Role of self-compassion in the relationship between rumination and depression among geriatrics population

Background: self-compassion is the ability to respond to one's failures, shortcomings, and difficulties with kindness and openness rather than criticism. It is treating oneself in a kind way and having positive attitudes towards hardships. Rumination plays a vital role in depression, while self-compassion suppress the role of rumination and alleviates the depression

Objectives: to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between rumination and depression among geriatrics living in old homes

Study design, settings and duration: it was a cross-sectional research under correlational framework, conducted in old homes of Rawalpindi. Data was collected from April 2017 to July 20174$Subjects and Methods: sixty one [61] geriatrics, 41 males and 20 females participated in this research. Self-compassion Scale and Rumination Response Scale were utilized to collect the data. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21.0

Results: there was a significant negative correlation between self-compassion, rumination and depression. Moreover, t-test analyses supported that women were higher on depression and rumination while male were high on self-compassion. Mediational analyses had shown that self-compassion lower the depression level successively

Conclusion: Self-compassion mediated the relationship between rumination and depression. It buffers the effect of rumination and ultimately reduces the depression. Inculcation of positive thoughts and compassion successively helps in lowering negative thoughts and depression

Policy message: self-compassion enhancement techniques and mindfulness based training can be effectively utilized which can help geriatrics to reduce depression and lessen recurrent ruminating tendency in them

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

Stress, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder among general population affected by floods in pakistan

Background: Natural disasters evoke certain distressful traumatic reactions which impede the lives of the survivors. The flood in July 2010 were one of the Pakistan's largest natural disasters

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among adults exposed to 2010 floods in Pakistan

Study type, settings and duration: Cross sectional study done in flood affected areas of Pakistan. Data was collected from February7 2013 to May 2013

Subjects and Methods: Sample of the study comprised of 2000 individuals. The data was collected from highly flood affected areas like Mianwali, Muzafar Garh, and Dera Ghazi Khan from Punjab, Nowshera and Peshawar from Kyber Pukhtunkhwa and Neelum Valley form Azad Jammu Kashmir. Data was collected by using convenient sampling technique. Stress, Anxiety and depression were measured by using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Posttraumatic stress disorder was assessed using the self-report measure, Impact of Event Scale

Results: Age range of the participants was between 15 to 65 years [Mean 28.7, SD = 7.1], for both genders. After about three years of floods, posttraumatic stress disorder was still present in both genders. However, it was higher among females and unemployed individuals. Moreover, higher exposure to flood was positively associated with posttraumatic stress disorder whereas, age, and education were negatively related with distress and posttraumatic stress disorder

Conclusion: Psychological disorders persists for several years after the disaster and results in significant personal distress

Policy message: The association between psychological distress, gender, age, education and employment status has to be taken into consideration when mental health policies for flood-survivors are planned at the national level

Mediating role of depression in the relationship between brooding rumination and suicidal ideation

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the rumination patterns, depression and suicidal ideation and the mediating role of depression in the relationship between brooding rumination and suicidal ideation among adults

STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Rawalpindi and Islamabad sample were collected during the month of March 2014

METHODOLOGY: Sample comprised of 200 individuals. Age ranged between 21 to 70 years [M = 40.60, SD = 14.20], with almost equal participation of both, males and females. Urdu translated versions of Siddiqui Shah Depression Scale [SSDS]; Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation [BSSI]; and Rumination Response Scales [RRS] were used to measure the Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Rumination respectively

RESULTS: Results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between depression and suicidal ideation [r = .38, P < .01], brooding rumination was significantly positively associated with depression [r =.50, P <.01] and with suicidal ideation [r =.22, P <.01] and reflective rumination was also significantly positively associated with depression [r =.41, P <.01] but not with suicidal ideation [r = .08, p=ns]. Depression fully mediates the relationship between brooding rumination [beta = .36, p<.01] and suicidal ideation

CONCLUSION: Brooding rumination invokes the depression that subsequently leads to suicidal ideation. Quite contrary, reflective rumination buffers the effect of depression and suicidal ideation

Moreover, these results may guide appropriate psychosocial interventions

Characteristic symptoms and adaptive behaviors of children with autism

To determine the characteristic symptoms and adaptive behaviors of children with autism, as well as the distribution of autism severity groups across gender. Cross-sectional observational study. Special Education Schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, from September 2011 to January 2012. Thirty nine children of either gender, aged 3 - 16 years and enrolled in special education schools, fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria of autism. Among those, were identified as meeting the criteria of autism. The childhood autism rating scale-2 [CARS-2] was used to study the characteristics and severity of symptoms of autism. Later, adaptive behavior scale [school edition: 2] ABS-S: 2, was administered on children [n=21] to formulate the level of adaptive functioning. There were 15 boys and 8 girls with mean age of 10.6 +/- 2.97 years. They showed marked impairment in verbal communication [mean=3.17 +/- 0.90] followed by relating to people [mean=2.75 +/- 0.83] and general impression [mean=2.73 +/- 0.7]. Most of the children showed average to below average adaptive behaviors on number and time [n=19, 90.5%], independent functioning [n=17, 81.0%], self direction [n=17, 81.0%], physical development [n=13, 61.9%], responsibility [n=12, 57.1%] and socialization [n=13, 61.9%] as well as poor to very poor adaptive behaviors on prevocational skill [n=15, 71.4%], language development [n=13, 61.9%] and economic development [n=13, 61.9%]. The frequency of boys with autism was more towards moderate to severely impaired spectrum, without gender differences in any symptom associated with autism. Comprehension of the presentation of characteristic symptoms of children with autism will be helpful in devising the indigenous intervention plans that are congruent with the level of adaptive functioning

Light at the end of the tunnel; posttraumatic growth among individuals exposed to flood 2010 in Pakistan

To explore the stress- related growth experienced by the individuals exposed to the highly stressful and traumatic floods in Pakistan began on July 27[th], 2010. Qualitative Study Communities of the flood affected areas, from June 2011 to December 2011 Sample included 300 participants, who were affected in flood in Pakistan that began on July 27[th], 2010, following heavy monsoon rains. Age range of the participants was from 13 to 55 [M = 27.45, SD = 6.94] years, with equal participation of male and females. Twenty Focus group discussions [FGD][5] and 30 key informant interviews [KII] were conducted to gather the information. Each FGD was consisted of approximately 12 respondents. The positive changes were reported to occur in five domains of an individual life including, recognizing new possibilities, perceiving personal strength, increasing spiritual sense, improving relationship, and appreciation of life. The significance of understanding this concept of Posttraumatic Growth helps the mental health professionals in devising the intervention strategies, while keeping in mind the positive changes and strengths of the community

Perceived social support and death anxiety among patients with chronic diseases

There is a relationship between chronic diseases, death anxiety, social support and psychological distress. Social support is a crucial component for patients to adopt to life threatening illnesses while, close relations increase the self-esteem and act as a buffer against death anxiety. To investigate the perception of social support and death anxiety among patients having chronic diseases like Cancer, Hepatitis, Cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It was a cross sectional study done in Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital Wah Cantt, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology Rawalpindi and Ali Homoeopathic Clinic Rawalpindi. Data was collected during the period of March to June, 2011. The sample size included 106 patients of both genders irrespective of age who were suffering from either some form of cancer or hepatitis or cardiac diseases or diabetes. The Death Anxiety Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale were used for data collection. Out of 106 cases there were 72 males and 38 females whose ages ranged from 18 to 76 years with a mean of 44.2 years and SD of 12.69. Male patients had significantly higher death anxiety, disturbing deaths thoughts and fear of not being as compared to female patients. Death anxiety was higher among married as compared to unmarried patients. There was negative relationship between death anxiety and perceived social support [r =-.205, p<0.05]. Death anxiety increased with age and education. Patients with lower education and younger age perceived more social support and lesser death anxiety. Social support and other psychosocial services may help in reducing the death related thoughts among chronic disease patients and improve their functions and recovery process. Physicians must consider the psychological status of the patients while, treating their chronic diseases

Relationship of perceived parenting with psychological distress and resilience among adolescents

The present study was conducted to examine the relationship of perceived parenting styles with psychological distress and resilience among adolescents. Additionally, the effect of demographic variables such as gender and socioeconomic status in relation to perceived parenting styles, psychological distress and resilience among adolescents was also explored. Sample of 200 individuals, with equal participation of male and finale, was collected by using the self report measures Parental Authority Questionnaire [PAQ; Babree, 1997]; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale [DASS; Aslam and Tariq, 2007] and Ego- Resiliency Scale [ER; Nangiana, 2002]. The results showed that psychological distress is negatively related with resilience. Authoritative parenting was positively associated with resilience and negatively associated with psychological distress. Permissive parenting was negatively related with resilience, whereas, authoritarian and permissive styles are positively related with psychological distress. The findings of present study provided an additional evidence to support the role of healthy family relationship in empowering adolescents to coping with stress, trauma, and life pressures who experienced

Internalizing and externalizing problems in children: a comparison of street and non-street children

The present study aimed to investigate the internalizing [i.e., guilt, anxiety, shynes, withdrawn and immaturity] and externalizing problems [i.e., impulsivity, aggression] in street and non street children. As it was hypothesized that street children would have more internalizing and externalizing problems as compared to non street children. National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Data was collected from August 2009 to January 2010. Comparative study. The sample of the study consisted of 300 children [150 street children and 150 non - street children]. Among 150 street children 134 were boys and 16 were girls. Equal number of non-street children was taken. Age range of the sample was 5 to 16 years. Human Figure Drawing [HFD] test was used to assess the internalizing and externalizing problem in street children. For interpretation Koppitz1 scoring system was used. The data of street children was selected from the head office and the regional office of Child protection and welfare bureau, Lahore and Rawalpindi, while the sample of non street children was taken from the schools of Rawalpindi. Frequencies and percentages were calculated and chi-square was computed to gadget the differences between two groups on emotional problems. Findings showed that street children showed more internalizing and externalizing problems as compared to non - street children. Significant differences were found between street and non - street children on impulsivity, aggression, immaturity, withdrawn and anxiety. Anxiety and guilt was found significantly higher in street girls as compared to street boys. Results remained consistent with previous researches. There were significant differences between street children and non - street children. Street children scored higher on the indicators of immaturity, impulsivity, aggression, anxiety and withdrawn whereas, guilt and anxiety was found higher among female street children. Preventive measures and early intervention can mitigate the vulnerability of street children in developing psychopathology