Burn specific health among accidently burn survivors: role of negative affectivity and self efficacy

Background: There is a constant rise in the proportion of the burn patients. Negative affectivity and poor self-efficacy are the potential risk factors that worsen the post-burn health and poor prognosis after burn injury

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between negative affectivity [negative mood], self-efficacy, and burn specific health among adults who had survived from burn accidents. Study design, settings and duration: The study was conducted using cross-sectional correlation design and data was collected from various hospitals of Pakistan including Military Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, and Rah-Numa Welfare Organization during April - June, 2016

Patients and Methods: A convenient sample [n = 117] was taken. Participants included both men and women with age range from 18 to 52 years. Neuroticism subscale of NEO-FFI, Generalized self-efficacy scale, and Burn specific health -brief scale was used for data collection

Results: The negative affectivity was inversely related with self-efficacy and burn specific health, whereas self-efficacy was significantly positively associated with burn specific health. Accidently burn survivors who were low on negative affectivity and high on self-efficacy exhibited better post burn health as compared to those survivors who scored high on negative affectivity and low self-efficacy. Male survivors exhibit better burn specific health as compared to female survivors. Negative affectivity was higher among those survivors who had burn injuries in the exposed body parts including face

Conclusion: The findings of this study would be assistive for the medical and mental health professionals in designing and shaping customized interventions and rehabilitation programs for the post burn adults which will facilitate the process of recovery

Character strengths, learned optimism, and social competence among university students

The aim of the present study was twofold: First, it explored the predictive relationship of character strength and learned optimism with social competence among university students. Second, it investigated the role of various demographic factors [e.g. gender and income levels] in relation to character strengths, social competence and learned optimism. The sample [N = 300] consisted of university students with age range of 20 to 25 years. The Brief Strength Test [Peterson and Seligman, 2004], Life Orientation Test [Scheier and Carver, 1985], and Social Competence Scale [Shehzad, 2001] were used to measure character strength, learned optimism, and social competence, respectively. Results showed that character strengths and learned optimism predicted social competence. Results also revealed that women exhibited more wisdom, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence as compared to men. Findings further showed that respondents from higher income groups reflected more strength of wisdom, courage, justice, and transcendence as compared to low income group. However non-significant differences were observed along learned optimism and social competence in relation to gender and income levels. Implications of the study were also discussed

Meckel gruber syndrome: second trimester diagnosis of a case in a non-consanguineous marriage

Meckel-Gruber Syndrome [MKS] is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder, incompatible with life. It is characterized by enlarged polycystic kidneys and post axial polydactyly. Foetal or neonatal death is caused by pulmonary hypoplasia. We report a case of a 35 year old woman who presented at 7 weeks of gestation of her sixth pregnancy. A transabdominal anomaly ultrasound performed for her current pregnancy at 18 weeks of gestation showed features consistent with MKS. The termination of pregnancy was declined and a live newborn female was delivered via an emergency caeserean section at 34 weeks of gestation due to previous history of lower segment caesarean section [LSCS] and leaking. Physical examination of the neonate confirmed the features of MKS. The neonate died within 4-5 hours of birth. This case represented a second trimester diagnosis of a recurrent case of MKS in a non-consanguineous marriage

Innovative work behavior and communication climate among employees of advertising agencies

The present study intended to explore the relationship between communication climate and innovative work behavior among employees of advertisement agencies of electronic and print media. It was hypothesized that innovative work behavior will be differentially related with communication climate. Effect of gender and experience were also examined in relation to innovative work behavior and communication climate. Sample of the study consisted of 150 employees [both men and women] working in human resource, research, and project management departments. Innovative Work Behavior Inventory [Nafees, 2006] and Communication Climate Scale [Costegen and Schmidler, 2001] were used to assess the innovative work behavior and communication climate, respectively. Findings showed that supportive communication climate was positively correlated with innovative work behavior while defensive communication climate reflected negative association with innovative work behavior. Results also revealed significant differences across gender as women reflected more innovative work behavior and supportive communication climate as compared to men. It was also found that fresh employees exhibited more innovative work behavior and supportive communication climate as compared to experienced employees. Future implications of the study were also discussed

Parental attachment, parental acceptance, and aggression among adolescents

The present study was designed to explore the relationship of parental attachment and parental acceptance with aggressive behavior of adolescents. The study also intended to determine gender differences in parental attachment, parental acceptance, and aggressive behaviors. Purposive sample [N=300] comprising equal number of boys [n=150] and girls [n=150], ranging in age from 13-15 years was taken. Three culturally translated and adapted instruments were used in the study. Parental Attachment Questionnaire [Azam, 2006], Aggression Questionnaire [Ashraf 2004], and Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire [Riaz, 2000] were employed to assess parental attachment, aggression, and parental acceptance respectively. Results showed significant negative correlation of parental attachment and parental acceptance with aggression. Significant gender differences were observed on parental attachment parental acceptance, and aggression. Significant differences were also found in the manifestation of different types of aggression and parental attachment among adolescents. Finally, cultural implications and suggestions were discussed

Effects of photographic framing on perceptions of social protest

The present study was designed to determine the effects of photographic framing on perceptions of social protest. It was hypothesized that participants will reflect differential perceptions of protestors and effectiveness of protest in Conflict and Non-Conflict Depicting Photos. Gender differences were also explored regarding the effectiveness of protest and impression of protestors. The sample of the study consisted of 200 university students [both men and women], with age range of 22-27 years. Eight stimulus pictures with two opinions statements were used as instrument to assess the perceptions. Results showed significant differences regarding perceptions about impression of protestors on Conflict Depicting Photos and Non-Conflict Depicting Photos, whereas, non-significant differences were observed regarding effectiveness of protest. Findings also revealed non-significant gender differences pertaining to impression of protestors and effectiveness of protest. Future implications of the study were also discussed

Students' achievement in individualistic, competitive and cooperative settings and their emotive perceptions for each setting

The aim of present study is to experimentally assess students' achievement in different social settings. Research also intended to explore students' emotive perceptions during different experimental conditions. - Experimental Study [Randomized Group Design]. Islamabad, Pakistan 2006-2007. After detailed literature review, it was hypothesized that a cooperative setting is more effective than interpersonal competition and individualistic effort in yielding successful completion of task. It was also hypothesized that subjects working in cooperative setting experience positive emotive perceptions about their work setting as compared to students working in competitive and individualistic settings. The sample of present research consisted of 90 students taken from private school. Their age, education, socioeconomic level, birth order, and type of school were held constant. Equal number of boys [n=45] and girls [n-45] were randomly assigned to all three experimental conditions. A game situation was constructed to manipulate three types of social settings, that is, individualistic, competitive, and cooperative. Post experimental questionnaire was administered to determine the students' emotive perceptions during each of the experimental social settings. F test was applied to assess the mean difference of students' performance in three social settings. Means were also tabulated on the post experimental questionnaire to determine the students' emotive perceptions during each of the experimental social settings. Results revealed maximum goal achievement for subjects who were randomly placed in cooperative conditions as compared to those assigned in competitive and individualistic situations. Findings also revealed emotive perceptual differences among subjects of all three experimental groups. Subjects of cooperative setting reported more ositive emotions of shared intimacy, better communication and division of labor. On the other hand, subjects performed incompetitive situation shared feelings of frustration, aggression, oppositional interaction and concealing information. Finally, subjects of individualistic condition endorsed feelings of depression, loneliness, worthlessness, stress coping, and alienation. Students can achieve their goals more effectively when working in a cooperative environment as compared to individual efforts. Cooperative settings are also associated with healthy and positive psychological feelings and emotions

Relationship between affect intensity and personality traits among university students

The main objective of the present research -was to determine and understand relationship between Affect Intensity [AI] and personality traits. Keeping in view the literature review it was hypothesized that Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness/ Intellect, and Conscientiousness would be positively correlated with Positive Affect Intensity and Emotional Stability would be negatively correlated with Negative Affect Intensity among ' students. It was also hypothesized that women would score high on Affect Intensity Measure as compared to men. Sample of 120 participants was taken comprising of equal number of men [n=60] and women [n=60], ranging in age from 18-25 years, and were students of B.Sc and M.Sc. from Bahria University [n=40], Air University [n=35], Islamic International University [n=25], Islamabad and Arid Agriculture University [n=20], Rawalpindi. Affect Intensity Measure [Larsen, 1984] to measure Affect Intensity and Mini Marker Personality Inventory [Saucier, 1994] were used to assess different personality traits like, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness/Intellect, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness, English versions of both ' measures were used. Alpha reliability coefficients were established to determine the psychometric properties of the two scales. Correlational analysis and Regression analysis was applied to determine the relationship between the variables, and t-test was employed to explore the gender differences. Results/findings indicates that Extraversion [r = .27, p<.01], Agreeableness [r = .29, p<, 01], Openness/Intellect [r = .30, p<.01], and Emotional stability [r = .29, p<.01] are positivelyrelated with Positive Affect Intensity whereas Conscientiousness has insignificant relationship with Positive Affect Intensity. Furthermore, Extroversion [r = -.27, p<.01] is found to he negatively related with Negative Affect intensity whereas insignificant relationship of Agreeableness, Openness/Intellect, Emotional stability and Conscientiousness with Negative Affect intensity is revealed. Regression analysis showed that Extroversion [B = .09, S.E = .05, beta = .17, t =1.97, p < .05] and Emotional Stability [B = .12, S.E = .04, beta = -23, t = 71, p < .01] significantly predicts Positive Affect Intensity, while Extraversion [B = -.22, S.E -.06, beta =-.35, t = -3.81, p < .05] and Emotional Stability [B = -.11, S.E = .05, beta =-.19, t = -2.06, p < .05] has significant negative prediction towards Negative. Affect Intensity. The findings of the present research suggest that Affect Intensity does have significant relationship with personality traits. For Positive and Negative Affect Intensity it can be concluded that Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Openness/Intellect are the major correlating traits. However, Extraversion and Emotional Stability significantly predicts Positive Affect Intensity whereas these traits do not predict Negative Affect Intensity. Gender differences on the Affect Intensity measure revealed that women's scores were significantly high on this construct