Moderating role of academic motivation and entitlement between motives of students and academic achievement among university students.

Objectives: The study examined the moderating role of academic motivation and academic entitlements between students' motives for communication with their instructors and their academic achievements. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the universities situated in Okara and Sargodha, Pakistan, from November 1, 2017 to November 9, 2018. Data were collected using the Students' Motives for Communicating with their Instructors Scale, Academic Motivation Scale and the Academic Entitlement Scale. Data were analysed using SPSS-23. RESULTS: There were 264 students. Academic motivation moderated the relationship between participation motive and academic achievement as well as the relationship between functional motive and academic achievement (p<0.05). Academic entitlement moderated the relationship between relational motive and academic achievement (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High and moderate level of academic motivation enhanced the effect of students' relational and functional motive for communicating on academic achievement whereas low level of motivation reduced it. High, moderate and low level of academic entitlement enhanced the effect of relational motive on academic achievement. High level of academic entitlement reduced the effect of functional motive on academic achievement. High level of academic entitlement reduced the effect of functional motive on academic achievement whereas moderate and low level of academic entitlement reduced its effect.

Effect of brain damages on logical inferences of depressive adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immediate and mediate inferences among depressive adults with and without brain damage. Methods: The descriptive, comparative study was conducted from November 6 to June 19, 2019, in Sargodha, Pakistan, and comprised depressive adults of either gender enrolled from various local mental health facilities. After applying Stroop test to identify brain damage, the subjects were divided into adults with brain damage in group A, and adults without brain damage in group B. Logical inferences of both groups were identified using three decision situations, and the findings were compared between the groups. Data was entered in SPSS V-26 for analysis. Chi-Square Test was applied to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: Of the 170 individuals approached, 120(70.5%) were included; 60(50%) in each of the two groups. Overall, there were 76(63%) males and 44(37%) females. The overall age range 18-60 years, with 105(88%) being young adults aged 18-49 years. Findings revealed that Group A exhibited higher frequency of immediate inferences on three conditions of certainty (55, 53, 58) as compared to Group B (23, 21, 20) while group B exhibited higher frequency on mediate inferences on the conditions of certainty (37, 39, 40) as compared to Group A (5, 7, 2). Group A exhibited higher frequency of immediate inferences on three conditions of risk (54, 55, 56) as compared to Group B (14, 23, 22) while group B exhibited higher frequency on mediate inferences on the conditions of risk (46, 35, 38) as compared to Group A (6, 7, 4). Group A exhibited higher frequency of immediate inferences on three conditions of uncertainty (53, 55, 55) as compared to Group B (14, 23, 22) while group B exhibited higher frequency on mediate inferences on the conditions of uncertainty (43, 40, 33) as compared to Group A (7, 5, 5). CONCLUSIONS: In the light of the findings, it is inferred that adults with brain damages are unable to consider multiple perspectives while making decisions and consequently they consider one or two perspectives (immediate inferences) irrespective of the decision situation. However, adults without brain damages consider multiple perspectives while making decisions (mediate inferences) in all types of decision situations.

Moderation role of proactive coping between psychological place attachment and its mental health consequences in sojourners.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interaction effect of psychological place attachment and proactive coping on psychological distress and mental well-being in sojourners. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from July 12, 2019 to July 12, 2020 at University of Sargodha, Pakistan and comprised academic sojourners who stay in a place for a limited period of time. Data was collected using four self-reporting tools: Psychological Place Attachment Scale, Proactive Coping Inventory, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and Kasler Psychological Distress Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. RESULTS: Of the 300 subjects, 181(60.3%) were females; 164(54.7%) were from Punjab; and 261(87%) were aged 17-22 years. Proactive coping, preventive coping and reflective coping significantly moderated the relationship between affective and psychological distress (p<0.05). Proactive coping and reflective coping significantly moderated the relationship between affective bonding and mental well-being (p<0.05). Proactive coping, preventive coping and avoidance coping significantly moderated the relationship between home meaning and psychological distress (p<0.05). Proactive coping moderated the relationship between home meaning and psychological distress. Proactive coping and reflective coping moderated the relationship between place identity and psychological distress (p<0.05). Proactive coping moderated the relationship between place identity and mental well-being (p<0.05). Instrumental support-seeking moderated the relationship between place dependence and psychological distress (p<0.05). Preventive coping and reflective coping moderated the relationship between psychological place attachment and psychological distress (p<0.05). Reflective coping, strategic planning and preventive coping significantly moderated the relationship between psychological place attachment and mental well-being (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Positive coping strategies were effective in re-educating the negative impacts of place attachment on well-being and buffering against psychological distress.

Effect of positive and negative symptoms on schizophrenia related quality of life of hospitalized schizophrenic patients at Sargodha and Lahore: Moderating role of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to find out the moderating effect of neuropsychiatric symptoms in the relationship between positive-negative symptoms of schizophrenia with quality of life of schizophrenic patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Lahore and Sargodha, Pakistan. Data was collected by administering the Positive and Negative of Schizophrenia Questionnaire, Quality of Life of Schizophrenia Scale and Neuropsychiatry Inventory. SPSS-23 was used for data analysis. The study was completed in one year. The data was collected from September 4, 2017 to November 1, 2018 after 10am. RESULTS: The findings indicated that positive symptoms had significant positive correlation with negative symptoms (p < 0.001) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (p < 0.001) with significant negative correlation with schizophrenia quality of life (p < 0.001). Negative symptoms had significant positive correlation with neuropsychiatric symptoms (p < 0.001) and significant negative correlation with schizophrenia related quality of life (p <0.001). Neuropsychiatric symptoms had significant negative correlation with schizophrenia quality of life (p <0.001) in the study. Moreover, neuropsychiatric symptoms moderated between negative symptoms and schizophrenia related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, findings suggested that negative symptoms and neuropsychiatric symptoms have positive association with quality of life of schizophrenic patients whereas positive symptoms have inverse relationship. The study also revealed that neuropsychiatric symptoms enhanced the effect of negative symptoms on quality of life of schizophrenic patients.

Impact of preoperative surgical anxiety on postoperative surgical recovery among surgical patients: Role of surgical coping.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the moderating impact of surgical coping in the relationship between pre-operative surgical anxiety and post-operative surgical recovery. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the surgical department of various hospitals across Punjab, including the Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, Sargodha, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, and Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from May 1, 2018, to May 1, 2019. It comprised surgical patients of either gender aged 18-60 years. Data was collected using the Amsterdam Pre-operative Anxiety and Information Scale, the Surgical Recovery Scale, and the Coping with Surgical Stress Scale. Moderation analysis was applied using PROCESS Macro 3.2. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients, 85(42.5%) were males and 115(57.5%) were females. The overall mean age was 36.34±12.64 years. Threat avoidance (p<0.001) and information-seeking (p<0.001) coping strategies moderated the relationship between surgical anxiety and surgical recovery of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of appropriate coping strategy for prompt recovery post-surgery is critical.

Effect of revenge on sadism and schadenfreude in clinical and non clinical adults: moderating role of misanthropic beliefs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the concept of moderating effect of misanthropic beliefs in the relationship involving revenge tendencies, sadism and schadenfreude among clinical and non-clinical adults. METHOD: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan, over a period of one year from 2017 to 2018, and comprised adults aged 22-65 years in both clinical and no-clinical settings enrolled from the University of Sargodha, Punjab Institute of Mental Health and the Fountain House. Data was collected using Vengeance, Misanthropic, Short Sadistic Impulse and Perceived Schadenfreude scales. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 500 subjects, 250 (50%) each were in the clinical and non-clinical groups. Misanthropic beliefs were found to moderate the relationship involving revenge attitude, sadism and schadenfreude in both groups (p<0,05). CONCLUSIONS: Misanthropic beliefs moderated the relationship involving revenge attitude, schadenfreude and sadism.

Predictors of siege mentality among early adults: moderating role of paranoid thoughts.

OBJECTIVE: Firstly, the study aimed to determine the effect of paranoid ideation on the prediction of siege mentality among early adults. Secondly, the study examined the effect of paranoid thoughts on the prediction of siege mentality among early adults. Thirdly, the study assessed the moderating effect of paranoid thoughts in the relationship between paranoid ideation and siege mentality among early adults. METHODS: According to the criteria, the age ranged from 17 to 45 years which refers to early adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sargodha, Pakistan, comprising of 300 participants. The present study was carried out from October 2017 to October 2018. Data was collected by administering General Siege Mentality Questionnaire, Green et al Thought Questionnaire and Paranoia Questionnaire. SPSS-20 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total sample of 300 adults participated in the study. The correlation analysis confirmed that the paranoid ideation had positive correlation with siege mentality (p<0.01). Paranoid thoughts had positive correlation with siege mentality (p<0.01). Thus the paranoid ideation and paranoid thoughts are positive predictors of siege mentality. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, findings suggested that paranoid ideation contributed to later development of siege mentality among young adults.

Effectiveness of positive psychotherapy for young adults with depressive Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the level of happiness and depressive symptoms before and after positive psychotherapy.. METHODS: The experimental study was conducted from February 2018to March 2018 in Shahpur Sadar town of Sargodha district in the Punjab province of Pakistan at Govt. College, and comprised female young adults with depressive symptoms. The participants were subjected to 8 sessions (one baseline and seven other) of group positive psychotherapy. On the basis of repeated measure design, data was collected using the depression subscale of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Positive Psychotherapy Inventory, and Values in Action Inventory before, during and after therapy administration. SPSS 23 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 250 subjects assessed, 30(12%) aged 18-20 years were selected for therapy sessions as they had some level of depression; 15(50%) mild and 15(50%) moderate. Mean happiness level increased with each session from baseline value of 20.63±4.61 to post-therapy 50.67±4.63 (p<0.05). Depression level decreased from baseline value of 15.47±3.42 with each session to post-therapy 4.53±1.10 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Positive psychotherapy sessions were found to be effective in decreasing depression among female young adults.

eXnet: An Efficient Approach for EmotionRecognition in the Wild.

Facial expression recognition has been well studied for its great importance in the areasof human-computer interaction and social sciences. With the evolution of deep learning, therehave been significant advances in this area that also surpass human-level accuracy. Althoughthese methods have achieved good accuracy, they are still suffering from two constraints (high computational power and memory), which are incredibly critical for small hardware-constrained devices. To alleviate this issue, we propose a new Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture eXnet (Expression Net) based on parallel feature extraction which surpasses current methodsin accuracy and contains a much smaller number of parameters (eXnet: 4.57 million, VGG19:14.72 million), making it more efficient and lightweight for real-time systems. Several moderndata augmentation techniques are applied for generalization of eXnet; these techniques improvethe accuracy of the network by overcoming the problem of overfitting while containing the same size. We provide an extensive evaluation of our network against key methods on Facial ExpressionRecognition 2013 (FER-2013), Extended Cohn-Kanade Dataset (CK+), and Real-world Affective Faces Database (RAF-DB) benchmark datasets. We also perform ablation evaluation to show the importance of different components of our architecture. To evaluate the efficiency of eXnet on embedded systems,we  deploy it on Raspberry Pi 4B. All these evaluations show the superiority of eXnet for emotionrecognition in the wild in terms of accuracy, the number of parameters, and size on disk.

Measurement and association of sideways emotions with emotional expressivity among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the development of a scale for measuring sideways emotions, and to examine the relationship of sideways emotions with emotional expressivity of adolescents. METHODS: The two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted at the educational institutions of Sargodha and Bhalwal, Pakistan from October 2, 2017 to October 6, 2018, and comprised of 300 adolescents, aged 18-24 years. In the first phase, development of the Sideways Emotion Scale for adolescents was done, while the second phase examined the correlation of sideways emotions with positive and negative emotional expressivity. The scale was developed using Exploratory Factor Analysis which was further correlated with the Positive Expressivity Scale and Negative Expressivity Scale. RESULTS: Alpha reliability coefficients ranged from 0.73 to 0.79 and were >0.70 cut off. Positive sideways emotions were positively correlated with positive emotional expressivity whereas negative sideways emotions were positively correlated with negative emotional expressivity. CONCLUSION: Sideways Emotion Scale was found to be a reliable and valid measure of sideways emotions.

Prenatal psychiatric symptoms as predictors of postnatal anxiety and depression among primary and multi-gravida women.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine effect of prenatal anxiety and depression on the prediction of postnatal anxiety and depression among pregnant women. In addition, to find out mean differences in prenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression among primary and multigravida pregnant women. METHODS: This study was conducted at Sargodha Pakistan, on a total number of 100 pregnant women as participants. The sample size was calculated by using sampling adequacy test which confirmed that the sample of 100 was sufficient to carry out the statistical analysis for the present study. Data was collected by administering Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. SPSS-23 was used for data analysis. The study has been completed in one year, from October, 2017 to November, 2018. RESULTS: Results indicated prenatal anxiety has significant positive correlation with prenatal depression (p< .001), postnatal anxiety (p< .001) and postnatal depression (p< .001). The prenatal depression has significant positive correlation with postnatal anxiety (p< .001) and postnatal depression (p< .001). Results also indicated that postnatal anxiety has significant positive correlation with postnatal depression (p< .001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, findings suggested that there is significant relationship between prenatal and postnatal psychiatric symptoms.

Social support and health related quality of life among pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between social support and health-related quality of life among pregnant women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at City Hospital, Kashrote, and District Headquarters Hospital in the city of Gilgit, Pakistan, from January to March2017.Pregnant women presenting to the two hospitals were approached for data collection. The chronological age range of the sample was 15-35 years and age of pregnancy in months were included. Social support of pregnant women was measured through multidimensional scale of perceived social support and health-related quality of life was measured through medical outcomes study questionnaire.. RESULTS: Of the 120 participants, 66(55%) were from the City Hospital, Kashrote, and 54(45%) from the District Headquarters Hospital. Subjects who were in their first trimester of pregnancy were 72(60%), while 25(20.8%) were in their second trimester and 23 (19.2%) in the third. Of the total, 80(66.66%) were educated women and 40 (33.34%) were illiterate. Subjects with a history of physical illness were 76 (63.30%) while 60 (50%) suffered from psychological illness too. There was a significantly positive relationship between social support and health-related quality of life among the pregnant subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: More social support, can increase the health-related quality of life of pregnant women.

Self-related factors and decision making styles among early adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of self-related factors, including self-regulation, self-esteem and self-efficacy, on decision-making styles of early adults. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August, 2014 at four universities of Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised adult students of both Social and Natural sciences. Data was collected through Self-Regulation Questionnaire, Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale and the General Decision Making Styles Questionnaire. Data was subjected to multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 300 participants, 160(53%) were men and 140(47%) were women. The overall mean age was 22.68±5.96 years. Besides, 170(56%) were studying Social sciences and 130(44%) Natural sciences. Self-regulation, self-esteem and self-efficacy positively predicted rational and intuitive style and negatively predicted avoidant and spontaneous style. Self-efficacy and self-regulation negatively predicted dependent style. CONCLUSIONS: Ensuring positive self-related factors affected adults' effective decision-making choices.

Paternal malparenting and offspring personality disorders: Mediating effect of early maladaptive schemas.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mediating role of maladaptive schemas between permissive/authoritarian parenting by fathers and personality disorders, including histrionic, antisocial, narcissistic and depressive attitudes among adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan, and comprised university students. Data was collected by administering the parental authority questionnaire, the young schema questionnaire and the personality diagnostic questionnaire. SPSS 23 was used for data analysis. The study was completed in one year. It was started from June 2014 and ended in June 2015. RESULTS: Of the 200 participants who were handed the questionnaires, 100(50%) returned it fully filled up. Of them, 87(87%) were women and 13(13%) were men. All scales had greater than 0.70 alpha reliability coefficients. The values of skewness for all scales ranged from 0.10 to 0.86.Permissive parenting style had positive correlation with histrionic (p<0.05), narcissistic (p<0.05) and antisocial personality disorders (p<0.01). Authoritarian parenting had positive correlation with early maladaptive schemas (p<0.01) and depressive personality disorder (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both permissive and authoritarian parenting styles led to personality disorders among offspring in the adult phase of their lives.