Humor as an effective stress coping strategy for cardiac patients

The objective of the research was to explore the effect of humor as a coping strategy in cardiac patients. It was hypothesized that humor as a coping strategy would be positively related to reduction of the perceived stress associated to the cardiovascular problems; there would be a gender difference in the frequency of using humor as a stress coping strategy. A sample of 48 patients [24 males and 24 females] suffering from Cardiovascular disease were selected through purposive sampling from different hospitals of Karachi city [Pakistan]

Stress and depression in the parents of intellectually challenged children and the parents of intellectually challenged children with physical handicap

The research was conducted to investigate the amount of difference in stress reported by the mothers of the intellectually challenged children and the mothers of physically handicapped children. It was hypothesized that the mothers of intellectually challenged children will report more stress as compared to the mothers of the physically handicapped children. The sample of physically handicapped children's group consisted of 22 mothers. In this sample 86% were house wives and 13% were working ladies with average age of 27 years. The sample of intellectually challenged group consisted of mothers of intellectually challenged children who suffered moderate to severe mental disability. In this sample 77% were house wives and 22% were working ladies with average age of 28 years. From each group mothers were initially interviewed and later on had to complete the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress [QRS] by Holroyd and Guthrie [1974]. The t-test was calculated for the statistical analysis and the results obtained were found to be significant at P< 0.05, stating that mental handicap contributed more towards family stress

comparative study of intrapersonal skills

The purpose of the present research was to determine the effect of learning disabilities on Intrapersonal skills. It is hypothesized that the non learning disabled students will have higher Intrapersonal skills than the learning disabled students. The sample comprised 80 learning disabled and 80 non learning disabled students. The learning disabled group includes 51 boys and 29 girls. The non learning disabled group includes 41 boys and 39 girls. The learning disabled group was randomly selected from remedial schools and schools with screening psychologists and psychological clinics. The non learning disabled group was randomly selected from normal schools of upper middle and upper socioeconomic strata. In order to gain information regarding age, sex, qualification, parents, income and any other psychological problem Demographic Variable Form, and in order to measure the Intrapersonal skills the Intrapersonal subscale of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, Youth Version was administered. For statistical analyses of the data t-test was applied. Findings suggest insignificant difference in the level of Intrapersonal skills between the two groups p>05 level

Comparison of positive affect among learning and non learning disabled students

The purpose of the present research was to determine the effect of positive affect on learning disabilities. It was hypothesized that the non learning disabled students will have higher mean scores on the variable of general mood than the learning disabled students. In order to measure the positive affect the General mood subscale of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, Youth Version was administered. The sample comprised of 80 learning disabled and 80 non learning disabled students. The learning disabled group included 51 boys and 29 girls, randomly selected from remedial schools and schools with screening psychologists. The non learning disabled group includes 41 boys and 39 girls and randomly selected from normal schools of upper socioeconomic strata. In order to gain information regarding age, sex, qualification, parents' income and any other psychological problem a Demographic Variable Form was administered. For statistical analyses of the data t-test was applied. Findings suggest significant difference in the level of general mood between the two groups at p<0.05 level

Learning disabilities as a risk factor for interpersonal skills

The present research was conducted to assess the difference between learning and non learning-disabled students on the variable of interpersonal skills. A comparative study Place and duration of study: Different educational institutions, remedial schools for learning disabled students and different psychological clinics during the year 2004 and 2005. After detailed literature review it was hypothesized that non-learning disabled students would have higher mean scores on interpersonal skills than learning disabled students. The sample [N-160] consisted of two groups [80 - LDs and 80 - NLDs] of students from different normal and remedial schools and different psychological clinics. The mean age range of students was from 8 to 18 years. The interpersonal subscale of Bar-On EQ-i- YV was administered. In order to find the difference in interpersonal skills t-test for independent sample was applied. Results showed that LDs scored higher on interpersonal skills [t = 7.934, df = 158, p <.01] as compared to NLDs. LDs have higher interpersonal skills as compared to NLDs

Team size, communication and need for achievement as predictors of team effectiveness

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship of team effectiveness with team size, communication and need for achievement. Sample consisted of 40 male employees of different advertising agencies, who were working in a team. Team Effectiveness Inventory was administered to measure team effectiveness, communication within the team and need for achievement of team members. Personal data form was also administered to gather the demographic information and to find out the number of people working in the group. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was then applied. Negative correlation between team size and team effectiveness, and a positive correlation of team effectiveness with need for achievement and level of communication was found. Regression analysis also indicates team size, communication and need for achievement to be signficiant predictors of team effectiveness

Consumers' behavior as a function of life style and personality trait

This research examines the relationship between Consumers' tendency to conform and their changes in the purchase plans, while they are shopping alone and shopping with a group. Need for Achievement, Aggression and Dominance of the consumers with a low and high tendency to conform was also compared. To investigate, 97 consumers belonging to middle, upper middle and upper socio economic class constitute sample for the study. On the basis of their response to ATSCI [Attention to Social Comparison Information] scale, consumers were divided into two groups i.e. low and high tendency to conform. Questionnaire measuring consumers change in purchase plan under 2 conditions i.e. while shopping alone and shopping with a group together with the Achievement, Aggression and Dominance scales of PRF [Personality Research Form] were administered. T correlated indicated non significant difference between the purchase plans in 2 conditions for consumers with low and high tendency to conform, but there was a significant difference in the level of Need for Achievement, Aggression, Dominance between Consumers with Low and High Tendency to conform, when t test was calculated

Self-monitoring: a correlate of leadership style

The present study investigates the relationship between self-monitoring personality trait and leadership styles. The samples consisted of 115 [96 male, 19 female] individuals employed with private organizations and designed at the Higher and Middle Management level. Their ages ranged between [25-35 years]. It was predicted that high of self monitoring individuals will score high on participative leadership style scale and likewise low self-monitors will score high on autocratic leadership scale. For quantitative analysis, pearsons' correlation co-efficient was applied through SPSS. Findings suggest a correlation value tending in the positive direction [r =.025] between participative leadership style and self monitoring, and an inverse correlation between autocratic leadership style and self monitoring. [r =.018]. findings have been discussed with reference to their implications for organizational functioning

Situational coping and coping dispositions of Pakistani students in a stressful tranaction

The COPE inventory was used to assess the coping responses among a group of 33 graduates, who were attempting to cope with a specific stressful episode, i.e. their exams. Their dispositional coping style was obtained 2 days before their exams were to begin. At this stage the subjects also reported the grade they were aiming for, their confidence of attaining that grade and how important it was for them to do well on the exams. Their situational coping style was obtained 4 days after their exams. It was found that dispositional coping style can be a good predictor for situational coping style. Significant relationship [P<.05] was obtained between problem focused coping style, before the exams and emotion-focused coping after the exams. A significant relationship was also obtained for the confidence level and the use of problem-focused strategy [P<.05]

Death anxiety and death personification as a function of nature of professions

The level of death anxiety and negative death imagery was compared for people dealing in neutral professions with doctors and pilots. It was hypothesized that the pilots and doctors will have: [i] less death anxiety than people dealing in neutral professions [ii] less negative death imagery than people dealing in neutral professions. A sample of 50 people dealing in neutral professions, 25 pilots and 25 doctors were taken. An independent t-test was calculated, supporting the first hypothesis for less death anxiety in pilots and doctors than people in neutral professions. Chi-square was then applied, to the data of death personification. Here also statistically significant difference was found in the expected direction

Close friendship as a determinant of social adjustment, interpersonal adjustment and anxiety

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate close friendship in relation to social adjustment, interpersonal adjustment and anxiety. In this investigation, it was hypothesized that individuals who have none or one close friend, as compared to individuals how have more than one close friend would: [i] be less adjusted socially [ii] be less adjusted interpersonally, and [iii] have a higher degree of anxiety. In order to test these hypotheses, a questionnaire of social and interpersonal adjustment was prepared and Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale was utilized. A short questionnaire was also prepared to determine qualitative components of close friendship. These questionnaires were given to 122 subjects: 61 of whom had none or only one close friend and 61 other subjects who had more than one close friend each. t-test of independent samples was applied to investigate whether close friendship is a determinant of all the three variables i.e. social adjustment, interpersonal adjustment, and the level of anxiety. It was statistically found that significant differences do not exist between those who had none or only one close friend and those who had more than one close friend in relation to social adjustment, interpersonal, and anxiety

Relationship between self-concept and academic performance of Pakistani students

This research was conducted to study the relationship between self-concept and academic performance. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between self-concept and academic performance. Sixty university students participated in the study. Correlations between the subscales of the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and GPA were obtained. Results indicate a positive relationship between total self-concept score and GPA and significant positive relationship for the subscales of Identity, Behaviour, Personal Self and Family Self and negative correlations for the subscales of Self-Satisfaction and Moral-Ethical Self with GPA. No significant correlations for the Physical Self and Social Self subscales with GPA were found

Personal factors as determinants of remainders and terminators in psychotherapy

Certain personal factors were hypothesized to be determinants of Remainers and Terminators in psychotherapy i.e. conflict with job timings, motivation of the patient, previous psychiatric experience, age and sex. In order to test these hypotheses a questionnaire was prepared and given to 11 student therapists of the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi. 150 cases treated by these therapists were studied. Out of them 75 were Remainers and 75 were Terminators. The various variables under study were assessed through the ratings of the patients obtained from their respective therapists. Chi-Square test of independence was applied to all the variables. It was found that when the client is highly motivated, has previous psychiatric experience, and is young, he / she tends to remain in psychotherapy. Whereas clients who had conflicts with job timings, tend to be Terminators. The variable of sex as a determinant of Remainers and Terminators was not found to be statistically significant

Depressive mood coping strategies of university students

The present study was aimed at comparing depressive mood coping strategies of University students classified as depressed and non-depressed. Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] and the Depression Coping Questionnaire [DCQ] were administrated to a sample of 71 male and 84 female students. The Pearson Product Coefficient of Correlation was computed for each statement of DCQ with BDI scores. DCQ items with the highest and lowest rates of endorsement by both the depressed and nondepressed groups were discussed in the context of their general functioning and mood coping strategies

Socio-economic factors as determinants of remainders and terminators in psychotherapy

In the present investigation it was hypothesized that socio-economic factors are determinants of Remainers and Terminators in psychotherapy i.e. financial burden, socio-economic status and education level. In order to test these hypotheses a questionnaire was prepared and given to 11 student therapists of the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi. 150 cases treated by these therapists were studied. Out of them 75 were Remainers and 75 Terminators. The factors under study were assessed through the ratings obtained from their respective therapists. Chi-Square test of independence was applied to the variable of socio-economic status and education level. Whereas the variable of financial burden was statistically treated by t-test. It was found that clients who belong to the higher socio-economic level and are highly educated, tend to remain in psychotherapy. Whereas clients who find psychotherapy as a financial burden tend to terminate psychotherapy

study of the relationship of manifest anxiety with school achievement of 10th grade students

This study investigated the nature of relationships between anxiety and school achievement of 300 Pakistani adolescents [male and female]. An anxiety scale was administrated under non stress conditions about 3 months before the final examination. The achievement scores were the percentage scores obtained by the same subjects in their final examination held by the Karachi Board. The Pearson Product Coefficient of Correlation was computed for the whole group, as well as for the males and females separately. The conclusions were: [a] the relationship between these 2 variables is curvilinear, thus supporting the inverted - U hypothesis and [b] this relationship holds for both males and females

Social class and sex differences in Pakistan on the raven's standard progressive matrices

The Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices Test [SPM] was administered to 300, 6th to 8th grade students of various schools to determine the effect of sex and social class on the SPM. There were 150 male and 150 female subjects. The hypothesis regarding social class was supported i.e. the higher the social class of the subject the higher was his raw score on the RSPM, indicating a higher intellectual capacity. Analysis of variance was computed to study the treatment effects of the 3 social classes and it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the performance of the 3 groups i.e. F.01 [2, 297] = 101.15, p <.01 level. The results regarding sex differences on the above test were insignificant as determined by a t-test [t=.785, p<.05]