Browsing by Author "Shalini Mittal"

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A Qualitative Enquiry of the Experience of Music Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic
(Taylor and Francis, 2024) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Durgesh Kumar Upadhyay; Bhawna Tushir
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic became a new normal in today’s world and has changed the consumption pattern and absorption of music and music apps in India. The music industry is relatively non-telecommutable, making working from home difficult during the imposed lockdown and social distancing norms. These conditions had adverse effects on the physical and mental health of music professionals. Therefore, it was crucial to understand the differential impact of COVID-19 on music professionals to find effective solutions and plan for future careers in a changed music industry. Method: The current paper qualitatively explored the experiences of the music professionals participating in this research during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Twelve participants having 8 years of average professional experience (comprising singers, instrumentalists, music teachers, composers, YouTube content creators) were telephonically interviewed during the second wave of COVID-19 in India. The interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: The thematic content analysis resulted in the emergence of two major themes identified from the participants’ narratives were ‘impact on participating music professionals’ and ‘coping reactions’. Conclusion: The themes emerged from analysis highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on these music professionals and the coping reactions utilized by them. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Dr Uzaina, Dr Rajesh Verma with Dr Ruchi Pandey; individual chapters, the contributors.
Cognitive behavior therapy for children with depression: Application, practical considerations, and challenges
(Elsevier, 2023) Tushar Singh; Debasruti Ghosh; Thomas Enias Pasipanodya; Saurabh Raj; Shalini Mittal
Depression is one of the primary causes of disability among children. There are clear differences between a child and adult experiences of depression. Children find it difficult to verbalize their feelings and might require approaches that suit their cognitive and developmental levels. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that has been impactful in depression. This chapter sets out to look at the literature surrounding CBT to understand its effectiveness and challenges for the management of childhood depression. The cognitive behavioral explanations of depressed children point out specific cognitive distortions, attributional style, and response style that make a child vulnerable to depression. Hence, CBT with depressive children needs to be adapted in accordance with the unique experiences of the child. Researches that have tried to demonstrate the efficacy of CBT on children with depression have reported that it is impactful in symptom reduction, preventing relapse, and addressing trauma. The therapist may encounter challenges while dealing with children who have suicidal tendencies, are nonexpressive, and children with limited cognitive development. It is recommended that the use of CBT as a preventive approach at the community level for children and deliberating CBT via online modalities can be encouraged to reach on a large scale. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
DR. LEORA ECHOHAWK: Scholarly Journey and Contributions in Psychology, Indigenization, and Classroom Utility
(Taylor and Francis, 2024) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh
The chapter features the scholarly contributions and personal and professional history of Dr. Leora Marlene Echohawk. The chapter is a comprehensive exploration of her contributions to the field of psychology. It presents a summary of Echohawk's dissertation titled Locus of Control among American Indian Youth, which explored the relationship between locus of control and leadership and behavioral problem dimensions through correlational methods in this demographic. The findings of her study offer valuable insights into some of the psychological factors that shape the lives of the American Indian Youth. The chapter also includes the reproducibility critique of Echohawk's work and discusses its relevance for the movement of indigenization of psychology and understanding of the ways in which prejudice occurs and affects communities. The chapter concludes with a reflection on the practical applications of Echohawk's work within the classroom setting. It explores the ways in which the educators can incorporate her research to improve teaching strategies and create more culturally sensitive and inclusive learning environments. The present chapter celebrates Echohawk's contributions to the field of psychology and her dedication to understanding the experiences of the American Indian population. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Rihana Shiri Mason, Jon E. Grahe, and Michelle L. Ceynar.
Exploring the trauma of acid attack victims: a qualitative enquiry
(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Sunil K. Verma
Various researches have been carried out in the past to understand psychological trauma that suggest that gender differences can be observed in the type, prevalence, and impact of trauma. Ample evidence exists that indicates that women are often the target of different kinds of gender-based violence, causing them to experience physical and psychological trauma. However, the trauma associated with one such gender-based crime, acid attack, has been less explored and lacks due representation in media and literature. Moreover, trauma has mostly been studied from a clinical perspective. Hence the present research was conducted on 30 female acid attack victims to explore their experience of the trauma of acid attack from a social constructivist approach. Narratives focusing on their victimization experience and trauma were collected and analyzed with the help of a six-step thematic content analysis approach. Based on the patterns identified in the research, six significant sources of trauma associated with acid attack, with inter-related but mutually exclusive subthemes, were identified. These sources include violence, motive, social statement, betrayal, violation of civil rights, and embodiment. The present study increases the visibility of acid victims in scientific research and contributes to the understanding of psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals that might work with them. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Gender-Based Violence During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini-Review
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2020) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh
Purpose: Quarantine is necessary to reduce the community spread of the Coronavirus disease, but it also has serious psychological and socially disruptive consequences. This is known as the quarantine paradox that also includes a surge in the cases of gender-based violence. However, there exists a clear gap of rigorous literature exploring the issue. Hence, the current paper attempts to understand gender-based violence as an aspect of the COVID-19 lockdown. It reviews the pattern of rise in gender violence cases and the resultant psychological and social issues and attempts to create awareness by initiating a discourse urging for change in the response towards the victims of gender-based violence. The paper further attempts to suggest measures to mitigate the issues arising out of gender violence during quarantine. Method: The current paper reviews the literature on the rise of gender-based violence in the times of current and past pandemics. The paper also reviews the published reports in scientific as well as mass media literatures focusing on the rise of gender-based violence during the imposed lockdown, its consequences, and the measures taken by the governments to tackle the issue. Results: The present review reveals that similar to the previous pandemics and epidemics, there has been an alarming rise in the incidents of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present review further reveals various other risk factors that have been found attributive to the surge of gender-based violence such as economic insecurity and alcohol consumption. The results of the review indicate that despite its global prevalence, gender-based violence has been one of the most neglected outcomes of pandemics. Moreover, the legislatures and services available for such victims are often inadequate and, thus, worsening their situation. Conclusion: Pandemic situations have been found to be associated with advancements in the medical field. However, a part and parcel of this situation is the age-old practice of quarantine that has several negative outcomes. This also includes a surge in gender-based violence that raises serious concerns about the safety of women. As the legislatures provided and measures taken by the governments are falling short in dealing with the issue, a number of non-government organizations are stepping up to provide necessary services to these victims. Copyright © 2020 Mittal and Singh.
Impact of COVID-19 and Social Distancing Measures on Married Women: A Qualitative Enquiry
(Taylor and Francis, 2025) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Harleen Kaur; Rahul Varma; Sreeja Das; Yogesh Kumar Arya; Sunil K. Verma; Shivantika Sharad; Divya Bhanot; Udisha Merwal; Aishwarya Jaiswal; Benkat Krishna Bharti; Bhawna Tushir
Considering the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, governments worldwide implemented lockdowns and social distancing measures to contain the spread. Despite these critical measures, the pandemic exacerbated gender inequality, particularly impacting women. With schools and workplaces closed and heightened concerns for family members’ health, women shouldered increased family responsibilities, leading to numerous physical and psychological health challenges. Married women, in particular, faced amplified burdens. This study aims to delve into the experiences of married women during the pandemic. Twenty married women within the age range of 22–45 years residing in the northern part of India were telephonically interviewed about their experiences during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The interviews recordings were transcribed manually and analysed using thematic content analysis. The emerging themes -emotional and psychological impact, social impact, workload impact, and coping mechanisms -shed light on both the positive and negative outcomes of the pandemic. The results revealed that both working and non-working married women encountered emotional, psychological, and social challenges such as anxiety, social isolation, increased intimacy, and work–family conflict due to heightened domestic responsibilities resulting from the confinement of each family member at home. However, women reported that habituation and forced adjustments became their primary coping mechanisms. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Shalini Mittal, Tushar Singh, Harleen Kaur, Rahul Varma, Sreeja Das, Yogesh Kumar Arya, Sunil K. Verma, Shivantika Sharad, Divya Bhanot, Udisha Merwal, Aishwarya Jaiswal, Benkat Krishna Bharti, and Bhawna Tushir.
Nature of music engagement and its relation to resilient coping, optimism and fear of COVID-19
(Taylor and Francis, 2024) Durgesh Kumar Upadhyay; Tushar Singh; Shalini Mittal; Bhawna Tushir
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented lockdowns, a “work from home” culture, social distancing and other measures which badly affected the world populace.Individuals over the globe reported experiencing several psychosocial and psychosomatic problems.Nevertheless, this pandemic allowed us to be with ourselves, to understand the importance of healthy lifestyles and to devote time to our passions and hobbies when we were socially isolated.Against this background, the present study was undertaken to explore the nature of people’s everyday musical engagement and to examine how the experience and functions of music were related to resilient coping, life orientation and fear from COVID-19.In an online survey, a total of 197 participants responded to a questionnaire designed to assess the nature of musical engagement (level of musical training, functional niche of music, listening habits and involvement in musical activities), functions of music (FMS), resilient coping (BRCS), life orientation (LOT-R), and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S).Results indicate that for most of the respondents, music listening was a preferred activity during the pandemic which resulted in positive effects on their mood, heart rate and respiratory rates.More than 80 per cent of respondents reported music as a source of pleasure and enjoyment and claimed that it helped to calm them, release their stress, and help them relax.Significant positive correlations were found between the functions of music (memory-based and mood-based), optimism and resilient coping and mood-based functions of music and optimism were found to predict resilient coping among individuals.These results suggest that meaningful and active music engagement may lead to optimism which may result in effective resilient coping during the crisis.Moreover, reflecting upon our everyday musical engagements can promote music as a coping skill. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Asma Parveen and Rajesh Verma; individual chapters, the contributors.
Physical Fitness and Exercise During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Enquiry
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2020) Harleen Kaur; Tushar Singh; Yogesh Kumar Arya; Shalini Mittal
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this fast-moving world to a standstill. The impact of this pandemic is massive, and the only strategy to curb the rapid spread of the disease is to follow social distancing. The imposed lockdown, resulting in the closure of business activities, public places, fitness and activity centers, and overall social life, has hampered many aspects of the lives of people including routine fitness activities of fitness freaks, which has resulted in various psychological issues and serious fitness and health concerns. In the present paper, the authors aimed at understanding the unique experiences of fitness freaks during the period of lockdown due to COVID-19. The paper also intended to explore the ways in which alternate exercises and fitness activities at home helped them deal with psychological issues and physical health consequences. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 adults who were regularly working out in the gym before the COVID-19 pandemic but stayed at home during the nationwide lockdown. The analysis revealed that during the initial phase of lockdown, the participants had a negative situational perception and a lack of motivation for fitness exercise. They also showed psychological health concerns and overdependence on social media in spending their free time. However, there was a gradual increase in positive self-perception and motivation to overcome their dependence on gym and fitness equipment and to continue fitness exercises at home. Participants also tended to play music as a tool while working out. The regular fitness workout at home during the lockdown greatly helped them to overcome psychological issues and fitness concerns. © Copyright © 2020 Kaur, Singh, Arya and Mittal.
Role of Psychological Makeup in Psychological Rehabilitation of Acid Attack Victims
(SAGE Publications Inc., 2021) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Sunil K. Verma
From eve-teasing to more aggressive forms of sexual violence, subjection of women to sexual violence has been on the rise. One heinous form of sexual violence is the acid attack. Acid attack refers to the intentional act of throwing acid on an individual with the intent of harming, torturing, disfiguring, injuring, or killing them. Despite an increase in the number of reported cases of acid attacks, the initial nonavailability of strict legislatures and underreporting of the crime have led to gross underrepresentation of the acid attack victims in the scientific literature. Moreover, most researches focus on the impact of acid attack and not on the process of recovery for these victims. Hence, this paper attempts to explore the role of psychological makeup in the psychological rehabilitation of acid attack victims. This study adopted the homogeneous purposive sampling method. The sample consisted of 30 female victims of acid attack between the age group of 18 to 25 years. The narratives of these victims focusing on their experiences before and after the incidence were collected. Findings of this study indicate that psychological makeup is an important variable that is responsible for the successful recovery from trauma. Nearly all of the victims have shown symptoms of maladaptive psychological makeup after facing a violent event. However, after participation in the rehabilitation program, the victims moved from having maladaptive psychological makeup toward having adaptive psychological makeup. The emergent subthemes comprising maladaptive psychological makeup consists of cognitive distortions, hopelessness, shame, and suicidal ideation; and for adaptive psychological makeup, these are positive life orientation, belief in the just world, and self-efficacy. The insights of the study will contribute to an improved understanding of the recovery process of the acid attack victims and help in planning intervention protocols for them. © The Author(s) 2020.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and School Life in India
(Taylor and Francis, 2023) Tushar Singh; Harleen Kaur; Shalini Mittal
India is among the largest and most diversified single societies in the world. The country speaks varied languages, practices various religions, and comprises varied communities, casts, and tribes, that amazingly run as a large democracy regardless of many challenges of a developing nation. Sexual and gender minorities snatched considerable attention when a landmark judgment was handed down regarding Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 2018, and when the Transgender Persons’ Bill was passed in 2019. However, the empathetic understanding and acceptance of these minorities remain a distant dream. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and so on (LGBTQ+) children are often excluded, bullied, and stigmatized in schools. Lack of awareness often leads to teachers playing the role of bullies. Consequently, these minorities often wait to pass out from school before they openly accept their gender and sexual orientation. The 2011 Census of India counted 54,854 transgender children below the age of 6 years. However, in the recently declared high school and intermediate results of the Central Board of Secondary Education, there were only 25 transgender persons among the students. The socioeconomic situation of transgender people in India clearly indicates that education is out of reach for them (National Human Rights Commission, 2007). However, the Ministry of Education, Government of India revised its National Education Policy 2020 to include transgender children by identifying them as a socioeconomically disadvantaged group, ensuring equity and allocating gender inclusion funds for them. There is a mandate for appointing counselors in schools for resolving the psychological issues of students and helping them by preparing them for the coming out process for LGBTQ+ children. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Makiko Kasai, Yuichi Toda and Stephen Russell; individual chapters, the contributors.
The influence of social support in the rehabilitation of acid attack victims: A qualitative inquiry
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2021) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Sunil K. Verma
Acid attack refers to the act of hurling acid or any other corrosive substance on a person with the intention of injuring, harming, maiming, disfiguring or killing. Despite the fact that the number of acid attack cases in India have been rising, a separate section for acid attacks was not included in the Indian Penal Code until the year 2013. Even after the inclusion of this crime in the Indian Penal Code, the discourse about the crime and the condition of victims in the aftermath of the crime remains largely incomplete due to the selective focus on the medical treatment of the victims and punishment for the offenders. Therefore, the present paper attempts to explore social isolation as a consequence of the crime and the role of social support in the psychological rehabilitation of acid attack victims. The present research involved narrative interviews of a homogenous purposive sample of 30 female acid attack victims which were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings suggest that victims of acid attack experience non-social support in the form of social isolation social exclusion as a consequence of acid attack in addition to the lack of informational and instrumental social support. Results also suggest that social support plays a crucial role in the coping process of the acid attack victims. The insights of the present research will help in improving the understanding of the psychosocial correlates of acid attack victims and the recovery process of the acid attack victims. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The silver lining behind the dark cloud: Exploring the psycho-social factors impacting successful adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2022) Tushar Singh; Shalini Mittal; Shivantika Sharad; Divya Bhanot; Sreeja Das; Rahul Varma; Harleen Kaur; Udisha Merwal; Yogesh K Arya; Sunil K Verma; Aishwarya Jaiswal; Benkat Krishna Bharti
While most studies have been reporting the psychological issues being faced by the public due to the global spread of coronavirus and sudden restrictions and changes accompanying it, the present study attempted to explore dynamic human experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown, so as to understand the psycho-social factors that acted as adaptive resources or as buffers to maintain a stable mental state amidst this crisis. In-depth telephonic interviews with 30 participants were conducted to explore their experiences in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown. Thematic analysis performed to identify the positive and protective factors that helped people adapt in a healthy way revealed that although the initial response of the participants to the pandemic was “optimistic bias” followed by downplaying the seriousness of the issue, later they demonstrated increased realization and acceptance to the seriousness of the situation. Upon realizing the situation, their positive psychological resources acted as a buffer against the ill effects of the pandemic, and they used both cognitive and behavioral coping. The study clearly demonstrates that crisis in life is not just a source of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty but also an opportunity to test one’s psychological resources to learn and grow. © The Author(s) 2022.
The social psychology of COVID-19 stigma
(Taylor and Francis, 2024) Divya Bhanot; Sunil K. Verma; Shivantika Sharad; Benkat Krishna Bharti; Tushar Singh; Shalini Mittal; Bhawna Tushir
The spread of infectious diseases and the associated stigmatisation of people is an evidenced history. The present chapter is an attempt to explain the stigma of race, class and religion in India with the help of the established intergroup theories of social psychology to highlight the psychosocial consequences resulting out of an outbreak of infectious diseases, i.e., COVID-19. In order to present the implicational value of intergroup theories in explaining the practices of COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people in India on the basis of their belongingness to particular race, class and religion, a systemic review of the COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people and groups was carried out. Anecdotal presentations of stigmatised treatments against the several social groups in India are explained from the vantage of intergroup theoretical approaches of social psychology. In our review, intergroup theories of social psychology were found instrumental in explaining COVID-19-generated stigmatised treatments directed against people based on race, class and religion. Intergroup Emotions Theory could explain the stigmatisation of Northeast Indians. Scapegoat theory was found instrumental in explaining the stigmatisation of poor and migrants. Stigmatisation against Muslims could be justifiably explained in the light of social identity theory. At last, the chapter attempts to make certain recommendations aimed to reduce or combat negative psychosocial responses to infectious diseases like COVID-19. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Asma Parveen and Rajesh Verma; individual chapters, the contributors.
Vulnerabilities and social inclusion: The case of acid attack victims
(Taylor and Francis, 2023) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Sunil K. Verma
Several researchers have highlighted that associating with others and forming bonds is a basic human need. With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations, inclusion has been identified as a major goal of societal development. However, various sections of society are still marginalised and excluded. Acid attack victims comprise a special case of exclusion. This chapter analyses the state of exclusion experienced by this group using narratives of such victims from the age group of 18–25 years. The chapter highlights the issue of the exclusion of acid attack victims and offers inclusive processes as a countermeasure for the issues arising from the exclusion of acid attack victims. Finally, certain ways for enhancing the inclusion of acid attack victims are suggested. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Dharmendra Nath Tiwari; individual chapters, the contributors.