male (HIV positive: 125 & AIDS: 125) and 250 female (HIV positive: 125 & AIDS: 125) patients were selected. The selected subjects were tested using the ways of coping questionnaire suggested by Folkman and Lazarus (1988). Frequency wise and amount/extent wise analysis was done. The Chi-square, means, SD's and 't' values were computed to interpret the data. The use of emotion-focused ways was more prevalent amongst both the male and female patients of HIV and AIDS. Simultaneously, the ways of coping were adopted by both males and females suffering from HIV or AIDS.

Keywords

HIV, AIDS, PLHIV, Problem Focused Coping, Emotion Focused Coping.

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Alkesh Kumar ¹, Asha Rani ¹

Affiliations
1 General Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana, IN

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to find out the causes of marital discord and positive impact of counseling on couples suffering from matrimonial disharmony and interpersonal relationship problems. This prospective study comprised of 250 married couples who were reported at Family Counseling Centre located in industrial town of Haryana. Eight variables such as, age, education, socio-economic status, job status, substance abuse, extra-marital affairs, domestic violence and loneliness, were taken into consideration. After counseling of 250 married couples, 103 (41.2%) cases were able to resolve their differences and continue their marital life in satisfactory manners. Substance abuse and domestic violence were observed in life of 40% married couples (99.5% males) as ischolar_main cause. The rehabilitation and counseling worked on 50% cases where extramarital affairs (30%) and unemployment (25%) were the major causes and contributing factors of marital discord, which were resolved 27 and 35%, respectively. Loneliness, which was observed in 5% of the marital disharmony cases, was resolved 20% through counseling. This prospective study indicates a positive impact of counseling in 41.2% cases of marital discord. In case of educated and younger age couples belonging to low socioeconomic status, counseling was found to be more effective, whereas, drug addiction, extramarital affairs, lack of job satisfaction and domestic violence were identified as significant factors responsible for marital discords.

Keywords

Marital Discord, Domestic Violence, Marital Disharmony, Substance Abuse, Extra-marital Affairs.

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