Browsing by Author "Saroj Verma"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Associated Factors of Suicidal Behavior Among Persons with Physical Disability: A Systematic Review
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2024) Suneel Kumar; Swaran Lata; Saroj Verma; Anupriya
Background: Suicide is common among persons with physical disabilities as they face several physical, social, psychological, and economic problems. They are at risk for suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and death by suicide. We aimed to systematically review empirically published articles and identify the associated factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in persons with physical disabilities. Methods: A systematic search was carried out on the literature published from January 1, 2000 to January 19, 2023 in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Shodh Ganga, and so on. All the synonyms of keywords or MeSH terms for suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and physical disability were used. Two hundred thirty-six articles were found, and after following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 remained. Result: The associated factors of suicidal behavior were disability status (11/12 studies), burdensomeness (8/12 studies), felt stigma (4/12 studies), depressive symptoms (6/12 studies), loneliness (2/12 studies), lack of social and emotional connectedness (2/12 studies), long-term physical or mental disability (2/12 studies), congenital disability (1/12 studies), and aggression (1/12 studies). Conclusion: Timely, evidence-based, low-cost interventions can provide great assistance and address the specific needs of this vulnerable population as they have higher risk for suicidal behavior. © 2024 The Author(s).
Cannabis use, polysubstance use, and psychosis prodrome among first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2022) Rajbala Kumari; Jay Kumar Ranjan; Saroj Verma
Background: Cannabis use and Psychosis are closely associated. Polysubstance use is prevalent among cannabis users. However, previous literature majorly examined the relationship between only cannabis use and schizophrenia disorder. Little is known about the impact of polysubstance use on the onset of prodromal symptoms. There is a scarcity of studies comparing the severity and characteristics of prodromal symptoms between cannabis users and polysubstance users. Aim: This study investigates the association between polysubstance use and prodromal symptoms. It also compares the severity and characteristics of prodromal symptoms among individuals with different substance use patterns. Method: 246 first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia participated in the study, using purposive sampling method. Pattern of substance use and prodromal symptoms were assessed using the WHO ASSIST Scale and PROD-Screen respectively. Result: Significant association was found between substance use and symptoms of prodrome (r = −0.57, p < .01). Individuals who consumed more than one substance experienced more severe prodromal symptoms. Prodromal symptoms viz. “hallucinatory and delusional symptoms” and affect and thinking difficulties discriminate the study groups effectively. Conclusion: Cannabis plus other substance use increases the risk of prodrome among first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia. Polysubstance use causes more thinking, affective, delusionary, and hallucinatory symptoms of prodrome. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Hindi Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Affiliate Stigma Scale
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2022) Rajbala Kumari; Jay Kumar Ranjan; Saroj Verma; Hari Shanker Asthana
Background: The Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS) is a widely used tool to measure affiliate stigma in the caregivers of individuals with various types of mental illnesses. However, the Hindi adaptation of this scale with evident psychometric properties is not available. This study aimed to adapt the ASS in the Hindi language and, further, to validate it in the Indian setting. Methods: Translation and back-translation methods were used to translate the original items of the ASS to the Hindi language. After completion of translations and linguistic adaptation process, the Hindi translated version of the ASS, WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered to 140 caregivers of persons with mental illness. Purposive sampling method was adopted. The age range of the participants was 17–60 years. Psychometric properties, as well as the factor structures of the scale, were evaluated. Results: The Hindi version of the ASS has adequate internal consistencies (r = 0.87–0.93) and test–retest reliability (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). The concurrent validity of this scale was also high, as the correlation coefficients among the Hindi version of the ASS, WHOQOL-BREF, GHQ-12, and HADS were ranging from 0.23 to 0.35. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three underlying factors, namely, cognition, affect, and behavior. Conclusions: The Hindi version of the ASS is a reliable and valid psychometric tool to measure affiliate stigma in caregivers of patients with mental illness. © 2022 Indian Psychiatric Society - South Zonal Branch.
Mental health status of adolescents in relation to perceived parental support
(2013) Vinita Tiwari; Saroj Verma
The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship of perceived parental psychological and instrumental support along with various mental health problems of adolescents. The present study was carried out on 400 adolescents (200 boys and 200 girls) with age range of 15 to 19 years. Results revealed that girls perceived more instrumental parental support (both paternal and maternal) than boys. On psychological support (paternal and maternal), boys and girls emerged to be more or less equal. Most of the associations of parental support, along with various mental health problems, were found negatively significant. Perceived paternal psychological support emerged as a significant predictor for most of the mental health problems. The present study provides the conclusion that parental support is related to better mental health status of adolescents. © Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.
Proactive Coping, Optimism, and Resilience among Students with Visual Disabilities
(Springer Nature, 2025) Suneel Kumar; Saroj Verma; Swaran Lata
Visual disabilities are when an individual experiences significant impairment in vision that cannot be fully corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. Students with visual disabilities face different kinds of challenges in daily life, so they are more prone to psychological problems. To deal with psychological issues, proactive coping is essential. Based on the above rationale, the following objectives have been formulated: To examine the gender difference in optimism, resilience, and proactive coping, and to explore relationships between optimism, resilience, and proactive coping of students with visual disabilities. One hundred and two participants with visual disabilities, aged 18–30, completed the assessment of optimism, resilience, and proactive coping. Mean, SD, t-test, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression were computed to analyse the group difference, associations between optimism, resilience, and proactive coping, and contribution of the predictor variables to explain criterion variable. Findings illustrate men students with visual disabilities received significantly higher scores in optimism, resilience, and proactive coping than their women counterparts, and significant positive correlations were found among resilience, optimism, and proactive coping. Optimism and resilience emerged as significant predictors of proactive coping of students with visual disabilities. The study findings suggest that students with visual disability had moderate proactive coping mechanisms. Resilience and optimism facilitate adaptive coping mechanisms required for improving the psychological and mental well-being of students with visual disabilities. The findings provide valuable insights for educators, counsellors, and policymakers aiming to support the well-being and academic success of students with visual disabilities. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
PSYCHO-SOCIAL OUTCOMES OF DISABILITY-RELATED STIGMA AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION AMONG PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
(Psychological Society of Northern Greece, 2024) Suneel Kumar; Swaran Lata; Saroj Verma
Disability is a broad concept and carries several classifications. Generally, it refers to a condition or impairment that limits a person’s physical, sensory, cognitive, or psychological capacities to such an extent that it interferes with their day-to-day activities and participation in society. This study, based on published articles aimed to illuminate the psychosocial outcomes of disability-related stigma and social exclusion among people with physical disabilities. A systematic search was carried out from January 1st 2001 to January 25th 2024 in various databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Random Google Searches. Studies related to psychosocial outcomes of disability-related stigma and social exclusion were located. Seven hundred sixteen articles were found, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, fifteen studies remained. Psychosocial outcomes of disability-related stigma and social exclusion were psychological outcomes such as mental health issues, low self-esteem, social outcomes such as discrimination, diminished quality of life, social isolation, economic outcomes, and academic outcomes. Disability-related stigma and social exclusion significantly impact the psychological and social well-being of individuals with physical disabilities, leading to adverse psychological outcomes (reduced self-esteem), social outcomes (reduced social support and increased social isolation), academic and economic outcomes (poor academic performance, low education, and lake of job) that facilitate the diminished quality of life. © Copyright: The Author(s). All articles are licensed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0 ).
Psychometric Properties of the Hindi Version of the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Scale Validation of the Five-Factor Structure
(Hogrefe Publishing GmbH, 2024) Rajbala Kumari; Jay Kumar Ranjan; Saroj Verma
Aim: The Behavioral Inhibition and Activation Scale is a popular instrument that assesses an individual’s responsiveness to reward and punishment. It is widely translated and validated in different languages. However, the Hindi version of this scale is not yet available. The present study aimed to adapt the BIS/BAS scale into Hindi and examine its psychometric properties and factor structure. Method: The original BIS/BAS scale was translated into Hindi using the translation and back-translation method. The translated Hindi version along with the NEO-FFI and HADS was administered on 200 participants. Psychometric properties, i.e., reliability, validity, and factor structure, were estimated. Result: Cronbach’s α coefficient ranged between.68 and.80, while test–retest reliability ranges between.85 and.92. The validity is also adequate. The findings support the five-factor structure of the BIS/BAS scale. Limitations: The present study has a relatively small sample, which is drawn from only one Hindi-speaking region of India. Conclusion: It was found that the Hindi version of the BIS/BAS scale is a reliable and valid tool with good psychometric properties. © 2024 The Author(s).