Browsing by Author "Purnima Awasthi"

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Attitude and Myths Related to Stalking among Early and Middle Age Adults
(Sapienza Universita Editrice, 2023) Ravi P. Pandey; Shivangi Bansal; Purnima Awasthi; Vidushi Dixit; Ravindra Singh; Vibha Yadava
Stalking is described as a persistent pattern of behaviour that consists of undesirable contact and persistent monitoring. For example, stalkers may wait outside the victim’s home or make uninvited appearances in the victim’s personal space. Whether people understand stalking as an everyday brief behaviour or a bizarre phenomenon that needs intervention on their part makes a big distinction in the lives of stalking victims. Since humans tend to behave as per their attitudes, it makes it practically more important to assess myths and attitudes of people related to stalking. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess and compare the attitude and myths related to stalking between early and middle age adults. The study was conducted on 67 young adults (Female = 33; Male = 34) and 67 middle-aged adults (Female = 33; Male = 34) who reside in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). Mean age of the two groups was 24.56 for young adults (18-30 years) and 46.79 for middle adults (40-55 years). Sample was drawn using convenient sampling. A 19 items stalking-related attitude questionnaire (SRAQ) was used to measure an individual’s attitudes toward stalking statements and a 21-items stalking myths scale (SMS) was used to measure the participants’ endorsement of myths related to stalking. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation (SD), and t- test. Results showed that middle-aged adults endorse more stalking-related attitudes and myths than early-age adults. Significant gender difference was also found related to the endorsement of stalking-related attitudes and myths as male participants endorsed more stalking related attitude and myths than female participants. This finding provides evidence of the extent to which attitudes and myths related to stalking are present among different age groups of society in today’s times. © 2023 Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. All rights reserved.
Happiness and wellbeing for sustainable development
(School of Management Sciences, 2013) Purnima Awasthi; Sanjay Saxena
Personal well-being and happiness have been the focus of human concerns for decades. Bring intentional changes to sustain personal well-being in lives of people requires an understating of the multifaceted interacting formal, non formal, and informal institutional factors that influence human behavior. It has been considered as a founding stone of evolution of the great religions as well as inestimable local traditions and spiritual "pathways". The search of happiness is debatably the definitive motivating force of each and every action accomplished by individuals, either at individual or communities and national levels. Unfortunately we have not yet understood the meaning of happiness and its relationship to well-being, which is the ultimate force that may direct the path of happiness and sustainable behavior. Sustainable behavior satisfies our needs today, without diminishing the prospects of future generations to do the same. Which behaviors are the most damaging? Why don't we behave more sustainably, and what is the best approach to change? Presently there is no agreement on the nature of personal well-being and sustainable behavior, and almost all the proposed models have elements of subjectivity. Researchers have developed a novel collective ecosystem approach for constructing a basic health representation that may maintain strength across social, economical, environmental and cultural domains of societies to promote personal well-being. The collective ecosystem approach seems to be consistent with traditional values and provides a basis for personal conduct that may address the need to meet the century's major cultural and ecological challenges. The assumption is to be easily concerned with the natural and modified ecosystems. To arrive at a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, an individual must hold across main dimensions of human well-being such as physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual attributes. With the help of these attributes, scientists working directly on solving the problems pertaining to the ecosystem may utilize psychological findings that may be helpful in shaping environmental programs. Application of these attributes maintaining the well-being of individuals and community is described and the implications are discussed.
Health-promoting Lifestyle, Illness Control Beliefs and Well-being of the Obese Diabetic Women
(Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd, 2018) Purnima Awasthi; Ramesh C. Mishra; S.K. Singh
The study examines the role of health-promoting lifestyle and illness control beliefs in well-being of obese diabetic women. Measures of illness control belief, health-promoting lifestyle and obesity-related well-being were given to 100 obese diabetic women selected from outdoors of hospitals in Varanasi. Analysis revealed patients’ stronger belief in ‘doctor-control’ and ‘supernatural-control’ than ‘self-control’ of the disease. Nutrition, interpersonal relations, physical activity and stress management were given more importance in health promotion than spiritual growth-related practices. Belief in ‘self-control’ and ‘doctor-control’ of disease was negatively correlated with ‘psychosocial discomfort’, ‘physical discomfort’ and ‘psychosocial impact’ aspects of obesity, whereas ‘supernatural-control’ showed positive relationship with all aspects. All components of ‘health-promoting lifestyle’ were negatively correlated with ‘physical discomfort’, ‘psychosocial discomfort’ and ‘psychosocial impact’ aspects of obesity. Multiple regression analysis brought out ‘self-control’, ‘supernatural-control’, ‘health responsibility’, ‘physical activity’ and ‘stress management’ as significant predictors of ‘well-being’ of the obese diabetic women. © 2018 Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad.
Humor styles and psychological wellbeing of adolescents with and without orthopedic disability
(School of Management Sciences, 2019) Vibha Yadava; Purnima Awasthi; Sanjay Saxena
The quality of possessing a good sense of humor contributes to the enhancement of psychological wellbeing of adolescents. Apart from the other different skills for having greater and healthier sense of psychological wellbeing, the trait of good sense of humor has been proposed for facilitating in meeting the challenges of everyday lives of adolescents. The study was conducted to assess and compare humor styles and psychological wellbeing of normal healthy and adolescents with orthopedic disability. The sample comprised of 120 male and female adolescents (normal healthy = 60, adolescents with orthopedic disability = 60). The age of participants ranged from 12 to 18 years. Psychological Wellbeing and Humor Style measures were administered to assess the humor styles and psychological wellbeing of adolescents. A 2 × 2 factorial design was employed. The analysis showed that females with orthopedic disability scored higher on the affiliative and self-enhancing styles of humor as compared to their male counterparts. Males scored higher on autonomy measure whereas females scored higher on positive relations and self-acceptance measures of psychological wellbeing. Overall, the gender differences were evident between adolescents with orthopedic disability and normal healthy groups on almost all the measures of humor styles and psychological well-being. © 2019, School of Management Sciences. All rights reserved.
Involuntary Cultural Change and Mental Health Status Among Indigenous Groups: A Synthesis of Existing Literature
(Springer, 2022) Madhurima Mukherjee; Purnima Awasthi
Indigenous groups throughout the world have experienced social exclusion and have been subjected to marginalization. Globalization has resulted in significant changes in traditional lifestyles and developmental programs have not been successful in integrating Indigenous people into communities with non-Indigenous people. Although there is substantial research on acculturation and adaptation within the field of cross-cultural psychology, there are few narrative reviews of this literature. The present paper provides such a review and examines the mental health concerns of Indigenous groups undergoing acculturation. We address the consequences of involuntary cultural change and review studies that have been conducted on mental health issues, psychosomatic symptoms, substance use, and suicidality in Indigenous groups. We conclude by offering suggestions to mitigate mental health problems. Directions for future research on the acculturation of Indigenous groups are also provided. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Predictive Role of Emotion-Regulation in Acculturative Stress and Spiritual Well-Being of International Students
(School of Management Sciences, 2022) Purnima Awasthi; Madhurima Mukherjee; Namita Srivastava; Sanjay Saxena
The present study examined the role of cognitive emotion-regulation strategies in acculturative stress and spiritual well-being of international students. Measures of Cognitive Emotion-Regulation, Acculturative Stress, and Spiritual Well-Being (measured in terms of religious wellbeing and existential wellbeing) were administered on a sample of 100 female international students living in Varanasi. The findings showed that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were associated with greater acculturative stress and lower spiritual well-being while adaptive emotion regulation strategies were associated with lower acculturative stress and higher spiritual well-being. Furthermore, stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to explore the predictive role of emotion regulation on acculturative stress and spiritual well-being. Acculturative stress was positively predicted by ‘rumination’ and ‘blaming others’, and negatively predicted by ‘positive refocusing’. The use of ‘acceptance’ strategy positively predicted religious well-being while ‘blaming others’ negatively predicted religious well-being. Existential well-being was positively predicted by ‘positive reappraisal’ and negatively predicted by ‘catastrophizing’ and ‘putting into perspective’. Consistent with previous studies in this area, the present findings suggest that emotion regulation may have definite role in intercultural adjustment of international students. Results are discussed in light of existing research and their implications are outlined. © 2022, School of Management Sciences. All rights reserved.
Psychosomatic symptoms and attainment of flow state among adolescents: Role of social networking usage
(Giunti Psychometrics, 2025) Ravi P. Pandey; Febina Sherin; Pradip Kumar Gupta; Tanya Sharma; Vivek Singh; Pramod Kumar; Deepak Kumar; Purnima Awasthi; Arun Kumar; Nitu Singh; Ravindra Nath Singh; Shantesh Kumar Singh
The aim of this study was to explore the role of social media usage in the ‘psychosomatic’ symptoms and flow state of adolescents. The data was collected from 200 participants (94 males and 106 female) with the age range of 16 to 19 years (mean age 18,58) from Haryana and Delhi-NCR region of India. The sample was selected using convenient sampling method. Measures of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15), Flow State Questionnaire and Social Networking Usage Questionnaire were used to collect the data. Findings indicated a significant positive correlation of social media usage with the psychosomatic symptoms and negative correlation with the flow state of the adolescents. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that social networking usage (socialization, informativeness & entertainment) contributed significantly to the psychosomatic symptoms of adolescents. In addition, social networking usage and their dimensions negatively predicted the flow state of adolescents. Health care professionals and government may use the findings of the study to regulate the use of social media especially for adolescents to alleviate the ill effects of social networking usage and promote health related behavior among adolescents. © 2025, Giunti Psychometrics. All rights reserved.
Religious beliefs, patient–doctor interaction and resilience as predictors for treatment decisions and health outcomes of heart patients
(Routledge, 2019) Sanjay Kumar; Purnima Awasthi; Om Shankar
Treatment decision-making in chronic illness poses long-lasting effects on the health status of patients. In Western individualistic cultures, they are independently taken by the individual in collaboration with doctors contrary to the collectivistic Indian context, where it’s decided by families with little or no involvement of patients. Religious beliefs, patient–doctor interaction, and resilience measures of 100 CAD patients were used to assess their religious beliefs, patient–doctor interaction, and resilience (predictors). Hierarchical Regression Analysis was conducted to test for the significance of the proposed model. Religious beliefs, patient–doctor interaction, and resilience collectively predicted the significant change in decision-making styles, somatic symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunctions, depression, and general health total of the participants. While the treatment decision-making is heavily contingent upon the social factors namely–religious beliefs, patient–doctor interaction, and resilience, there may yet be some underlying psychological factors that have not been explored in the present study. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Role of coping strategies and social support in perceived illness consequences and controllability among diabetic women
(Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd, 2007) Purnima Awasthi; R.C. Mishra
Interest in the processes by which people cope with stress has grown dramatically over the past decade. In the present study the role of coping strategies and social support in perceived illness consequences and illness controllability beliefs among diabetic women (n = 100) were studied. It was found that approach coping strategies reduced the severity of perceived illness consequences, whereas avoidance coping strategies increased the severity of perceived illness consequences. The approach strategies of coping were positively correlated to self and doctors' control. The patients characterised by high level of social support felt less severe consequences of illness. These findings are discussed in the context of the current analyses of lay theories and also folk models of illness find due representation.
Role of Individualistic and Collectivistic Orientations in the Happy Life of Kharwar Adivasi Community
(School of Management Sciences, 2025) Purnima Awasthi; Madhurima Mukherjee; Sanjay Saxena
Following globalization, westernized cultural values, ideas, and practices have rapidly spread. Cultures are in flux, and indigenous communities are not free from the influence of the outside world. In this research, we investigated how the psychological tendencies of indigenous communities might be affected by such socio-cultural changes in a predominantly collectivist nation. A community-based study was conducted with 150 Kharwar Adivasi individuals residing in 10 villages of Naugarh block, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh. The participants, aged 25-50 years, were given the measures of Individualism-Collectivism Orientations and Happy Life. Using an exploratory factor analysis, a five-factor structure emerged, explaining 57% of the variance in happy life. The results indicated that 59% of the sample had a collectivistic orientation. Individuals with a collectivistic orientation fared better in overall happiness and its sub-domains than individuals with an individualistic orientation. It is suggested that even though there is a gradual increase in individualism, for the Adivasi community, happiness is still enhanced by tendencies of interdependence. The findings have important implications for understanding the happiness of the under-researched Adivasi population. © (2025), (School of Management Sciences). All rights reserved.
Role of psychological factors in management of sport injuries: An overview
(School of Management Sciences, 2016) Vibha Yadava; Purnima Awasthi
This paper sets out the aspects of sport injuries and relates psychological variables to injuries in context of sports. Since injury is common at all levels of sports and exercise, it can be caused by different factors. In this context, a very brief concept about sports injury has been discussed along with the prevalence and distribution of injuries among various populations. Apart from this, factors for the prevalence and distribution of injury vulnerability to sport injury have been focused. The sport that leads to injury among boys and girls has been highlighted. Also, the interaction of some variables that leads to injury, that vary in their nature and occurrence like, injury occurrence, athlete's psychological response to injury, psychological aspects of the rehabilitation process, and also psychological readiness to return to competition. Among the factors already studied are the stress responses, personality, history of stressors, and coping resources. The later section of this document provides an overview of the factors that affects the rehabilitation processes and its outcome in case of sport injury. The psychological perspectives like psychological and emotional reactions to sport injuries, interventions aimed at facilitating the rehabilitation process and return to sport issues are extremely important, as a result of many different factors. These factors are important in order to better understand sports injury and implement actions that are required for the management of health, to prevent sports injuries and minimize the possibility of injury in sports. The factors that are influential in return to sport have been emphasized with its focus on motivation and self-confidence that may facilitate the recovery and enhance the process of health management.
Spiritual Beliefs, Illness Controllability and Subjective Wellbeing of Breast Cancer Patients
(School of Management Sciences, 2022) Purnima Awasthi; Bithika Agrawal; U.P. Shahi; Sanjay Saxena
The present study examines the relationship of spiritual beliefs (karma or action, generosity, surrender to almighty, altruism) and illness controllability beliefs (self, doctor, supernatural) with subjective well-being and health outcomes of women patients (N = 100) suffering from breast cancer. Participants were drawn from various medical centers and hospitals located in Varanasi city. These participants were given the measures of spiritual beliefs, illness controllability beliefs, life satisfaction, and health outcomes. Analysis showed a positive association of beliefs in “Karma” and “altruism” with “life-satisfaction” and “positive health outcomes” (e.g., hope, functional wellbeing, treatment satisfaction), and negatively with “pain” and “severity” of illness. “Self” and “doctor-control” showed a positive association with “life-satisfaction”, “hope”, “functional-wellbeing”, and “treatment-satisfaction” and negative with “pain” and “severity”. Beliefs in “Karma” and ‘altruism”, and “self” and “doctor-control” emerged as significant predictors of “life-satisfaction” and “positive health outcomes” of women patients. © The Author(s). 2021 Open Access.
Stressful experiences, workplace stress, and type 2 diabetes: Management of diabetes
(School of Management Sciences, 2017) Purnima Awasthi
The present paper draws attention towards the common occurrence of daily life i.e., stress along with its relation and linkage with diabetes, which is no doubt reaching epidemic proportions. The paper throws light on the relation between stressful experiences and onset and control of diabetes. It focuses how stress might lead to diabetes and also increase the risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Also in various situations managing diabetes in itself becomes a stressful task and adds up more to added risk. Finally various stress management approaches are discussed in order to ensure proper management of stress so that the quality of life of an individual is not hampered to the extremes and it becomes manageable to cope up or combat with the harmful consequences of stress, which further aggravates or increases the risk of diabetes.
Unveiling the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Adult Criminal Behavior: A Qualitative Enquiry
(Routledge, 2025) Ravi P. Pandey; Hanna; Tanya Sharma; Komal Bumra; Vivek Singh; Sreeja Das; Purnima Awasthi; Vidushi Dixit
This qualitative study explored how adverse childhood experiences contribute to criminal behavior among 20 male prisoners (aged 20–40) in Kerala. Using semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis revealed seven key themes: family dysfunction, emotional struggle, abuse, economic struggle, peer pressure, coping mechanisms, and sensation seeking. Findings showed that family dysfunction creates baseline trauma, fostering emotional voids and maladaptive coping. The study emphasizes the interconnectedness of multiple adversities in shaping criminality. It highlights the need for early interventions addressing trauma, emotional dysregulation, and unhealthy coping patterns through supportive networks to prevent criminal behavior later in life. © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.