Impact of coping strategies on internalizing problems in people living with HIV/AIDS

The current study purports to investigate the predictive association of coping strategies [i.e. Active avoidance, Problem- focused, Positive coping, and Religious/denial] with internalizing problems [i. e., depression, anxiety, and stress] in People Living with HIV/AIDS. The hundred HIV positive people registered under Sindh AIDS Control Program, Karachi were taken as a sample with mean age of 33.13 [ +/- SD= 9.38]. They were administered: HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reporting Form, Urdu Translated Version of Brief COPE [Akhtar, 2005] and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 [DASS-21; Aslam and Tariq, 2007]. Linear Regression Analyses were as such: Active Avoidance coping strategies significantly predicted Depression, Anxiety and Stress; Problem-focused coping strategies and Positive coping strategies are seen to be insignificant predictors of all three types of internalizing problems: Depression, Anxiety and Stress; and Religious/ Denial Coping Strategies significantly predicted Depression, Anxiety, and Stress. The implications for clinical interventions in HIV/AIDS treatment and avenues for future research are suggested

Gender differences in depressive symptomatology among adolescents

The present study aimed at investigating the differences on the variable of depressive symptomatology among male and female adolescents. Between Group Design/Comparative Study. Different Educational Institutions of Karachi from January 2007-December 2007. After detailed literature review, following hypothesis was framed. :There would be a difference among male and female adolescents on the variableof depressive symptomatology. The sample consisted of 200 adolescents [76 girls and 124 boys] selected from different Educational Institutions of Karachi. Their ages ranged from 17-20 years with the mean age 19.1[SD=. 807].Research measures administered were Semi-Structured Interview Form and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, 2[nd] ed. [RADS-2][1]. Descriptive Statistics and t-test were computed to interpret the data in statistical terminology. The analysis reveals that female adolescents scored significantly higher than male adolescents on the variable of Depressive Symptomatology [t = 3.417, df=198, p<05]. The findings of the present study highlight the significant role of gender in depressive symptomatology and have implications for clinical interventions and also suggest avenues for future research

Psychometric properties of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support in Pakistani young adults

Present study was designed to assess psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, and Parley, 1988], on Pakistani young adults. The internal consistency [Cronbach's coefficient alpha], test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Pakistani young adult were addressed. The sample of 237 adults including 97 [40.9%] females and 140 [59.1%] males was collected from different departments of University of Karachi, Federal Urdu University, and Institute of Business Management. The age range of the sample was 19-25 years [M =21.93 SD= 2.080]. Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, and Parley, 1988], Social Provisions Scale [SPS; Cutrona and Russell, 1987], Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D; Radloff, 1977], and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [RSES; Rosenberg, 1965] were administered in first phase of study. After one month duration Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was re-administered on 39 subjects. Cronbach's coefficient alpha and Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation were applied by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS; V- 12.0]. It was found that Cronbach's coefficient alpha, for total MSPSS scores was .899 and on subscales of Significant Other, Family, and Friends, the values were .86, .87, and .86, respectively. The test-retest reliability for MSPSS scores was. 76 and on its subscales of Significant Other, Family, and Friends, the values were .74, .73, and .50, respectively. Construct validity ofMSPSS was r= .58 [p<01] with SPS; r= -.32 [p<01] with CES-D; and r= .29 [p<.01] with RSES. It was concluded that MSPSS is a reliable and valid measure of perceived social support in Pakistani young adults

Attributional style and hopelessness: vulnerability to depressive symptomatology in adolescence

The objective of the present study was twofold. First, it aimed at investigating the predictive relationship of negative attributional style with depressive symptomatology in adolescents. Secondly, it was examined whether hopelessness mediates the relationship of negative attributional style with depressive symptomatology in adolescents. After detailed literature review, following hypotheses were framed: [1] Negative Attributional Style would predict Depressive Symptomatology in adolescents, [2] Hopelessness would predict Depressive Symptomatology in adolescents, [3] Negative Attributional Style would predict Hopelessness in adolescents, [4] Hopelessness would mediate the relationship of Negative Attributional Style with Depressive Symptomatology in adolescents. The sample consisted of 200 adolescents recruited from four Business Institutions of Karachi: Shaheed Zulfikar AH Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology [SZABIST] Iqra University [IV]; Institute of Business Management [loBM]; and Pakistan Air Force-Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology [PAF-KIET]. The ages of the participants ranged from 17-20 years with the mean age of 19.17 years. Participants completed a battery of self-report research measures including Semi-Structured Interview Form, Attributional Style Questionnaire [ASQ; Peterson, Semmel, Von Baeyer, Abramson, Metalsky, and Seligman, 1982], Beck Hopelessness Scale [BHS; Beck, Weissman, Lester, and Trexler, 1974], and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, 2[nd] ed. [RADS-2; Reynolds, 2002]. Descriptive Statistics, Linear Regression Analysis, Stepwise Regression Analysis, and Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation 'were computed to interpret the data in statistical terminology. The analysis reveals a significant predictive relationship of Negative Attributional Style with Depressive Symptomatology [R[2] = .077, F = 16.560, df =1, 198, p <.05]; Hopelessness with Depressive Symptomatology [R[2] =.336, F = 100.134, df=l, 198, p <.05]; and Negative Attributional Style with Hopelessness [R[2] = .048, F= 9.892, df =1, 198, p <.05] Moreover, Hopelessness significantly mediated the relationship of Negative Attributional Style with Depressive Symptomatology [F = 55.391, df = 2, 197, p <.05]. These findings have implications for educational and clinical interventions and these will also guide further preventative research in examining cognitive variables as a precursor to depressive symptomatology

role of product design in consumer choice of a product

The purpose of the present research was to study the role of product design in consumer choice of a product. After detailed literature review it was hypothesized that consumer choice of a product would be affected more by product design as compare to its price. A sample of 80 students of middle socioeconomic status was selected from University of Karachi. Among them 40 were male students and 40 were female students. The age range of the sample was 20 - 30 years and their educational level was at least intermediate. The Consumer Choice Questionnaire [Self-designed] was administered to assess the role of product design. Descriptive statistics was applied to evaluate and comprehend the results. It was found that [63.75%] consumers are more likely to choose a product due to its design [Physical attributes] as compared to its price [36.25%]. The results were consistent with the hypothesis regarding the effect of product form upon consumer choice

Level of schizophrenic thinking in adults and their visual-motor performance

The present study aims to determine the relationship between schizophrenic thinking and Visual-Motor Performance of Adults. It was hypothesized that there could be a negative correlation between schizophrenic thinking and Visual-Motor performance. The sample consisted of 98 adults [41 males and 57 females], whose age range was from 19-45 years and all of them belonged to middle socioeconomic level. In order to assess schizophrenic thinking and Visual-Motor Performance, Whitaker index of Schizophrenic Thinking test [Whitaker, 1980] and Slosson Visual Motor Performance Test for children and adults [Slosson, 1996] were administered. For the quantitative analysis, Pearson Product Moment correlation was applied. The results were consistent with the hypothesis, regarding the predictive relationship between both the variables, which indicates that adults with higher trends of Schizophrenic thinking, have lower Visual-Motor performance and adults with lower trends of Schizophrenic thinking. have higher Visual-Motor performance

Suicide probability and depression among male prisoners

The present research was conducted in order to assess the differences among unconvicted and convicted male prisoners on the variables of suicide probability and depression. After detailed literature review it was hypothesized that the unconvicted prisoners would have higher Suicide Probability and Depression as compared to convicted prisoners. The sample consisted of two groups [20 unconvicted prisoners and 20 convicted prisoners] recruited from Sukkar Jail. The age range of both the groups was from 25 - 40 years. Suicide Probability Scale [SPS, Cull and Gill, 1988] and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI, Beck, 1961] were administered in order to determine Suicide Probability and Depression respectively in unconvinced and convicted prisoners. T-test was calculated in order to see the differences in suicide probability and depression between unconvinced and convicted prisoners. Results showed unconvinced prisoners scored higher on Suicide Probability [t= 3.591,p< .05, df=38] and on Depression [t= 2.542, p< -05, df=38] as compared to convicted prisoners