An Empirical Exploration Of Social Media Burnout, Loneliness And Body Dissatisfaction Among University Students In Pakistan

@#To explore the effect of social media burnout on loneliness and body image among university students in Pakistan. Current study was conducted in Riphah International University Islamabad, Pakistan and comprised of 306 university students including 152 male and 154 females with age range from 19-29 years. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 students including 10 male and 10 females to explore the effect of social media usage on body image. Cross sectional research design was used in which quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted. UCLA loneliness scale by Russell was used to assess loneliness. Multi-dimensional body self-relations scale by Cash was used to measure body image and social media burnout scale developed by Han was used to measure social media burnout. Findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between social media burnout and dissatisfaction with body image (r=0.175, p<0.01) and positive relationship exists between social media burnout and loneliness (r=0.187, p<0.01). There is also a positive relationship between loneliness and dissatisfaction with body image (r=0.314, p<0.01). Female students feel more exhausted by social media than male students (t=4.28, p<0.01). Loneliness and body dissatisfaction are found to be high in social media exhausted university students. Loneliness also leads to dissatisfaction with body image. Female university students got social media burnout more quickly than male students.

Coping Strategies among Adolescent Children of Depressed and Non Depressed Parents

The objective of the present study was to find out differences in coping strategies of adolescents of depressed and non-depressed parents. Comparative cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission [PAEC] Hospital in Islamabad during the period of April 2014 to June 2014. The sample consisted of 130 adolescents including 50 from families of depressed parents and, 80 from non-depressed parents. The data was collected through purposive sampling technique. Brief COPE scale was used to assess coping strategies of the subjects. The results indicate significant difference in coping strategies of adolescents of depressed and non- depressed parents. The adolescents of depressed parents used more dysfunctional coping strategies such as active avoidant coping strategy. The results also highlighted significant gender differences. Results of the study suggest that children of depressed parents use dysfunctional coping strategies as compared to children of non-depressed parents. The findings are important for future research and prevention studies with children of depressed parents to incorporate healthy and functional coping strategies

Psychological morbidity amongst infertile couples

To assess psychological morbidity amongst infertile couples. Cross-Sectional study. This study was carried out at MAS Infertility Clinic, Rawalpindi from August 2010 to January 2011. A total of 30 subjects [15 couples] were included in the study. After taking an informed consent, they were asked to complete a questionnaire. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale [DASS] questionnaire was used for this study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version-14 and t-test was applied to see the significance in differences. Majority of couples were over 30 years of age and were married for more than 5 years. Vast majority [73.3%] were living in joint family system. Psychological morbidity, particularly anxiety and depression affected significantly [p=0.05] female partner. However no significant relationship was observed between the cause of infertility or duration of infertility and psychological manifestations. This study presents pragmatic evidence regarding the psychological health of infertile couples in our society. Findings suggest that high levels of stress and depression exist in these couples, which not only affects their physical health, but also their psychological well being. It highlights the importance of providing psychotherapeutic help along with treatment for the cause of infertility

Pattern of somatic symptoms in anxiety and depression

To determine the pattern of somatic symptoms in anxiety and depressive disorders. Cross Sectional Comparative study. Department of Psychiatry Military Hospital Rawalpindi. From May to November 2002. Patients were divided in Group I of anxiety and group II of depression. Fifty patients considered in each group by convenience sampling. The organic basis of their symptoms was ruled out. The patterns of their somatic symptoms and other information like educational and economic status were recorded on Semi Structured Proforma. The patient's diagnosis was made on schedule based ICD-10 research criteria. The severity of anxiety and depression was assessed by using HARS and HDRS respectively. The pattern of somatic symptoms in both groups was then analyzed by the urdu version of Bradford Somatic Inventory. Patterns of somatic complaints were then analyzed by chi square test. Out of 100 patients we placed 50 each in group I [anxiety] and group II [Depression]. Males were higher in depression whereas females were higher in anxiety disorder group. P-value for headache was 0.017 while in rest of the somatic symptoms it was insignificant ranging from 0.4 to 1. We found that the patterns of somatic symptoms are present in both the groups of anxiety and depression like symptoms related to musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal system were commonly observed in cases of depression whereas symptoms related to autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular system is more significantly somatized in patients of anxiety. A larger sample is required for further studies to get better results

Psychiatric morbidity in Pakistani peacekeepers and their perception about deployment in Liberia

To identify the Psychiatric morbidity among personnel deployed in Liberia and to explore their perception about the deployment. Descriptive study. The study was carried out at in the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia from December 2007 to December 2008. Sources of stress, positive and negative perception of the deployment were recorded on a semi structured proforma along with demographic characteristics of subjects. The General Health Questionnaire-28 was administered to identify case-ness. One hundred seventy two non- commissioned officers participated in this study. All of them were males. Their ages ranged from 23 to 51 years with the mean age of 30,2 years [SD =6.3]. The most common sources of stress for all personnel were the lack of recreations [46.5%, 57.1% respectively]. This was more so for singles. Almost half of married personnel rated separation from home and family to be the source of maximum stress. Approximately eighty three percent [50%+32.56%] had positive perception of the deployment on comparison to nearly sixty-four percent [50% + 13.59%] who had negative perception. Married personnel had more likely than singles to have negative perception of the deployment [70% vs. 54%].11% [n=19] of studied personnel scored high on GHQ who were later subjected to present state examination and diagnosed using ICD-10. About 25% [n=5] were diagnosed to be suffering from depressive episode mild with somatic features [F32.1] 50% [n=9] were diagnosed having Anxiety disorders. About 25% [n=5] had emotional and behavioural disorder associated with use of Medicine [Mefoloquine]. Lack of recreational facilities, separation from family and risk of getting infectious disease were common stressors. Financial advantage and professional grooming were positive perceptions. Depressive episode mild with somatic features and anxiety disorders were main psychiatric morbidities

Psychiatric morbidity among lung and blood cancer patients

To investigate the relationship of psychological well-being with depression in cancer patients. This was a prospective study using purposive convenient sampling technique. The study was carried out in the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and the National Oncology radiology Institute [NORI] Islamabad from 2003 to 2004. Forty-eight cancer patients were assessed using Beck Depression Inventory for assessing depressive symptoms and Affectometer-2. The patients were taken from two hospitals located in Rawalpindi and Islamabad from 2003-2004. The findings indicate a significantly high negative relationship between depression and psychological well being and the level of depression in these two types of cancer patients. Blood cancer patients were found high on depression and low on psychological well being than the lung cancer patients. Women and the young individuals scored high on depression and low on psychological well being as compared to men and elderly cancer patients respectively. The findings of the present research support that depression has great influence on the psychological well being of cancer patients

Stress; a cross sectional study at islamic international medical college [IIMC], Rawalpin

To assess different level of stress and reaction to those stressors among undergraduate medical students and also observe an association between different academic years, if any exists. Cross-sectional study. Islamic International medical college- a private medical college in Rawalpindi. Period: From 2006 to 2007. Questionnaire used was a stress inventory called students life stress inventory. It was distributed to all registered MBBS students at IIMC in years 1- 5 who voluntarily participated. 403 out of 500 students completed the questionnaire with response rate 81.6%. Data was analyzed through SPSS by applying different statistical tests, which were ANOVA, and t test. Results reveal that 21.53% students were mildly stressed, 39.12% students were moderately stressed and 12.64% students were severely stressed. Significant gender differences were found on almost all the sub-scales. The findings reveal that females face more stressors especially conflicts, emotional and behavioral [p < .01], stress was more significant between boarders as compare to non-boarders. One Way Analyses of variance [ANOVA] was computed to check the significance of differences on mean scores. An analysis of variance on Student Life Stress Inventory is significant, F = [3.774], p <.01. Mean difference indicates that prevalence of stress is higher in first year and final year MBBS students. This study presents pragmatic evidence regarding the psychological health of students in our college. These findings suggest that high levels of stress exist in our students especially significant during first and final years of their course. It is important for us to know the prevalence and causes of student stress, which not only affects their health, but also their academic achievement. Information from this study can be used to develop appropriate intervention programs for medical students, in order to decrease their stress levels

There is significant stress among parents having children with autism

To assess the level of parenting stress and associating factors of stress in parents rearing children with autism. The sample included 60 parents [30 fathers, 30 mothers] of 30 children with diagnosis of autism. The sample was taken from different hospitals and institutions of mental retardation in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Wah Cantt, Pakistan from 2005-2006. Stress in parents was measured through parental stress scale [PSS]. PSS score of fathers was 46.63 +/- 7.99 and mothers 50.03 +/- 9.60 [p 0.01]. Score for parents of children 4-9 years age was 50.38 +/- 7.93 and for parents of children 10-18 years age 47.13 +/- 10.26 [p 0.01]. Score for parents of boys was 46.81 +/- 8.39 and for parents of girls 50.00 +/- 9.34 [p 0.01]. There was significant stress in parents of autistic children. Mothers experienced more stress than fathers. The level of stress was different in parents with the increasing age of the children. The implication is that mothers of children with autism are more prone to experience stress, thus requiring special attention from mental health professionals