Search

The study explored the relationship between social distancing and distress along with risk factors of social distancing. Further, online counseling/mental health services and perceived social support were tested as possible moderators between social distancing and distress. Valid and reliable measures were used to collect the data from 300 Indian respondents. Process use of social networking platforms was found to significantly explain social distancing. Online counseling/mental health services and perceived social support moderated the relationship between social distancing and distress. Only 16% of the respondents used online mental health services during the study period. Lack of awareness and acceptance of these services were major barriers.

The present research explored individual and group level risk factors in preventive health and panic buying behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, COVID-19 anxiety, and personal identity were considered individual-level risk factors. Group based identities such as family, religious groups, and identification with one's nation were considered as group level risk factors. Standardized scales have been used to measure all the constructs under study. Data were collected electronically from 305 Indian respondents. Hierarchical regression analysis in SPSS Version 22 was used to test the hypotheses. Results showed that personal identity and identification with the nation predicted preventive health behavior. Panic buying behavior was predicted by the location of the respondents (containment versus non-containment zones), perceived severity, and one's personal identity. The interplay of individual and social factors is reflective of both individual and collective agencies in the adoption of preventive health behaviors, while only individual-level factors led to panic buying behavior. The findings of this study have implications for curbing, managing, and reinforcing desirable and non-desirable behavior during the present pandemic as well as in the future as well.

Asymmetrical power relations between ‘us’, or the in-group, and the ‘others’, or the out-group, are key to the construction and understanding of otherisation. Otherness in Meghalaya, Northeast India is made complex by historical, geopolitical, social, linguistic and cultural factors that are instrumental in creating boundaries between the tribal and non-tribal populace. The present article examines discourses of non-tribal people being ‘othered’ by their tribal counterparts, the majoritarian Khasis in Meghalaya. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the article examines representations of the ‘othering’ of non-tribal ‘others’ in media texts drawn from English-medium newspapers, magazines and a blog. Evidently, issues of control, and dominance, are pivotal to the power struggles between the ethnic groups in the state, which are inherent in the process of othering. The othering of northeasterners in mainland India is evident in discourse that prods reverse otherisation of non-tribal Indians in the Northeast, including Meghalaya. Clearly, an analysis of such texts also reveals the role of identity politics and ethnonational groups as pivotal to othering. Finally, identity threat, race-based differentiation and loss of citizenship allude to outcomes of otherisation.

Covid-19 has caused significant distress around the globe. Apart from the evident physical symptoms in infected cases, it has caused serious damage to public mental health. India, like other countries, implemented a nationwide lockdown to contain and curb the transmission of the virus. The current research is an attempt to explore psychological distress among people residing in India during the lockdown. Four hundred and three participants were asked to complete a questionnaire with questions around symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and family affluence. The results indicated that people who do not have enough supplies to sustain the lockdown were most affected, and family affluence was found to be negatively correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Among different professions, students and healthcare professionals were found to experience stress, anxiety, and depression more than others. Despite the current situation, stress, anxiety, and depression were found to be in normal ranges for mental health professionals highlighting their capabilities to remain normal in times of distress. Policymakers and other authorities may take the assistance of mental health professionals to help overcome psychological issues related to Covid-19.

The role of individual variables (COVID-19 anxiety, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, optimistic bias and personal identity) as predictors of quality of life (QoL) during the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic is explored. Impact of group related variables (identification to family, religious group and nation) on QoL is also examined. Sample comprised 305 male and female Indian respondents, aged 18 to 78 years. Standardized measures have been utilised to assess the constructs. Results revealed that QoL was significantly influenced by individual variables (COVID-19 anxiety and personal identity) and group variables (identification with family and nation). The effect of COVID-19 anxiety and personal identity as individual variables is over and above that of demographic variables on QoL. Group variables (family and national identification) significantly impacted QoL over and above the individual variables. Findings would indeed, aid in the rehabilitation and assistance of people to live in COVID-19 crisis, and thereafter.

Ethnic assertion dominates contemporary social and political discourses among the Khasi—a matrilineal tribe in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya, India. The matrilineal system in Khasi society provides the context for understanding ethnic identity and gender relations. This paper utilizes the theoretical framework of identity process theory (IPT) to understand and explain ethnic identification of the Khasi. Newspaper discourses on Khasi society and identity are subjected to critical discourse analysis. The corpus for the present study comprises articles from newspapers—regional, national and overseas that informs about Khasi people and their collective life. The paper not only examines the representation of the Khasi in newspaper discourses, but motivational principles of identity, twin processes of assimilation–accommodation and evaluation postulated in IPT are discussed in the light of their identity. Finally, the adequacy of IPT to explain identity threat among the Khasi is also looked at.

Recent Neuropsychological conceptualization and research evidences suggest deficiencies in information processing, receptive and expressive functions in Somatization Disorder and its plausible association with significant socio-occupational impairment. However, there exists a dearth of literature in exploration of cognitive complains reported by patients with Somatization Disorders. The objective: The present research aimed to carry out a preliminary investigation that assesses, and examines the basic lower cognitive abilities like attention, verbal learning and memory deficits in patients diagnosed with Somatization Disorder versus a group of normal subjects. Method: The study was carried out on 15 male patients diagnosed with Somatization Disorder as per ICD-10 CDDG, aged 20-30 years, in comparison to 15, gender, age, socio economic status, education and background matched normal subjects. The subjects were assessed on tests from The Nimhans Battery (Rao, Subbakrishna, Gopukumar, 2004), The Color Trails Test (D&Elia, Satz, Uchiyama, White, 1996) , The Digit Vigilance Test (Lezak, 1995) , The Triads Test (Nimhans version, 2004), The Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Maj et al., 1994) and The Passages Test (Mukundan, Reddy, Hegde, Jayanthi, Kaliaperumai, 1987). Results: Significant cognitive deficits were found in the Somatization patient group in comparison to control on subdomains of Sustained Attention, Divided Attention, and on all subdomains of auditory verbal list learning and memory. No significant deficits were found on the subdomains of focused Attention and Logical Memory. Conclusion: Evidences of this pilot study suggests that Somatization Disorder is associated with Attention, Verbal Learning and Memory deficits that needs to be investigated elaborately in consideration of function impairments faced by such patients in their day to day lives.