Department of Psychology

Purpose of Review: Cutaneous allodynia is a frequent complaint among individuals with migraine and serves as a critical marker of central sensitization, which plays a pivotal role in migraine pathophysiology. This can exacerbate migraine severity and diminish quality of life. Understanding the risk factors associated with cutaneous allodynia is essential, as it can help identify individuals at higher risk of developing this condition and guide early intervention strategies. Identifying its consequences provides critical insights into disease progression, treatment response, and disability. Hence, this scoping review aimed to determine the risk factors and consequences of cutaneous allodynia in individuals with migraine. Recent Findings: A total of 47 studies were included from the 2116 retrieved studies. Most of the studies adopted a cross-sectional design (n = 29). Other designs included cohort (n = 8), longitudinal (n = 4), experimental (n = 2), qualitative (exploratory) (n = 2), and observational (n = 1) research designs. Most participants were individuals diagnosed with migraine aged 18–65 (n = 40), and some studies included the pediatric population (n = 5). The study highlighted various risk factors such as psychological, migraine-associated, neurophysiological, biological, socio-demographic, and lifestyle-related factors. The identified consequences were classified as mental health, physical health, neurophysiological, migraine-associated, and treatment-related consequences. Summary: The evaluation of risk factors and consequences of cutaneous allodynia among individuals with migraine significantly highlighted the multidimensional risk factors of cutaneous allodynia and its debilitating effects on the lives of the affected individuals. These factors are significant for designing targeted, multifaceted interventions for managing cutaneous allodynia and thus provide an essential step in effective migraine management.

Background: This study examines the incidence, prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Asia, exploring the environmental, metabolic, and behavioural risk factors, and exploring changes in deaths and DALYs driven by population growth, aging, and mortality rates. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021, we estimated age-standardized incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs for four major NCDs: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases from 2010 to 2021. Gender and age-specific estimations were conducted across all NCDs, with 95% uncertainty intervals and a decomposition analysis was employed to estimate change in death and DALYs attributable to NCDs. Findings: The burden of NCDs in South Asia increased by 3.00% in incidence from 2010 to 2021, while overall prevalence decreased by 1.00%, yet the age-standardized prevalence rate remains above the global rate (91,570 per 100,000 population). Incidences of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases declined by 3.00% and 13.00%, respectively, whereas diabetes and cancer rose by 21.00% and 13.00% in South Asia. Nepal faced the highest environmental impact (23.4% of DALYs), Bangladesh the greatest metabolic impact (25.62%), and India the highest from behavioural factors (23.95%). Population growth and aging were primary drivers of changes in deaths and DALYs across the region. Conclusion: This finding emphasizes the need for targeted public health interventions addressing environmental, metabolic, and behavioral risks for NCDs in South Asia, alongside strategies to support healthy aging and effective disease management across diverse demographic groups.

Background: This study aimed to establish the effectiveness of a hypertension knowledge education intervention among Indian adolescents to foster lifestyle changes aimed at preventing hypertension. Methods: The Hypertension Knowledge Test (HKT) was used to assess changes in knowledge using a repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Healthy Lifestyle Practice Scale for Children and Adolescents (HELIPSCA) indexed healthy lifestyle practices, with paired t-tests used to compare pre- and post-intervention scores. A two-way mixed ANOVA examined changes in healthy lifestyle practices among adolescents divided in terms of early and late stage of development. Results: Significant mean differences were observed in overall hypertension knowledge across four domains: general awareness, lifestyle factors, causes and care, and medication management and across time periods. There was a significant improvement in HELIPSCA scores post-intervention, particularly among early adolescents. Conclusion: The hypertension knowledge intervention examined in this study was effective in establishing a cognitive base among school children, with knowledge retention observed for 3 months. Moreover, this knowledge increase was associated with a parallel change in improved healthy lifestyle practices, notably among early adolescents. These findings underscore the importance of providing school-based education programmes early in adolescence to promote awareness of chronic illnesses and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Objectives: Adolescence is a critical period for psychosocial development, often marked by elevated stress levels. The present study examines the role of psychosocial factors as predictors of adolescent stress, with a focus on personality traits, social support, and family health. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 1,104 school-going adolescents from Telangana, India were analysed. Using the Adolescence Stress Scale and various psychosocial scales, hierarchical multiple regression and path analysis were employed to assess direct and indirect effects of psychosocial variables on stress levels. Results: Key predictors of stress included ill-health experiences, conscientiousness, emotional instability, and psychosocial support. Together, these factors explained 6% of the variance in stress. Serial mediation analysis revealed significant indirect effects, where family health and emotional efficacy acted as mediators between psychosocial factors and stress. Emotional instability and frustrative non-reward responsiveness were the strongest predictors of stress. Conclusions: Psychosocial factors play a significant but modest role in adolescent stress, highlighting the need for further research into additional contributors. Interventions targeting family health and emotional regulation may alleviate stress among adolescents.

Background & objectives: Hypertension, traditionally a significant health issue among adults, is now increasingly being observed in the paediatric population posing long-term cardiovascular risks. This study evaluated a school-based hypertension education intervention for adolescents and its impact on their hypertensive family members. Objectives included assessing adolescents' knowledge retention, knowledge transfer to adults, and the effects of child-led monitoring on adult compliance. Methods: The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, the study involved adolescents from classes 6-10 (n=423). Phase 1 assessed hypertension knowledge changes post-intervention from baseline scores across 6 interval points through 91 days using hypertension knowledge test (HKT). In Phase 2, adolescents and their hypertensive family members (n=181) were recruited in pairs. Changes in HKT, hypertension compliance (hypertension compliance scale: HyCompS), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were analysed pre-and post-intervention using paired t-tests. Adolescents tracked adult adherence via daily monitoring diaries, analysed descriptively. Results: In Phase 1, adolescents showed significant and sustained improvements in hypertension knowledge despite minor dips on the 35th and 63rd days. In Phase 2, adults’ knowledge improved significantly in overall and general awareness domains. Compliance increased, particularly for medication and lifestyle monitoring, with significant reduction in MAP. Children recorded high monitoring adherence—medication (77.6%), exercise (72%), and diet (66%). Interpretation & conclusions: Adolescents can effectively serve as health advocates, promoting hypertension awareness and compliance within families. Structured school interventions may improve both adolescent and adult health outcomes. Longitudinal studies with larger samples are recommended.

Background: Globally 117.3 million people are displaced due to war, with one in five refugees experiencing psychological distress. Despite the availability of numerous psychological interventions for war refugees, their overall efficacy is still unexplored. Thus, this review examines the effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing the mental health issues of war refugees. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, APA PsycNET, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar for studies published on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for mental health issues among war refugees in July 2024. JBI and NHLBI checklists were employed to appraise the risk of bias in the included studies. Review Manager version 5.4 was used to run the meta-analysis. Results: Out of 22,197 initially identified records, a total of 21 studies were included for systematic review and eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for meta-analysis. Random effects meta-analysis showed significant medium effect size for psychological interventions (SMD = -0.69; 95 % CI:0.87, -0.51; p < .00001) in reducing the mental health issues among war refugees. Sub group analysis based on the mode of delivery revealed that interventions delivered through in-person mode reported a significant large effect size (SMD = -1.03; 95 % CI:1.36, -0.71; p < .00001) while, telehealth interventions showed significant small effect size (SMD = -0.44; 95 % CI:0.61, -0.28; p < .00001). Conclusion: In-person and telehealth based psychological interventions offer promising findings in addressing mental health issues among war refugees. However, given the barriers to accessing face to face treatments and limited evidence on telehealth interventions, future research on digital interventions is recommended.

Despite the popular use of the term “toxic” while addressing the high prevalence of abuse in Indian romantic relationships, the scientific literature on “toxic” relationships remains scarce and prompts a fundamental inquiry into the precise criteria by which a relationship qualifies as “toxic.” Using an exploratory approach, the present study aimed to conceptualize “toxic romantic relationships” based on semi-structured interviews of 48 young adults from India, recruited using purposive sampling. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts offered a comprehensive view of toxic relationships across three facets, that is, healthy characteristics of a romantic relationship, unhealthy characteristics of a romantic relationship, and the subsequent negative impact on the individuals. It could be inferred that a romantic relationship can be regarded as “toxic” only when there is at least one unhealthy relationship characteristic present, the severity of which should be such that it has at least one negative impact on the individual(s) involved, regardless of whether there are healthy relationship characteristics present or not. The study offers insights that can inform educational programs, mental health interventions, and social policies to support individuals navigating such relationships, both within the Indian cultural context and beyond.

Student diversity plays a crucial role in fostering inclusive education, which enhances innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. In India, while the student mobility is increasing, disparities across regions and institutions continue to influence students’ decision in choosing an institution. Understanding student’s decision making will enhance equal opportunity for quality education. This study aims to identify the factors affecting interstate student diversity in Indian higher education. Secondary data from a national ranking body were analysed using statistical techniques and supervised machine learning algorithms using tool OriginPro 2024 and MATLAB’s R2024a respectively. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, were employed to analyse relationships among factors, while machine learning models such as Gaussian Process Regression, Ensemble methods, Support Vector Machines, and Kernel-based approaches were used to assess feature importance. The findings show that the factors of student diversity vary across institution types. In Central Government Funded Institutions (CGFIs), location (23%) and course offerings (9%), while in State Government Funded Institutions (SGFIs), international student proportion (17%), were significant factors. For Self-Financed Institutions (SFIs), institutional rank (13%) and placement opportunities (10%) were key factors. These insights can guide policies and strategies to enhance student diversity and promote inclusive education in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and quality education Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4.

University students face various stressors related to academics, personal issues, and their environment. This stress can negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to explore stressors influencing Palestinian dentistry students at Arab American University and their relationship with HRQOL. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 232 undergraduate dentistry students using a comprehensive 46-item questionnaire. Stressors across, individual, academic, faculty, and institutional domains were measured. HRQOL was assessed across psychological, occupational,, personal and social, physical, and religious and spiritual domains (63 items). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modeling. Key stressors included academic workload, faculty relations, clinical training, and social adjustment. These significantly correlated with poorer HRQOL, especially psychological wellbeing and academicperformance. Regression analysis found higher anxiety, time management difficulties, instructor attitude, and dietary changes as top predictors of reduced HRQOL. Palestinian dentistry students face multifaceted stressors that profoundly impact HRQOL. A supportive educational environment encompassing counseling services, mentorship programs, stress management training, and student-centered policies is crucial. This study highlights specific stressors affecting an under-researched population, guiding context-appropriate interventions to improve wellbeing and academic outcomes.

Psychological well-being is crucial for university students facing academic and personal challenges. This study explores how hope and self-efficacy mediate the link between cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being in 302 SRM University students (aged 18–25). Standardized tools assessed psychological well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Scale), cognitive flexibility (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), hope (Snyder et al., 1991), and self-efficacy (Sud et al., 2002). Results showed significant positive correlations between cognitive flexibility, hope, self-efficacy, and psychological well-being. Regression analysis indicated these factors predicted 26.2% of psychological well-being variance. Mediation analysis revealed hope and self-efficacy partially mediated the cognitive flexibility-psychological well-being rela-tionship, highlighting the importance of fostering cognitive adaptability, motivation, and self-confidence to enhance student mental well-being.

Parents of children with disabilities confront numerous challenges from childbirth, sorted into five types. First, emotional hurdles, emerging during childbirth, involve denial, guilt, anger, depression, anxiety, bargaining, fear, exhaustion, and stress. Second, financial burdens, encompassing treatment expenses, medications, equipment, and employment obstacles, significantly impact parents. Third, educational challenges faced by disabled parents include funding gaps, school barriers, ac-commodation shortages, negative attitudes, scheme unawareness, communication barriers, and power dynamics. Fourth, social obstacles, such as stigma, support deficiencies, loneliness, and community bias, affect parents directly and indirectly. Lastly, health challenges, like physical ailments, stress, weight management, and neglecting self-care, affect both parents. These challenges intertwine, necessitating comprehensive understanding and targeted assistance. This chapter explores these complexities, assesses their impact, and examines potential solutions.

Objectives: Constant exposure to trauma and death adversely affects the physical, emotional, and mental stability of the helping professionals, leading to compassion fatigue (CF). Although research has explored the effect of various psychological interventions (PIs) on CF, no studies have quantitatively synthesized their effectiveness. Thus, the current systematic review and meta-analysis address this gap by examining the efficacy of PIs in reducing CF among helping professionals. Methods: Databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched to identify studies published between 2004 and 2023. Quantitative studies published in English that used any PI to reduce CF of helping professionals were selected for analysis. The risk of bias in studies was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute quality assessment tool. Results: Of the 1995 records identified from databases, 82 intervention studies were included in the systematic review, and 11 randomized controlled trials were chosen for meta-analysis. Post-intervention means and SDs of the intervention group and the control group were used to run the meta-analysis. Random effects meta-analysis results revealed that PIs are highly effective in reducing CF (standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.95; 95% CI, −1.63 to −0.27; P = .006). Conclusion: Evidence suggests that PIs, especially online-delivered PIs, could reduce the CF of helping professionals. Health policymakers, concerned authorities, and intervention designers should focus on reducing the CF of helping professionals, as they need to work with vulnerable populations efficiently.

'Poverty is well-being deprivation', declares the World Bank. There is no clear, widely accepted definition of well-being, although the World Bank provides some clues, 'to be impoverished would be to be starving, to lack shelter, to be unwell and uncared for, and to be illiterate and untutored'. Poor people are subject to uncontrollable situations and denied voice and influence. Psychological empowerment (PE) and gender equality are among the emphasised areas which need to be catered. 'Psychological' empowerment, abbreviated as 'PE', denotes empowerment at the specific intensity of analysis. It is a multidimensional concept derived from the integration of various dimensions determined by three realms: (a) personality, which includes self-attribution and internal locus of control, (b) cognitive, that contains self-efficacy perception, (c) motivational, which describes the interest in participating in the activity and control of the factors involved. PE shows that people believe their actions are manageable and controlled, that they are transitioning from a condition of learned helplessness to a state of logical hope and optimism. Gender equality is the equivalent involvement of males and females in utter facets of a lifetime. Women's civil rights activities affiliated with the rights movements worked to establish gender equality in place of an essential human right. In many nations, indicators such as the gender-linked development indicators, the gender break index and the gender fairness index provide measurements of complete gender equivalence. This chapter discusses the positive impact of PE and gender equality on human well-being based on evidence.

Green smart cities are the collaborative hub linked with business, government, education, and the public to generate comfortable living in urban environments by encouraging change with scientific-based problem-solving. In simple terms, green smart cities are technologically advanced in solving problems without harming the environment. For implementing green smart cities, developed and developing countries are collaborating and signing a memorandum of understanding with one another. Government representatives, educators, and the general public should cooperate to successfully make a green smart city. Global connectedness, productivity, efficiency, and revolution are possible through green smart cities. Meanwhile, poorly regulated green smart cities will result in environmental difficulties such as socioeconomic inequalities, poor public safety, and conservational destruction. Furthermore, implementing green smart cities is not a simple strategy. This chapter discusses the challenges and issues in green smart cities' implementation.

Cyberbullying refers to using digital technologies such as cyberspace, societal broadcasting platforms, direct messaging, and email to bother, intimidate, or harm others. This chapter provides an indication of cyberbullying, including its definition, incidence, and impact on individuals and society. Firstly, the chapter reviews the existing research on cyberbullying, exploring its different forms and characteristics and the psychological and social consequences for both victims and perpetrators. Secondly, the role of technology in facilitating and exacerbating cyberbullying is also examined, focusing on the anonymity and distance that online platforms provide. Thirdly, legal and ethical considerations surrounding cyberbullying including the challenges of enforcing laws and policies online are explored. Finally, the chapter highlights the importance of a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving parents, educators, policymakers, and online platforms to address cyberbullying.

Background/Aim: The objective of the paper was to develop a comprehensive “Adolescence Stress Scale” and to examine different psychometric issues in the development, initial validation, and standardization of this scale. Method: Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the data procured from a sample of 634 (11–18 years) school-going adolescents in India. Results: An exploratory analysis provided a 10 factor structure, namely, major loss induced stress, enforcement or conflict induced stress, phobic stress, interpersonal conflict induced stress, punishment induced stress, illness and injury induced stress, performance stress, imposition induced stress, insecurity induced stress, unhealthy environment induced stress. The 10 oblique factor solutions are found to be interrelated and interdependent with good indices of internal consistency, and content validity. Conclusions: This scale development is a novel and powerful measure that taps onto various aspects of stress experienced by school-going adolescents. The scale can facilitate researchers, clinicians, and teachers to identify and quantify the significant sources of stress in adolescents in school, or clinic settings.

Objective: Studies on the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in Kashmir, India, are yet to be conducted. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of ACEs among young adults across all the ten districts of Kashmir Valley. Methods: A cross-sectional research strategy was used to assess the prevalence of ACEs by employing a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected from 800 students studying in different colleges and universities in Kashmir with the help of the “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACEs) scale. Results: Findings disclosed that less than a quarter of the respondents reported high exposure to ACEs (15.4 %), more than one-tenth of the participants reported extremely high exposure to ACEs (13.4 %), over a quarter of the sample reported moderate exposure to ACEs (26.3 %), one-third of the youth reported low exposure to ACEs (33.0 %) and over one-tenth of the respondents reported no exposure to ACEs (11.8 %). The prevalence of ACEs was found to be 88.2 % (females: 82.7 % and males: 90.8 %) in Kashmir. The ACEs with the highest level of prevalence were “often or very often sworn at, insulted, or put down” (49.8 %), followed by “often or very often acted in a way that made them afraid that they would be physically hurt” (47.6 %), “often or very often pushed, grabbed, shoved, or slapped” (41.6 %), “often or very often hit so hard that they had marks or were injured” (28.3 %) and “touched or sexually fondled” (25.3 %). Thirteen out of 21 adverse events during childhood were significantly associated with gender. Conclusion: The findings suggest the need to advocate early targeted interventions, reduce ACEs and their impact, and design efficient measures to improve the health and well-being of young adults in Kashmir.