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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Anxiety and Depression in Ischemic Heart Disease


Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology
July 2010, Vol.36, No.2, 239-244.

Anxiety and Depression in Ischemic Heart Disease

H. Sam Sananda Raj and Sajimon, P.P.
Department of Psychology, University of Kerala

The present study was attempted to study the anxiety and depression on ischeamic heart disease (IHD) than the normal population. The purposive sampling method was adopted to select the sample. The sample was consisted of 100 subjects with ischeamic heart disease (IHD) patients (n = 50) and normal population (n = 50), (both males and females) was selected from different hospitals represented from Kollam and Trivandrum districts of Kerala State. The tools used were Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, General Stress Index and General Health Scale. The study found that there was significant difference between ischeamic heart disease (IHD) patients and normal population in depression, state anxiety, general stress, and general health. It was also found that there was significant difference in depression, state anxiety, general stress, quality of life, general health, and life events among the three groups viz, first ischeamic episode, second ischeamic episode, and three or more ischeamic episode.

Psychological Distress and its Relation to Attributional Styles and Coping Strategies among Adolescents


Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology
July2010, Vol.36, No.2, 231-238.

Psychological Distress and its Relation to Attributional Styles and Coping Strategies among Adolescents

Fareeda Shaheen and Md. Shamim Alam
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Abstract
Psychological distress and its relation to attributional styles and coping strategies were studied in a sample of 300 (150 male and 150 female) eleventh grade students. It was found that composite attribution for positive events and its three dimensions (i.e. internal-external, stable-unstable and global- specific) were negatively correlated with psychological distress and composite attribution for negative events and its three dimensions (i.e. internal-external, stable-unstable and global-specific) were positively correlated with psychological distress. It was also found that problem focused coping strategies negatively related to psychological distress and avoidance coping positively related to psychological distress. Further more, it was found that Science students scored higher on composite negative and its two dimension i.e. stable-unstable and global-specific negative. It was also found that Science students used more problem focused coping while Arts students used more avoidance coping, The result also revealed that Arts students experience more psychological distress as compared to Science students.







How to Deal with a Nosy Co Worker

How to Deal with a Nosy Co Worker


As working professionals in a hectic corporate environment, we seem  to spend more time at work than at home these days. People who Work collaboratively in a team environment for extended periods of time, often tend to interact and share more with their co-workers. However, there comes a point when a friendly co-worker's interest and inquiries translate into interference to the point of being nosy. 

A nosy co-worker can hamper your work productivity, concentration and mood by invading your personal space, being constantly chatty and watching over your shoulder as you turn to work at your computer. A person's need to be nosy can be attributed to several reasons. Some people lack the social skills to back off when they cross a line beyond friendly curiosity. Some others just like to learn personal information and details about others for the sake of knowing. And there are others, who just have a lot of time in their hands and need fodder for spreading office gossip. Whatever the reasons, here are some practical tips on , dealing with  a  nosy co-worker. 

Keep a low profile and be discreet
Be aware of your surroundings when you make personal calls from the office that require you to discuss sensitive issues. Refrain from paying your bills over the phone where you have to reveal your credit card information. Keep in mind that voices do carry through office cubicles and doors. As long as you are discreet in your actions, you will be able to restrict the spread of personal information to colleagues in the office.

Try diplomacy
When you feel like lashing out at your prying colleague's question, take a deep breath and use a diplomatic approach in dissuading them from that line of questioning. A rude remark to tell them to mind their own business, at the first instance, will probably make them back off right away, but will also leave you with a cold and angry colleague.

Use of tact in such situations will yield better results. Sometimes, ignoring the colleague's remarks and changing the topic will give a subtle hint to your co-worker that you are not receptive to such conversation. 

Clear away and lock-up 
There will be times when a nosy co-worker will snoop at your desk to see whatever is there. Make sure that you clear your desk frequently and keep confidential files locked away. Ask fora secure cabinet with a lock and key, if you haven't already got one. This will ensure that you are cautious about leaving sensitive information open to the eyes of wrong persons.

Don't be nosy
Before you go pointing fingers at a nosy co-worker, examine your own behaviour first. Stay away from asking probing questions about someone's personal issues and life.

Don't get sucked into office gossip or talk about a colleague behind their back. When gathering in the office break room or lunch, stick to business and be as professional as possible in your interactions with colleagues. If you focus on your work and have your head down literally, that will persuade the
nosy colleague to walk away. 

Be Upfront
Sometimes, when you've tried all diplomacy tactics to throw the annoying co-worker off your back and still haven't succeeded, it is wise to be upfront with the person to express your concern. Take the person aside and be honest and tell them directly that his behaviour, talk or body language is intrusive and that you don't appreciate questions or talking about personal life. If this co-worker values his job and has some regard for you, he or she will get the message loud and clear and will step away from invading your private space.
Finally, if things continue to remain status quo, talk to your manager and HR in confidence about the issue. Remember, that the best way to handle a nosy co-worker is by exercising a professional relationship with your colleagues and not in cultivating any relationship outside the office. Set your own boundaries and remember that your personal life is something that is off-limits to your co-workers.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Adolescent Helplessness: Depression, Explanatory Style and Life Events as Correlates of Helplessness


Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology 2010, Vol.36, No.2, 225-229.

Adolescent Helplessness: Depression, Explanatory Style and Life Events as Correlates of Helplessness


Mrinalini Purandare
S.N.D.T.Women's University, Mumbai.

ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to investigate the association between life events and helplessness, therefore indirectly testing the diathesis stress model of helplessness. In the study it was proposed that on the basis of explanatory style and depression measures, adolescents can be correctly classified into helpless / non-helpless groups. It was further proposed that dimensions of life events would be significant correlates of adolescent helplessness. A sample of 473 adolescents both boys and girls in the age range of 13 to 16 years was selected. The students were studying in different geographical locations of Mumbai city and suburb. The measures administered were: The Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Child Test (CES-DC), the Children's Attribution Style Questionnaire (CASQ) and Presumptive Stressful Life-Events Scale (PSLE). The result of logistic regression showed that on the basis of measure of depression and explanatory style 86.1% of students were correctly classified into helpless and 78.5% of students were correctly classified into non-helpless groups. On the factor of life events, the dimensions of life events of the life time and undesirable life events emerged as significant correlates of helplessness, therefore providing indirect support to the diathesis stress model of helplessness-hopelessness.

The Learnt Factors in Stress: The Role of Family Environment


Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology
July 2010, Vol.36, No.2, 215-223



The Learnt Factors in Stress: The Role of Family Environment
Anita Sharma, Jagriti and Dalip Malhotra
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla


ABSTRACT
The present study examined the role of family environment in stress and anxiety of adolescents. The sample of 200 adolescents (100 male and 100 female) from Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh. Step-wise regression analysis was done to find out the main predictors of adolescents' stress and anxiety. The main findings point to the following facts: (i) In females sample, conflict (+), expressiveness (-), cohesion (-) and achievement orientation (+) have significantly contributed 32% of variance in state anxiety collectively, whereas, in trait anxiety, organization (-), conflict {+) and control (+) have turned out to be the significant predictors contributing 20% of variance in totality, (ii) On psycho-social stress, conflict (+), moral religious emphasis (-), control (+) and organization (-) have contributed 48% significant variance in females sample, whereas, on life-events stress only cohesion (-) and moral religious emphasis (-) have significantly contributed 36% of variance. In males sample, cohesion (-), conflict (+) and independence (+) are the significant predictors of state anxiety as these variables have collectively shown 31% of variance, whereas, in trait anxiety, conflict (+), control (+) and organization (-) have explained 23% of significant variance, (iii) On psycho-social stress, conflict (+) moral-religious emphasis (-) and organization (-) are the significant predictors showing 21% of Variance and in life events stress, cohesion (-), moral-religious emphasis (-) and organization (-) are the significant predictors contributing 36% of variance in totality, (iv) The results further reveal the commonness of conflict and cohesion in predicting the anxiety and stress of adolescents.
Keywords: Family environment, Stress, Anxiety, Gender