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In seeking to explore the meaning of chronic and chronicity, the association with infertility is neither immediate nor evident. However, this paper explores this relationship by analyzing the idea of infertility in relation to chronicity. In the linkages that come forth the idea of chronic lifestyle emerging from certain ways of being and living, as well the imaginings associated with the chronic body become important nodes of exploring the relationship between infertility and chronicity. Most importantly, the role that time plays in marking the chronic state is seen to be especially potent in the practice of infertility treatment, and the narratives that emerge around its temporal inevitability. The rhetoric that marks the diagnosis and prescription of treatment is often based on the identification of the body as susceptible to reproductive decline and failure, due to the contingencies of modern living. This often translates into a more sustained involvement with ARTs, which may or may not fulfil the required desire for a child. In this paper I seek to analyse the ways in which practitioners of infertility medicine create an image of an affliction that borders on chronicity. In the process, I question the idea of both chronic diseases and chronicity by looking at how illness is imagined in narratives that IVF specialists create in public, and through the idea of a cure for infertility. By analysing data collected through ethnographic fieldwork, this paper aims to build on the idea of the chronic as inevitable within clinical discourse and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From time immemorial, the traditional practice of group work has contributed to the harmonious existence of various indigenous peoples. The Bakarwal pastoral nomads, who live in the Pir Panjal Range of the Great Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, India, sustain their pastoral nomadic way of life by living and working in groups. They demonstrate the principles and values of social group work as they perform the transhumance or biannual seasonal migration, distribute tasks, reside in their summer and winter pastures, resolve conflicts, and provide reciprocal support and mutual aid. Available literature highlights the obstacles and challenges encountered by Bakarwal pastoral nomads, however, there is a dearth of literature that documents the self-sustaining practices that they use to overcome such complexities. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by comparing the traditional group work of the Bakarwals with professional social work with groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to document the participation of intra-household decision-making activities by older adults in India. Design/methodology/approach: This study has used a nationally representative sample of 21,662 older adults (aged 60 and above) from the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India data of 2017–2018. Intra-household decision-making participation is measured based on decision-making activities that includes marriage of daughter/son, buying and selling of property, giving a gift to the family, education of family member and arrangement of social/religious events. This paper used bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression model to examine the factors associated with the participation of older adults in the intra-household decision-making activities. Findings: The result has shown that older persons' participation declined with increased age. This study has also found a difference in the participation of intra-households decision-making activities between male and female, rural and urban older adults, poor and rich older adults. Older adults with good health status who maintain social engagement and a good lifestyle are more likely to participate in the household's decision-making activities. Practical implications: Older adults with better economic and social status are more likely to participate in intra-household decision-making activities that make their life happier than the counterpart. Therefore, emphasis should be given to those vulnerable older adults who do not have any social and economic security in the society. Originality/value: There are limited studies available on intra-household decision-making participation by older adults. This paper documents the intra-household decision-making participation by older adults in India with a nationally representative large sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being social creatures forming social bonds is something we're wired to do. In reality, social ties provide their own set of benefits. But when we consider marriages, we often get to observe different types of attachment styles between the partners. The entire bond and its stability are based on the attachment styles. Attachment is a very significant factor in determining quality of life of an individual. The emotional, physical, social and cognitive wellbeing of an individual could be studied through various factors including attachment and the type. Keeping these views in mind, the paper aimed at finding the effect of attachment style on the quality of life among married couples. The data was collected from 80 married individuals from different parts of India, employing the correlation research design to find relationship between attachment style and quality of life. The results produced distinctive evidence of correlation found between the variables of the study hence supporting the importance of attachment style in quality of life of married couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Slum dwellers due to their low level of living and unhealthy environment can be at higher risk of illness. The present paper explores the dimension and determinants of morbidity in the slums of Chandigarh. The paper revealed that there is high morbidity among the slum dwellers and there is also co-existence of both chronic and acute diseases, infectious and lifestyle diseases. The determinants of morbidity are also explored, and factors responsible in curtailing the morbidity among the slum dwellers are identified. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify what lifestyles best explain and impact ecological behavior among young Indian consumers.Design/methodology/approach This paper adapts the lifestyle scale developed by He et al. (2010) and the Actual Commitment scale to the Indian context to describe its impact on the young consumer’s ecological profile. The study is based on an extensive literature review. The data were obtained from a questionnaire handed out to a sample of 250 students. With the information obtained, and after the scale validation process, a structural equation analysis has been conducted.Findings Findings of the study highlight that environmental patterns and lifestyle factors are those that best characterize the ecological market segment. This group of young consumers is characterized by their self-identity and a feeling of uniqueness. They are people who always try to improve themselves and take actions which pose a new challenge for them. They are also characterized by having an ecological lifestyle, selecting and recycling products and taking part in events to protect the environment. This type of consumer is a present and future investment for firms that are committed to the environment.Originality/value The results of this study might interest consumer behavior researchers and those firms that care about the ecological consumers. Moreover, previous studies have not dealt with young consumers. Further research is needed including new psychographic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the overall morbidity prevalence and their differentials among emigrants' and non-emigrants' wives in Kerala, India. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on the third round of The Kerala Migration Survey-2007 data. The third round of KMS was perhaps the first survey which has collected data on Indian emigration and morbidity scenario during 2007 at the household and individual level. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression models, and Oaxaca decomposition models were used to examine the disease differentials among emigrants' and non-emigrants' wives. Findings: The paper shows that household size is negatively associated with chronic disease and incidence of morbidity is much lower among emigrants' wives. The result also shows that among women, those who stay with a husband or whose husbands are elsewhere in India show a higher incidence of morbidity than those whose husbands are abroad, owing to the limited scope of activity as well as freedom in lifestyle and for taking independent decisions. Thus, it can be concluded that for women, the scope of activity and the freedom to live are important factors contributing to the level of morbidity. Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition results show that non-poor households and non-Muslim religion are in a disadvantageous position in terms of chronic morbidity. Research limitations/implications: This paper is based on the cross-sectional nature of data; this is an obvious limitation on the effect of emigration on morbidity differentials among emigrants' and non-emigrants' wives. Originality/value: There are few or rare studies conducted so far to investigate the effect of migration on the health of the spouses or families left behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose While interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) has been used in health psychology research, it has so far not been applied to seek deeper insights into the patients' experiences about treatment. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by using IPA to understand patient non-adherence. Design/methodology/approach In total, 18 patients with chronic conditions seeking healthcare services in Goa and Karnataka, India, were selected by using the snowball sampling method. In-depth interviews were conducted face to face. A semi-structured questionnaire developed by the researchers was used to collect the data. IPA was used to explore the themes to predict patient non-adherence. Findings The study results indicate that economic factors, health system related factors, social factors and psychological factors impact patient non-adherence. Patient non-adherence includes medication non-adherence and lifestyle modification non-adherence. Research limitations/implications Being cross sectional in design, the results may not be as appropriate as the results derived from a longitudinal study given that non-adherence occurs over time. Practical implications Patient non-adherence is a global health issue. Multidisciplinary approach to enhance patient adherence to treatment should form part of public healthcare policy. Social implications Exploring the factors influencing patient non-adherence will help the health-care industry stakeholders to reduce healthcare cost and improve patient's quality of life. Originality/value Although there is extensive quantitative research on the prevalence of non-adherence, qualitative research is limited. This paper addresses this gap by using IPA to understand patient non-adherence and its factors and dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background High-risk pregnancies (HRP) place women and their offspring at the highest risk for morbidity and mortality. Maternal and medical risks increase pregnancy risk and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Here, we reported the current prevalence of high-risk pregnancies among Indian women, which is defined through various factors such as maternal, lifestyle, medical, current health risk and adverse birth outcomes. Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on secondary data from India's National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5). A total of 23853 currently pregnant women were considered for analysis after considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The prevalence and contributing factors of high-risk pregnancies were estimated using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, respectively. Results The prevalence of high-risk pregnancies among Indian women was 49.4%, with 33% of women having a single high-risk, and 16.4% having multiple high-risk pregnancies. Notably, pregnant women from Meghalaya and Manipur states had 67.8% and 66.7% with one or more high-risk factors, respectively. About 31.1% of women had short birth spacing, and 19.5% of women had adverse birth outcomes during the last birth. Logistic regression analysis showed that women with no education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.02; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.84-2.22) and the poorest wealth quintile (AOR=1.33; 95% CI=1.04-1.29) had significantly higher odds of having HRP than those with higher education and the highest wealth quintile, respectively. Conclusions Nearly half of all pregnancies in India have one or more high-risk factors, which is a matter of concern, and the risks were higher among the vulnerable population such as no educated, poorest groups etc. The leading high-risk factors such as short-birth spacing, adverse birth outcomes, and caesarean deliveries should be addressed through the health policy and programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Undiagnosed diabetes is a significant public health concern in India, considering the accumulative burden of diabetes and its long-term complications. We have estimated the prevalence and factors associated with undiagnosed diabetes in India. Methods We used data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) to estimate undiagnosed diabetes prevalence aged under 50 (15-49) years. A log-binomial model with survey-adjusted Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence risk ratio (PR) between undiagnosed diabetes and various factors. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with diagnosed diabetes (vs. healthy) and undiagnosed diabetes (vs. healthy). All the analyses were survey-weighted and stratified by gender and reported with 95% confidence intervals. Results The prevalence of diabetes for individuals aged 15-49 years was found to be 4.90% (4.80 to 5.00%) from the NFHS-5. Among them, the proportion of individuals with undiagnosed diabetes was 24.82% (24.07 to 25.59%), with higher among males (28.82% (26.45 to 31.30%)) than females (24.22% (23.44 to 25.01%)). The overall prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 1.22% (1.18 to 1.26%), with a higher prevalence among males (1.60% (1.46 to 1.76%)) than females (1.17% (1.13 to 1.21%)). Individuals who are middle-aged (45-49), have a higher body mass index (BMI), and are in a lower wealth index group, or live in the southern regions of India are at a higher risk of being undiagnosed for diabetes. Conclusion One in every four having diabetes is undiagnosed. The study highlights the need for public health interventions to improve diabetes screening and access to health care, particularly among middle-aged individuals, and those with higher BMI, as well as addressing lifestyle and dietary factors. The findings also reveal disparities in diabetes burden among population subgroups in India, underscoring the need for targeted efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most scholars define ethics as a branch of philosophy which deals with the study of moral behavior, its underlying moral principles and rational justification. However, there is a difference between morality and ethics after the idea of global village, the New Media is gradually emerging as aestimate force in India with multi-dimensional effects pointing towards formation of a new culture and also affecting many prominent existing values and qualities of the public. What is true on the national level is also true internationally. A commitment to quality of information and information flow to meet the urgent and the demanding need for action in a troubled word is required on a global scale. For many years now, globally, the media has assumed and protected its important role as an authentic reflection of public interest and opinion. The Latin word mores refers to the customs and conventions that govern the ways people behave while the ethos from Greek means character. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of New Media on the ethical practices and life-styles of people in India, hence upon the culture, as against pro-active participation of the democratic citizenry in social, economic and political strata. The paper also intends to measure the penetration, impact and the adverse effects of New Media on the large rural populace making them Out-of-Reach from the mainstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in businessmen and patients suffering from CHD (30-60 years), in Jaipur city. Design/methodology/approach – The subjects were selected using the purposive sampling method. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group A (n=67) included subjects suffering from frank disease of CHD and were hospitalized for treatment at the time of the study. Group B (n=150) included businessmen with no history of CHD. A detailed standardized pretested and pre-coded interview schedule was used to elicit information on knowledge, attitude and practices of subjects regarding diet and lifestyle-related risk factors in CHD patients and businessmen from the normal population. Findings – The major findings of the study suggest that there was a relationship between knowledge and attitudes of subjects for diet and life style-related risk factors for CHD at p > 0.05. Diet and life style-related practices of the subjects were not statistically correlated with their knowledge and attitudes. Smoking practice was found to have a correlation with knowledge for Group A and with attitudes for Group B. Originality/value – The paper presents a comparative analysis of knowledge, attitude and practices related to diet and life style-related risk factors for CHD and suggests that creating awareness can lead to prevention of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The branding of ayurveda as a market strategy for the health consumer has become an important factor in the creation of 'New Age orientalist desire'. Using Vedic Village as a case, this paper shows how new age orientalism has been spread in modern India to middle class professionals, entrepreneurs and overseas health tourists. With this representation, ayurveda has become a wellness therapy instead of a means to restore health, and affluent people can now buy a package of 'ayurvedic healthy life' without changing their lifestyles. In addition to Euro-American health tourists, emerging middle class professionals and entrepreneurs in modern India have also become an integral part of the process of 'new age orientalization'. This paper concludes that the commodijied version of ayurveda, which has been developed in the West as part of 'wellness and spa culture', has become popular among the affluent middle class in India and abroad today, and through this the West has claimed and justifies authority over Eastern medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Globally, there has been a rapid rise in non-communicable diseases driven by changing lifestyle choices and health behaviors. Different lifestyle choices threaten to exacerbate existing health inequalities, yet evidence monitoring the extent of this impact in emerging economies is lacking. The article sets out to measure the level of wealth-related inequality and its drivers in one of these lifestyle choices, tobacco consumption, among populations aged =50 years in six Low- and Middle-Income Countries. METHODS The study provides empirical evidence of the inequality in tobacco consumption across wealth groups in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation and South Africa using the Erreygers' corrected concentration indices. These inequalities are then decomposed to gain a deeper understanding of the factors and broader social forces driving inequality. The WHO SAGE data set, collected between 2008 and 2010, is used for the analysis. RESULTS Current tobacco consumption is concentrated among the poor in China, Ghana, India, and South Africa, and among the wealthy in the Russian Federation and Mexico. The inequalities widen when we focus solely on the male population. Although the results differ by country, the major drivers of inequality include wealth, locality, and gender. CONCLUSIONS The focus on tobacco consumption in this age group is key to curbing rising healthcare costs and ensuring longevity. Policies aimed at reducing wealthrelated inequalities should especially target high tobacco consumption rates among males, while simultaneously pre-empting and curbing rising rates among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The amount and frequency of internet use are often used to forecast its pros and cons, with mixed findings. After COVID-19, technological advances and sociological upheavals have shown the internet's ability to support numerous activities, necessitating a change in internet use. Beyond internet use frequency, it has been advised to examine why people use it and how it affects their well-being. Hence, we aimed to investigate the various mediators and moderators in the relationship between the quality of internet use (type of activity) and well-being. Further, we investigated whether user attributes such as initial age and frequency of internet use moderate the influence of internet use quality on problematic internet use, loneliness, and well-being. Methods: 131 students in Manipur who were 18 years old were included in this cross-sectional study. Self-rated measures of the Adult Internet Usage questionnaire, Internet Addiction Test, and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form assessed internet use, dependence, and well-being. Results: Loneliness mediates the association between well-being and internet behaviors related to personal use-self-actualization (BootSE = .53, BootLLCI = .10, BootULCI = 2.18), cultural use-belonging (BootSE =.57, BootLLCI = -2.23, BootULCI = -.02). Average online hours moderate economic use-education, loneliness, and well-being (BootSE =.13, BootLLCI = -.55, BootULCI = -.04). Conclusion: To conclude, the effectiveness of internet use affects well-being differently depending on the type of activity. After a certain point, even seemingly good internet activities may have diminishing returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vernacular architecture of Kashmir represents a traditional knowledge base that has evolved in response to the climatic conditions, the traditional lifestyle of the residents, and various natural threats in the form of earthquake, flood etc., affecting the region. Yet, our advance into the ‘modern scientific age’ has witnessed an eroding of this rich heritage. The paper examines the salient features of Kashmir’s vernacular architecture, the challenges facing it and the steps that have been taken to protect it, including how to adapt it to contemporary life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The objective of present study was to investigate consumer attitude towards use of sanitary napkins and whether it helps to build confidence and associate with life style. Questionnaires were circulated among young college going girls and was found that every girl uses sanitary napkins of various companies for confident attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth are considered to be most vulnerable to health and lifestyle issues (HLS) in India. The current study aims to investigate the factors that contribute to health and lifestyle issues among youth attending mental health promotion clinics (YMHP) in Karnataka. Method: Three-year first-visit data from beneficiaries (aged 15–35 years) attending YMHP clinics in Karnataka between 2017 and 2020 were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis included beneficiaries reporting any HLS issue as the outcome and a host of 57 hypothesized variables as exposures. Results: Overall, 2,615 (25%) beneficiaries reported HLS issues. Years of schooling (AOR 5–7 years = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.60–1.31), (AOR 8–10 years = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.46–0.91), (AOR >10 years = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.49–0.93)], unemployed youth (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.45–0.61) business and salaried workers (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.33–2.13), and other occupations (AOR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.73–2.56), junk food consumption (AOR = 0.76;95% CI = 0.68–0.84), having issues related to relationships with parents (AOR = 3.01; 95% CI = 2.47–3.68) and intergenerational issues (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.19–2.45), self-development issues (AOR low-self-awareness = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.33–1.85), (AOR low-self-esteem = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.062–1.57), (AOR emotional issues = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.31–1.89), education and academics (AOR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.09–1.39), safety issues (AOR = 4.11; 95% CI = 3.07–5.50), gender sex and sexuality issues (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.43–4.15), suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.44–2.54), substance use (AOR tobacco chewing = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.09–1.93), (AOR tobacco-smoking = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.18–2.32), (AOR smoking = 4.94; 95% CI = 3.52–6.93) and experiencing emotions (AOR feel anxious = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.41–1.88), (AOR forgetfulness = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.41–1.98), (AOR difficulty in concentration = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.035–1.81), (AOR anger = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.25–2.07), (AOR feel worthless = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.71–2.86) were associated with HLS issues among beneficiaries. Conclusion: This analysis addresses an important but neglected component of HLS issues among youth highlighting the importance of early intervention among youth to prevent the development of diseases later in life. The study has important implications for youth health promotion in India and countries such as India. Health and Lifestyle Issues Among Youth: A record analysis of contributing factors among beneficiaries attending Youth Mental Health promotion clinics (Yuva Spandana Kendras) in Karnataka, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer, a life-altering diagnosis, profoundly affects patients' wellbeing across various aspects. Essential in this regard is social casework intervention, integral to comprehensive cancer care. This intervention draws from the ecological systems theory, viewing individuals as part of interconnected systems, guiding social caseworkers to formulate a social diagnosis for tailored psychosocial intervention. The strengths-based approach complements this, emphasizing patient resilience and strengths alongside challenges. In India, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NABH) mandates medical social workers in clinical establishments. These professionals offer crucial emotional support and guidance to patients and families, ensuring psychosocial needs are met. In oncology, medical social workers collaborate with healthcare teams to provide holistic care. Their responsibilities span psychosocial assessments, counselling, discharge planning, resource referrals, and patient education. NABH standards require hospitals to have qualied social workers for psychosocial support, fostering a therapeutic bond and maintaining accurate records. Social caseworkers play a pivotal role in managing emotional distress, aiding healthcare, and nurture psychosocial needs, thereby enhancing coping skills and overall satisfaction. Emphasizing team collaboration, the oncology and palliative medicine sectors prioritize comprehensive cancer care. By uniting various healthcare professionals, they ensure patients receive wellrounded support. The key principles of social casework intervention encompass empathy, active listening, and therapeutic relationship building, essential for understanding patient perspectives. Social casework intervention is indispensable in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by cancer. Rooted in the ecological systems theory and the strengths-based approach, it fosters collaboration, improves quality of life, and meets patients' diverse needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding diet and life style related risk factors among male and female coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (30-60 yrs), in Jaipur city. Design/methodology/approach – All willing patients under medical supervision for CAD were included. A detailed pre-tested and standardized interview schedule was used to elicit required information. In total, 100 subjects were assessed for KAP. Retrospective data were recorded for the information on KAP prior to the incidence of the disease. Findings – The major findings revealed that there was a significant change in knowledge, attitudes and practices before and after the incidence of CAD. Knowledge and attitudes were found to have a strong association. Close association was statistically established between knowledge and smoking practice for male subjects and between attitudes and weight loss for female patients. No association could be established for other attributes. Originality/value – The study explores the effect of CAD on the knowledge, attitude and practices of the patients regarding diet and life style related risk factors. It also observes and compares the data for prior to the frank expression of the disease and after the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the recent controversies surrounding the decision to introduce sex education in secondary schools in India to combat the rapid spread of HIV and AIDS in the country. While 11 Indian states have banned it, the Left-ruled state of West Bengal has designed a teachers' manual to impart sex education. However, a close analysis of this material shows that it suffers from the same anxieties about ‘western licentiousness’ that will affect ‘pure’ Indian youth and delivers the same message of sexual abstinence that characterizes the arguments deployed against the teaching of sex education. Both the proponents and opponents of sex education see sex education as a part of a larger programme of globalization that is threatening Indian culture and needs to be resisted either by rejecting the programme or by using it to construct a sexually abstinent nationalist youth force. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Musculoskeletal (MS) pain is responsible for poor quality of life and decreased productivity. Objective information about the burden of musculoskeletal disorders among the general community in India is scanty, and the few reports that exist are based on a small sample size. Materials and Methods: This paper examines the issue of MS pain and its associated risk factors in a cross-sectional study of 2086 subjects from National Capital Region (NCR). Results: Overall prevalence of MS pain was found to be 25.9%. Pain was found to be more frequent among females (31.3%) as compared with males (20.9%). Significant association of pain in joints/limbs/knee/lower legs with obesity (OR = 2.1, P < 0.001) and high body fat (OR = 2.2, P < 0.001) was established. More than 50% of the subjects complained of backache. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that MS pain is a significant burden of disease among the residents of NCR. Women and subjects doing heavy work load, like agriculture and dairy farming, constitute the chief demographic groups. It is high time that a policy is framed to reduce this load of sickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Student life stress, student family conflict and student life balance are issues that are scarcely researched. This paper aims to develop a scale for assessing the concept of student life balance. Design/methodology/approach – The study evaluated a 54-item scale for assessing the construct. The data are obtained from 612 Indian students. Findings – The study identified 15 key factors that students perceive to affect student life balance. These factors could account for 64.48 per cent of the observed variance. This research adds to the understanding of the interface between academics and other roles. Social implications – The implications for academic administrators who are concerned with the holistic growth of students are discussed. Originality/value – This study makes a modest attempt to develop an instrument to understand sources of imbalance in student life. The instrument is valid and reliable and can be used to determine student life balance perceptions among students enrolled in academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper problematizes the concept of searching for self in the context of lifestyle travellers — individuals for whom extended leisure travel is a preferred lifestyle that they return to repeatedly. Qualitative findings on the search for self from in-depth semi-structured interviews with lifestyle travellers in northern India and southern Thailand are considered in light of opposing academic perspectives on self. The study reveals a theoretical tension that exists between lifestyle travellers who may seek a unified sense of self, underpinned by the essentialist position that one’s ‘true self’ exists, and contrasting widely held academic viewpoints that instead conceptualize embodied selves as relational and open to multiple performances. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Schooling is not a benign process, rather the choice of schooling is often an opportunity for marginalised groups to creatively express particular sets of values in an attempt to gain distinction. Educational attainments carry the potential to open up a range of employment opportunities, but even if these options fail due to structural constraints, particular types of schooling are socially valued for the lifestyles, culture and values they inculcate. This paper, based on field research in Jharkhand, India, explores how people of different social categories make educational choices, focusing particularly on the gendered nature of both their aspirations and strategies for gaining distinction. The experience of state-run schooling is compared to private (including mission) education, both in the locality and at a distance, the latter often perceived to provide higher-quality English education by both parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The complication of Diabetes is one of the important health issues among the older adult population in any region. The higher risks of diabetes prevalence among older adult people in the countries was due to social-cultural changes such as increasing urbanization, dietary changes, without physical activity, and unhealthy lifestyle behavior. The present study examines the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes among older adults in the state of West Bengal. Methods: The first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India 2017-18 was used to achieve the study objectives. Descriptive statistics with multinomial logistic regression models were used to carry out crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and examine the associated risk factors of diabetes prevalence among older adults. Results: The findings of the study indicate that the overall prevalence of diabetes among the study participants was found to be 12.4% which was significantly higher in urban areas (19%) compare to rural areas (6%). The socio-economic and bio-demographic factors like educational status, richest background family, marital status, obesity, and family history of diabetes were significantly associated with higher risks of diabetes prevalence among the older adult population in West Bengal. The risks of diabetes in the richest adult people were significantly higher than in the poorest adult people (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.974–3.917). The higher risks of diabetes mellitus among the richest wealthy people are because of lifestyle behavior, smoking, and tobacco consumption respectively. Conclusion: The study needs to policy and awareness program to reduce economic inequality and prevention of diabetes care and treatment-seeking behavior, especially for the older adult population in West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to empirically examine the interrelationships between online impulse buying tendencies (IBT), hedonic motives, online promotions, impulse purchase decision (IPD), and customer satisfaction. A structured survey instrument was used to collect data from 625 consumers from southern India. After checking the psychometric properties of the survey instrument with structural equation modeling, the moderated-mediation model was analyzed using Hayes PROCESS. The results showed that (i) impulse purchase decision (IPD) mediated the relationship between impulsive buying tendency (IBT) and customer satisfaction (CS), (ii) hedonic motives moderated the relationship between IBT and IPD, and (iii) hedonic motives and online promotions moderate the relationship between IPD and CS. This study contributes to the literature because it provides valuable insight into two-way and three-way interactions among the significant variables in consumer behavior. The COVID-19 global pandemic brought a paradigm change in consumer behavior, and thus understanding the e-shopper's IB behavior is critical for e-retailers to change their strategies to capture a broader market. The implications for marketing research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Often obesity and hypertension are bracketed with developed countries, urban locations, and affluent societies. Yet, there is a recent secular trend in rising adiposity and cardiovascular risks, even in rural locations in developing countries like India. Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of obesity and hypertension among the Chakhesang adults, emphasizing the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) traits and their socio-demographic correlates. Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted among the Chakhesang adults of Nagaland. The total sample comprises 209 participants (102 females and 107 males) aged 18-50 years. BMI was classified according to the classification given by WHO for adult Asians. Whereas BP traits were classified based on the Joint National Committee (JNC) protocols. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 42.6% and 13.4%, respectively, while systolic and diastolic hypertension was prevalent at 22.5% and 28.2%, respectively. Results of the linear regression depicting the relationship between BMI and BP traits presented significant figures. Further, the multivariate multiple regression (MMR) analyses yielded a positive association of sex, age, occupation, and income with BMI and BP traits. In contrast, education was found to have a negative impact on both BMI and BP. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypertension in this tribal community is relatively high for a rural setting. Socio-economic changes pertaining to occupation shift and adoption of modern lifestyle are the causal factors for high cases of obesity and hypertension among the Chakhesang adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is rising exponentially in Asia, representing 11% of cancer worldwide. This study analysed the influence of CRC on patients' life expectancy (survival and prognosis factors) via clinicopathology data and comorbidity status of CRC patients. Methodology: A retrospective study performed in HUSM using clinical data from the Surgery unit from 2015 to 2020. The demographic and pertinent clinical data were retrieved for preliminary analyses (data cleansing and exploration). Demographics and pathological characteristics were illustrated using descriptive analysis; 5-year survival rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier methods; potential prognostic variables were analysed using simple and multivariate logistic regression analysis conducted via the Cox proportional hazards model, while the Charlson Comorbidity Scale was used to categorize patients' disease status. Results: Of a total of 114 CRC patients, two-thirds (89.5%) were from Malay tribes, while Indian and Chinese had 5.3% each. The 50–69.9 years were the most affected group (45.6%). Overall, 40.4% were smokers (majorly male (95.7%)), 14.0% ex-smokers, and 45.6% non-smokers (p-value = 0.001). The Kaplan–Meier overall 5-year median survival time was 62.5%. From the outcomes, patients who were male and >70 years had metastasis present, who presented with per rectal bleeding and were classified as Duke C; and who has tumour in the rectum had the lowest survival rate. Regarding the prognosis factors investigated, "Gender" (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 2.62; 95% CI: 1.56–7.81, p-value = 0.040), "Presence of metastases" (HR: 3.76; 95% CI: 1.89–7.32, p-value = 0.010), "Metastasis site: Liver" (HR: 5.04; 95% CI: 1.71–19.05, p-value = 0.039), "Lymphovascular permeation" (HR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.99–5.92, p-value = 0.021), and "CEA-level" (HR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.49–5.80, p-value = 0.001) remained significant in the final model for multiple Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. There was a significant mean association between tumour grades and the patient's comorbidity status. Conclusions: Histopathological factors (gender, metastases presence, site of metastases, CEA level, and lymphovascular permeation) showed the best prognosis-predicting factors in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Life skills are essentially those abilities that help to promote mental wellbeing and competence in adolescents as they face the realities of life. Life skills education is to educate the young people in schools and beyond to develop an organized, acceptable, and beneficial lifestyle. Objectives: The current study aimed to assess life skills, self-esteem, and self-reported practices among adolescents in Kolkata and to find out the correlation between life skills and self-esteem. Methods: Descriptive study was conducted from January to March 2020 among 422 adolescents between the age group 13 years to less than 18 years from three selected schools under Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, Kolkata, using the multistage cluster sampling technique. The data were collected by self-reporting questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software (version 20.0). Results: Most of the adolescents had low life skills (52.4%) and average self-esteem (64%). About self-reported lifestyle practices among adolescents that they do physical exercises daily in the form of walking (52.6%), cycling (52.1%), swimming (21.8%), and yoga (17.8%). Most of the adolescents responded that they spend leisure time listening to music (43.4%), watching television (43.1%), drawing (36.3%), reading (40.5%), surfing mobile (46.7%), 51.9% of adolescents had smartphones, and that they are using for academic purpose (55.7%), playing games (35.5%), entertainment (19.9%), and to read the news (19.2%). Only 5.2% of adolescents were using substances (tobacco). Conclusion: There is a need for ongoing life skills training program for adolescents in school to increase their self-esteem which helps them to face the challenges of changing life situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While several efficacy trials have demonstrated diabetes risk reduction through targeting key lifestyle behaviours, there is a significant evidence gap in relation to the successful implementation of such interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper evaluates the implementation of a cluster randomised controlled trial of a group-based lifestyle intervention among individuals at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the state of Kerala, India. Our aim is to uncover provider-, participant- and community-level factors salient to successful implementation and transferable to other LMICs.Methods: The 12-month intervention program consisted of (1) a group-based peer-support program consisting of 15 sessions over a period of 12 months for high-risk individuals, (2) peer leader (PL) training and ongoing support for intervention delivery, (3) diabetes education resource materials and (4) strategies to stimulate broader community engagement. The evaluation was informed by the RE-AIM and PIPE frameworks.Results: Provider-level factors: Twenty-nine (29/30, 97%) intervention groups organised all 15 sessions. A 2-day PL training was attended by 51(85%) of 60 PLs. The PL handbook was found to be 'very useful' by 78% of PLs. Participant-level factors: Of 1327 eligible individuals, 1007(76%) participants were enrolled. On average, participants attended eight sessions. Sixty-eight percent rated their interest in group sessions as 'very interested', and 55% found the group sessions 'very useful' in making lifestyle changes. Inconvenient time (43%) and location (21%) were found to be important barriers for participants who did not attend any sessions. Community-level factors: Community-based activities reached to 41% of the participants for walking groups, 40% for kitchen garden training, and 31% for yoga training. PLs were readily available for support outside the sessions, as 75% of participants reported extracurricular contacts with their PLs. The commitment from the local partner institute and political leaders facilitated the high uptake of the program.Conclusion: A comprehensive evaluation of program implementation from the provider-, participant- and community-level perspectives demonstrates that the K-DPP program was feasible and acceptable in changing lifestyle behaviours in high-risk individuals. The findings from this evaluation will guide the future delivery of structured lifestyle modification diabetes programs in LMICs.Trial Registration: Trial registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611000262909 . Registered 10 March 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Though extensive studies have been conducted on assessing the predictors of cognitive functioning among older adults in small community-based samples, very few studies have focused on understanding the impact of socioeconomic status (SES), demographic characteristics and other risk factors such as lifestyle and chronic diseases on the cognitive functioning among adults of all ages in a nationally representative population-based sample across low- and middle-income countries. This study, therefore, seeks to evaluate the impact of SES, demographic characteristics and risk factors on the cognitive functioning of adults across all ages in five selected developing countries. Methods: Data from 12,430 observations obtained from the WHO Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 1; consisting of 2,486 observations each for China, Ghana, India, the Russian Federation, and South Africa, were used for the study. A meta-regression and a five-step hierarchical linear regression were used to analyze the data, with cognitive functioning as the dependent variable. Independent variables used in this study include SES; assessed by household income and education, demographic characteristics, other risk factors such as lifestyle, self-reported memory difficulty and chronic diseases. Results: This study found that SES and lifestyle significantly predicted cognitive functioning in all the five selected countries as obtained by the pooled results of the meta-regression analysis. The hierarchical linear regression results also revealed that demographic characteristics such as age, type of residency, and self-reported memory difficulty significantly impact cognitive functioning in China, Ghana, Russia, and South Africa. Conclusion: The findings in this study provide new insights for policymakers, caregivers, parents, and individuals, especially those in developing countries, to implement policies and actions targeted at improving SES and eliminating risk factors associated with cognitive decline, as these measures could help improve the cognitive functioning among their populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rising obesity epidemic and dyslipidemia majorly contribute to cardiovascular disease burden. Emerging evidence has reported an increasing trend of metabolic disorders among rural tribal populations in developing countries. Hence, the present study attempts to estimate the prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia and explore their association among Bhil tribal population from India. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study consisting of 277 adults recruited through household survey. Data on socio-demographic and lifestyle variables were collected and obesity was determined using anthropometric measurements. Biochemical assay was done using fasting blood samples. Logistic regression was employed to identify obesity variables associated with dyslipidemia. Results: Almost 40% of the population had generalized obesity (high BMI) while abdominal obesity was found to be relatively higher in terms of WHR (76.9%) followed by WHtR (59.2%) and WC (44.8%). Dyslipidemia in form of low HDL-C was found to be highest (52.3%) followed by high TG (40.8%), TC (7.9%), and LDL-C (6.5%). Sex-wise distribution of obesity and dyslipidemia variables revealed women were significantly more obese and dyslipidemic (low HDL-C) as compared to men. Logistic regression analysis after controlling for confounders revealed a significant association of abdominal obesity with all abnormal lipids except for high TG. Conclusion: The observed high prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia, particularly low HDL-C and hypertriglyceridemia, warrants a public health concern. This study emphasizes the need for population-specific disease documentation to highlight underlying mechanisms of risk factors and to set forth a targeted approach to disease treatment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concomitant availability of services and care with the rise in the older population in India does not commensurate with their health care needs, thus affecting their well-being and quality of life (QoL). The Indian State of Kerala, epidemiologically and demographically advanced and often compared with developed countries, has the highest number of older persons. It also ranks top in the human development index in the country. This study seeks to explore the factors influencing QoL among older persons in Kerala, a state located within a low middle-income country. Materials and Methods: Qualitative methods using exploratory design were employed. Ten focus group discussions and ten face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted in two districts of Kerala. The data were thematically analyzed using a framework approach. Results: The study explored a multitude of factors influencing QoL among older people in Kerala. The themes that emerged from the study were, "Financial securities and insecurities," "psychological well-being," "lifestyle," "health-care utilization," and "social engagement." Conclusion: The current study findings have explored the changing importance or value of the factors attributed to older persons' QoL in an advanced population within a low middle-income country such as India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender inequality in science is common to most nations. To a large extent, this inequality is a product of the socio-cultural environment in which science is conducted. The professional environment and the socio-cultural context are inextricably linked together in the practice of science. This Note analyses the perceptions of women academic scientists in India regarding the work and social environment, and the nature of problems faced by them. A triangulation of questionnaire and interview methods was employed to develop a holistic picture. The findings show that women academic scientists are influenced by the prevailing sociocultural system. Thus, 'patrifocal' ideology prevails at the workplace and in the family. Women face gender-related difficulties at work, and also shoulder a dual burden resulting in stress. These problems have significant consequences for the career of women academic scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates the interrelationship between religious thought and economic activity in India. Religious thought and economic activity have been closely linked throughout the history of India. This article examines two periods in Indian history, ancient India as exemplified by the Mauryan empire, and medieval India of the 8th to the 13th centuries, while suggesting in both cases that a strong interrelationship exists between religious thought and economic structure. Extrapolating to the present, it shall be contended that a key to understanding the social environment of contemporary India is some knowledge of the myriad links between, and the historical evolution of, the religious and economic forces at work in India's current environment. The apposition in this way, of Indian religious thought and economic activity requires some clarification, because a common view of Indian thought would number mysticism, and other-worldliness, as its defining characteristics, neither of which are readily linked to economic activity. But, in reality, Indian religious thought does address this-worldly concerns Philosophically, the Hindu tradition recognizes that ultimate reality is not only transcendent and impersonal, but is, also, immanent and personal. The aim of life for the Hindu is not just moksa, or spiritual freedom, but equally artha, or material satisfaction.

With increase in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in emerging economies, it is important to understand the impact of acquiring these health issues on household income and consumption. Using a panel data of Indian households, we show that acquiring diabetes, hypertension or heart disease results in increased medical and non-medical expenses for high-income households. However, affected low-income households, to meet their increased medical expenses, had to divert resources from non-medical expenses. Our findings add to the extant marketing literature on impact of crises on consumption behaviour and the marketing implications of such changes in consumption behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social values in Indian society in general and Tamil society in particular are subject to fluctuation, in accordance with on-going social changes ushered in by various modern forces. Consequently, these values metamorphose and degenerate into counter-cultural practices that pose a threat to traditional culture. Modern people attribute new meanings to the unethical practices that they engage in by emphasizing their immediate relevance and necessity for their changing life styles. They believe that their willingness to follow them instead of social values will help them make a profit that sustains their livelihood in this time of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our earlier Google Trend (GT) Analytics study reported that the worldwide human population severely subject to four seasonal (sensitive) comorbid lifestyle diseases (SCLD) such as asthma, obesity, hypertension and fibrosis. The human population subject to seasonal variability in these four diseases activity referred as "severe seasonal sensitive population". In India, the estimated burden of these four seasonal diseases is more than 350 million as on the year 2018. It is a growing crisis for India with a projected disease burden of 500 million in the year 2025. This study was aimed to decipher the genuine SCLD seasonal trends in the entire Indian population using GT and validate these trends in Indian climatic zones.Methods: GT is used to study the temporal trends in web search using weekly Relative Search Volume (RSV) for the period 2004 to 2017. The relative search volume (RSV) of the four-severe seasonal comorbid diseases namely Asthma, Hypertension, Obesity and Fibrosis were collected with and without obesity as the reference. The RSV were collected using the GT selection options as (i) Whole India (ii) Jammu and Kashmir (Cold zone) (iii) Rajasthan (Hot and Dry zone) (iii) West Bengal (Hot and Humid zone) and (iv) Uttar Pradesh state (Composite zone). The time series analysis was carried out to find seasonal patterns, comorbidity, trends and periodicity in the entire India and four of its states (zones).Results: Our analysis of entire India (2004-2017) revealed high significant seasonal patterns and comorbidity in all the four diseases of SCLD. The positive tau values indicated strong positive seasonal trends in the SCLD throughout the period (Table). The auto correlation analysis revealed that these diseases were subjected to 3, 4 and 6 months period seasonal variations. Similar seasonal patterns and trends were also observed in all the four Indian temperature zones. Overall study indicated that SCLD seasonal search patterns and trends are highly conserved in India even in drastic Indian climatic zones.Conclusions: The clinical outcome arise out of these observations could be of immense significance in handling the major chronic life style diseases asthma, hypertension, obesity and fibrosis. The possible strong comorbid relationship among asthma, hypertension, obesity and fibrosis may be useful to segregate Indian seasonal sensitive population. In disease activity-based chronotherapy, the search interest of segment of the population with access to Internet may be used as an indicator for public health sectors in the early detection of SCLD from a specific country or a region. As this disease population could be highly subject to the adverse effect of seasons in addition to life style and other environmental factors. Our study necessitates that these Indian populations need special attention from the Indian health care sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In India, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the largest cause of mortality and morbidity in all regions of the country. Now, to reduce the burden of CVD in our country, we first need to assess cardiovascular health status of the adult population. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess cardiovascular health status among adults and to find the influence of sociodemographic factors on it. Methodology: In a cross-sectional study, cardiovascular health status of 100 sampled adult population of urban area of Teliamura Municipality area, Tripura, was assessed using a pre-designed and pre-tested semi-structured schedule from July 2017 to August 2017. Samples were taken from the adult population by simple random sampling. Collected data were compiled and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 16.0.). The Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were applied to find association. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 44.89 (±13.76) years, comprised 52.0% males and 48% females. Hypertension was seen among 58% of the study population and 77% had ideal (<100 mg/dl) level of fasting blood sugar (FBS). The present study showed obesity, hypertension, high level of total cholesterol, high level of FBS was mostly prevalent among 42–61 years age group. Married people were more obese, hypertensive compared to unmarried. Conclusion: Middle age group population were worst affected by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, poor body mass index, and poor level of cholesterol. Healthy lifestyle measures might reduce the burden of CVD which could be evaluated in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of Indians married to Western nationals suggests that cross-national marriages are an extension of an already established international life style rather than the initiator of involvement with other cultures. Prior to meeting their partners, 70 per cent of the subjects had been involved in international networks on more than a superficial basis. Forty per cent identified with more than one culture before meeting their partners. Rebellion and rejection of culture of origin do not appear to be important factors encouraging cross-national marriages. Data are from interviews with 113 Indian-Western couples living in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive literature review revealed cultural beliefs, societal obligations, and gender roles within the South Asian community to be indirect contributors to the health of South Asian immigrants (SAIs). Health professionals need to increase their work with SAI communities to change less beneficial cultural elements such as misconceptions about health and exercise, and lack of communication when using alternative medicines. Community engaged efforts and continuing medical education are both needed to improve the health of the South Asian immigrant population in a culturally appropriate manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]