Psychological predictors of depression in diabetes

Objective: To study the association between psychological predictors of depression i.e. social support and quality of life in diabetic patients

Study design, settings and duration: Cross-sectional study conducted in clinics of different hospitals of Gujranwala, Abbottabad and Islamabad from January 2013 to January 2014

Patients and Methods: Fifty nine adult type II diabetic patients of both genders who came to hospital's diabetic clinic for diabetic treatment were selected for the study. The data was collected using multidimensional scale of perceived social support WHO quality of life scale and depression scale, All these scales had already been validated in the local population. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20

Results: Social support and quality of life were negatively related to depression. Within gender, it was found that male were significantly higher on social support, quality of life, friends support, physical quality of life and social quality of life as compared to female

Conclusion: If diabetic patient's social support and quality of life is improved, their levels of depression decrease. Depression associated with diabetes was more common in females

Policy message: Diabetes patients need better social support and better quality of life to cope up with diabetes related depression

Behavioral problems and emotion regulation in blind and normal children

Background: Behavioral problems and issues related to emotion regulations differ in blind and normal children. There is negative association between behavioral problems and emotion regulation among blind children

Objective: To compare the behavioral problems and emotional regulation in blind and normal children and see their relationship and also study demographic differences in behavioral problems and emotional regulation

Study type, settings and duration: Cross-sectional study done at Special Education Centers and government Schools of Lahore and Gujranwala from January 2013 to January 2014

Subjects and Methods: Blind and normal children of both genders were selected from the Special Education Centers of Lahore and Gujranwala while normal children were selected from government Schools of Lahore and Gujranwala. The association between behavioral problems and emotional regulations was assessed in these two sets of children using translated and validated questionnaires of Child Problem Checklist and Self-Regulation Scale. For blind students these were converted into Braille. The data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 20

Results: There were 50 blind and 50 normal children. Results showed that normal children had higher emotion regulations whereas blind children had higher behavioral problems and overall behavioral problems had negative relationship with emotion regulation. Demography showed that males had higher behavioral problems where as females had higher emotional regulations. Children having highly educated parents had higher emotion regulations and lesser behavioral problems

Conclusion: Blind children had more behavioral problems and less emotion regulations and within gender, it was more in males

Policy message: Blind children need more care and social support as they have more behavioral problems and less emotion regulation

Well-being and post-traumatic stress disorder due to natural and man-made disasters on adults

Research has shown that man-made disasters effect people more severely than natural disasters. Females are affected more severely as compared to males in disasters. The most prominent effects are low well-being and high post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. To compare the differences in well-being and PTSD among adults exposed to natural and man-made disasters. This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 150 young adults exposed to flood in Punjab [50], terrorism in KPK [50] and suicide bombing [terrorism] in Islamabad [50]. Adults exposed to natural disaster like flood scored significantly higher on well-being as compared to adults exposed to man-made disaster like terrorism and suicide bombing. Post-traumatic stress disorder was more in terrorism exposed adults as compared to flood exposed adults. Within gender, females adapted better to man-made disasters. Adults exposed to natural disaster adapt better than those exposed to man-made disaster and females adapt to man-made disasters better than men

Emotional intelligence as predictor of life satisfaction among nurses: mediating role of spiritual wellness

The present study was carried out to examine the mediating role of spiritual wellness in the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction among nurses. The study also aimed at investigating the role of emotional intelligence and spiritual wellness in the prediction of life satisfaction among nurses. Hypotheses of the study included [1] emotional intelligence will positively predict life satisfaction among nurses, [2] spiritual wellness will positively predict life satisfaction among nurses, and [3] spiritual wellness will mediate between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. Emotional Intelligence Scale, Spiritual Wellness Inventory and Life Satisfaction Ladder Scale were used to collect the information from the participants. A total of 300 nurses participated in the study. Data was collected from different hospitals of Islamabad. Purposive convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data. Multiple Regression analysis demonstrated that emotional intelligence and spiritual wellness had significant positive effect on life satisfaction. Hierarchal Regression analysis showed that spiritual wellness mediated the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. The present study is pretty insightful in understanding the role of spiritual wellness as a mediator. The findings have numerous practical implications for health professionals in general and for female nurses in particular

Work-family conflict and burnout among lecturers of public sector colleges

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between work-family conflict and burnout among the lecturers of Govt. Colleges. Work-family Conflict Scale [Carlson, Kacmar, and Williams, 2000] and Maslach Burnout Inventory [Maslach and Jackson, 1986] were administered on the present sample. A purposive sample of lecturers [N = 200] including male [n = 100] and female [n = 100] was selected from different colleges of Faisalabad Division. Age range of the sample was 26-60 years [M = 41.20]. Pearson correlation was applied to study the relationship among study variables. The findings of the study indicate that Work-family conflict has significant positive correlation with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment, and burnout. Time-based conflict, strain-based conflict, and behavior-based conflict exhibited significant positive correlation with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of' others, reduced personal accomplishment, and overall burnout. Finally, practical implications are discussed

Relationship between organizational communication climate and interpersonal conflict management styles

Relation between different styles of interpersonal conflict management and dimensions of organizational communication climate was looked into; employing a sample of 160 bank employees. Sample included men and women employees having age range of 27 to 55 years [M=38.07 and SD=1.44] and education ranges from graduation to post graduation. Organizational Communication Climate Inventory developed by Costigan and Schmeidler [2004] and Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory II [1983] were administered to assess the communication climate within the organizations and different styles of handling interpersonal conflict. The correlation analysis revealed that supportive [r=.41; p<.000] and defensive [r=.32; p<.001] communication climate dimensions showed positive relationship with total scores of conflict management inventory. The results further showed that integrating [r=.44; p<.001], obliging [r=.46, p<.001] and compromising [r=.26, p<.01] styles of handling conflict has significant positive correlation with supportive communication climate. Dominating [r=.38; p<.01] and avoiding [r=.36, p<.01] styles of handling conflict has significant positive correlation with defensive communication climate. Findings, revealed non significant differences with respect to gender on communication climate; women are found to use more comprising and avoiding styles of conflict management. On education non significant differences existed on communication climate, however less educated people were found to he compromising and obliging on styles of conflict management and highly educated people showed dominating styles of conflict management. Moreover, younger employees are found to be highly endorsed on supportive communication climate than old age employees and old age employees are also found to be more obliging

Relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement among higher secondary school students

The main objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement among students of higher secondary schools. The secondary objective was to examine the role of various demographic variables of the students including gender socio economic status, parental education and geographical origin in emotional intelligence. The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory was for data collection. Academic achievement of the participants was measured through their annual results. Pearson correlation and t-test was applied to test the hypotheses. Findings are in line with the hypotheses. Significant relationship found between the two constructs. First born students scored high on emotional intelligence as compared to later born students. Students with literate parents scored high as compared to students with illiterate parents. Students from urban areas scored high as compared to students from rural areas. Students from upper socio-economic students scored high on emotional intelligence as compared to students from lower socio-economic status. Female students scored high as compared to male students

Relationship between spiritual wellness and quality of life among university students

The present study was sought to examine the relationship between spiritual wellness, quality of life and its dimensions including physical, psychological, social, environmental, and perception of quality and health. Spiritual Wellness Inventory [Ingersoll, 1998] and World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire [Power, 2003] was used to collect the data. Sample of the present study consisted of college and university students [N=313]. Purposive continent sampling technique was used to collect the information. The hypotheses were supported in the present study. Results of the Pearson correlation indicate that spiritual weliness has significant positive correlation with quality of life and its dimensions including physical, psychological, social, environmental quality of life, and perception about quality and health. They present study is pretty insightful in understanding the association of spiritual wellness with the quality of life and its different aspects

Role of individual and organizational factors in decision making

The present study was conducted to examine the role of various individual and organizational factors in decision making styles including rational, intuitive, dependant, avoidant, and spontaneous. Urdu-translated version of General Decision Making Style Questionnaire [Scott and Bruce, 1995] was used to collect the data from the participants. A total of 300 bank managers were included in the current research. Purposive convenient sampling technique was employed in the present study. In order to investigate the mean differences, ANOVA and t-test were used in this research. Significant mean differences were found with respect to organizational and individual factors in decision making styles. Highly experienced managers were more intuitive decision makers as compared to relatively low experienced managers. Young and middle-aged adults were more rational decision makers than older adults. Managers belonging to public sector banks were more rational decision makers in comparison to private sector banks. No significant mean differences in decision making styles were found with respect to gender and management level Finally, implications and limitations were discussed

Role of individual and organizational factors in leadership

The present study was carried out to examine the role of various individual and organizational factors in leadership styles including transformational, transactional, and laissez faire leadership style. Urdu-translated version of Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire [MLQ] was used to collect the data from the participants. A total of 300 bank managers were included in the current research. Purposive convenient sampling technique was employed in the present study. In order to investigate the mean differences, one way ANOVA and t-test were used in this research. Significant mean differences were found with respect to individual and organizational factors in leadership styles. Middle level managers were found more transformational and transactional in comparison with top and lower level managers. Male bank managers were more transformational than their female counterparts. Public sector bank managers were more transformational than private sector managers. Managers with soft skills training were more transformational than managers without soft skills training. Finally, implications, limitations, and suggestions were discussed