Department of Psychology

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.

This book presents a groundbreaking perspective on hypertension care by exploring the untapped potential of children as health advocates within their families. This book examines how children, when equipped with the right knowledge and motivation, can positively influence hypertensive adults to adhere to their treatment regimens. Rooted in health psychology, this work integrates cognitive and behavioral intervention models tailored to hypertension adherence. It demonstrates how educating children about hypertension can catalyze sustainable lifestyle changes and improved health outcomes for adult family members. By leveraging the power of familial relationships, this book offers a novel approach to chronic illness management, particularly in resource-limited, family-oriented contexts like India. Blending theory, empirical research, and practical applications, this book is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, public health policymakers, educators, and researchers seeking innovative, community-driven solutions to non-communicable diseases.

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% uncer tainty 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%, respec tively, 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.

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.

Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by warfare and compelled to seek refuge in other nations for protection, resulting in more mental health problems than any other phenomenon. With the promising advancement of digital interventions, the present systematic review aims to understand the effectiveness of such interventions on different mental health problems of war-affected populations. From databases such as APA PsycNet, Google Scholar, Harvard Library, JSTOR, PubMed, Sage, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Wiley, articles were screened adhering to the PICOS model in August 2024 and reported using PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Among 1757 articles, 11 were eligible for systematic review and 10 for meta-analysis. Appropriate JBI checklists were used for quality assessment. Narrative synthesis was performed to identify different digital interventions for various mental health problems of war-affected populations. Meta-analysis was done to estimate the effectiveness of the interventions using STATA 17. The review highlighted the available digital interventions for mental health problems among war-affected individuals. The meta-analysis yielded medium to large significant effect sizes for the digital interventions among different mental health problems (Depression = −0.57, Anxiety = −0.82, PTSD = −0.42, Insomnia = −0.59). Subgroup analyses and meta-regression revealed a significant contribution of provider, communication, and intervention duration on some outcome measures. The present study findings can guide clinicians, therapists, policymakers, and other stakeholders to develop, modify and execute advanced cost-effective treatment methods for mental health problems of the war-affected.

India, with its vast youth population, grapples with significant mental health issues among young adults in higher education, due to factors such as academic pressure, social isolation, stigma, economic uncertainty, screen time, sedentary lifestyles, and pandemic-related stresses. Though the issue has garnered attention, there's a gap in post-pandemic mental health research for Indian students. This study aims to address this by investigating anxiety, depression, and overall mental well-being among students aged 18–29 in higher educational institutions across eight major Indian cities, categorized by gender, zone, city, and institution type. Using a cross-sectional design and multi-stage sampling, we surveyed 1628 students (47.1 % males, 52.9 % females) using the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38). Female students reported higher distress levels than males. Students from the Western and Southern zones showed higher positivity and well-being. Kolkata students reported low positivity but superior well-being. Hyderabad students reported low depression levels. Central University students reported more depression, while government arts and science college students reported lower life satisfaction. The majority exhibited moderate to high levels of anxiety (69.9 %), depression (59.9 %), loss of behavioral/emotional control (65.1 %), and distress (70.3 %). These statistics underscore the burden of mental health issues faced by this demographic. Despite the prevalence, a minimal number of young adults accessed mental health services, often due to stigma and cultural biases. This study highlights how the post-pandemic context has exacerbated these barriers, revealing significant mental health issues among participants and underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions in educational institutions amidst rising suicide rates in this demographic.

This study explores the lived experiences of pellet gun victimization among individuals in Kashmir using a phenomenological approach. Ten participants directly exposed to pellet gun violence were interviewed. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used for data analysis. Physical injuries led to severe emotional dysregulation, including irritability, aggression, and frustration. Victims reported disrupted eating patterns and psychological trauma. Their self-identity was deeply affected, marked by role reversal, temporal disconnection, guilt, and worthlessness. Economic struggles emerged as a major challenge. Academically, vision loss and trauma-induced distress resulted in diminished motivation and uncertainty about continuing education. Socially, many victims faced victim-blaming, though parental support served as a crucial resilience factor. Spiritual beliefs and religious practices, like prayer, helped individuals cope, avoid self-harm, and stay resilient during hardship. The study highlights the need for trauma-informed interventions, social inclusion programs, and faith-based approaches to support survivors of pellet gun.

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 undergraduate dentistry students. 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. 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.

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.

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.MethodsA 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.ResultsOut 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).ConclusionIn-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

Family dynamics play a pivotal role in shaping the overall well-being of individuals. Asyoung adults navigate this period of identity formation, their emotional and psychologicalhealth is significantly influenced by the interactions and structures within their familialenvironment. This paper explores how family dynamics affect the well-being of young adults.It draws insights from the young adults residents of Andhra Pradesh to understand howfamilial relationships, societal expectations, and cultural norms, shape emotional andpsychological outcomes. The data was collected from 12 students (6 males and 6 females)between the ages of 18 - 25 years, through semi-structured interviews to gain an in-depthunderstanding of the participants' experiences; and thematic analysis was employed toidentify recurring patterns and themes. Participants were selected through conveniencesampling. This study underscores the profound impact of family dynamics on the well-beingof Indian young adults, highlighting the interplay between parental influence, gender norms,emotional expression, and financial independence. The findings of this study contribute to adeeper understanding of the challenges young adults face, offering important insights forpolicymakers, educators, and mental health professionals in creating more supportive andequitable environments.

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Mindfulness along with cognitive factors such as metacognition, rumination, and emotion regulation profoundly impact individual mental health and well?being. The primary goal of this study is to understand the global research trends in mindfulness, mental health, and cognitive factors and to provide a bird’s eye view of the research carried out so far, which provides a strong foundation for future research. Bibliometric analysis was carried out using the VOS viewer and RStudio software, using publication data extracted from the Scopus database. The COVID?19 pandemic triggered researchers to focus more on mental health?related issues. Developed nations contributed significantly to most of the bibliometric indicators. In developed countries, research on mental health and well?being emphasizes key determinants such as mindfulness, metacognition, rumination, and emotion regulation more extensively than in developing countries. Significant research gaps are identified in “Mental Health,” “Well?Being,” and “Metacognition.” A significant share of the research activity is concentrated in the European region. Developing nations need to improve their research and collaborations keeping in view of the potential possibility of improvement of the Human Development Index (HDI) and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, thereby contributing to “Good Health” and “Well?Being” at a global level.

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 3months. 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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to estimate revealed comparative advantage and normalized revealed comparative advantage (NRCA) indices of India’s computer and information services (CIS) export competitiveness with regard to information technology (IT) competing developing nations, such as China, Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil. Design/methodology/approach: Using annual data of total exports for CIS, transportation (TNS), travel (TVL) and insurance (INS) services under service categories of the balance of payment, the present study estimates the pattern of comparative advantage (CA) in India’s CIS exports with respect to IT competing developing nations such as China, Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil from 2000 to 2018. The choice of the study period is determined by the availability of consistent data on IT service exports of these nations. The study also estimates the export position of CIS export in comparison to India’s traditionally strong commercial services export of TNS, TVL and INS during the study period. Findings: Both the indices showed that India had a strong CA in CIS compared to the selected nations, indicating India’s relative export performance to be stronger than that of China, Malaysia, Philippines and Brazil. The cross-service index showed that India’s relative specialization level in CIS with respect to the world’s average specialization level was stronger than its relative specialization level in TNS, TVL and INS services. Furthermore, The NRCA cross-nation index showed that India’s NRCA index score has been declining since 2010 with respect to these nations, which implied a decline in the competitiveness of CIS. On the other hand, NRCA has increased in the case of Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil for most of the period post-2010. Research limitations/implications: IT is a dynamic area of economic activity, and when the pace of change is so rapid, the relevance of individual factors can change over time. The study period is also limited to the available data. Practical implications: The paper has implications for attaining sustainability in IT export growth. It is suggested that policies are directed at enhancing the overall performance of IT sector. Originality/value: The novelty of the present study lies in the estimation of India’s competitiveness in IT exports in relation to the group of reference countries. With its policy recommendations, this research is helping to shape the sustainability of the IT sector.