Reverse culture shock, distress symptoms and psychological well-being of fresh foreign degree holders in Pakistan.

This study explored to what extent does reverse culture shock predict the level of anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being among fresh foreign degree holders in Pakistan, in addition to finding out the relationship between the study variables. Participants consisted of 124 fresh foreign degree holders (109 men and 15 women) who were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Reverse Culture Shock Scale, Major Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and WHO-5 Well-being Index were used to measure study variables. Results show that reverse culture shock is a strong predictor of psychological well-being explaining 23% variance in well-being scores of fresh foreign degree holders. As hypothesized, it has positive associations with distress symptoms including anxiety and depression, whereas, a negative correlation was found with psychological well-being and the age of fresh foreign degree holders. However, contrary to the hypothesis, reverse culture shock has no association with time passed since arrival back home and duration of stay abroad.

Translation and adaptation of adult self report: A tool for assessment of adult psychopathology.

OBJECTIVE: To translate, adapt and validate the Adult Self-Report tool in Urdu language, and to establish internal consistency of its subscales. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2017 to August 2018 at the National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised adult stable psychiatric outpatients and non-clinical subjects from the community. After forward and backward translation of Adult Self-Report, the tool was tested on the subjects who responded on a three-point Likert scale from 'never' to 'very often'. The items were grouped under eight subscales. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 768 participants, 408(53%) were outpatients and 360(47%) were non-clinical subjects. The overall age range was 18-59 years. The tool was found to be effective for Pakistani sample, with root mean square error of approximation (0.03), comparative fit index (0.94) and Tucker-Lewis Index (0.94) values indicating good fit. Also, al items indicated good factor loadings (range: 0.25-0.94). Alpha values indicated that all subscales were internally consistent (range: 0.64-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Adult Self-Report was found to be a comprehensive tool showing a good model fit for Pakistani population.

Gender differences in the attribution of responsibility for sexual harassment: A students' perspective.

Sexual harassment is largely experienced by working women and students and it is common especially in educational institutes. This research aimed to find out the gender differences and prevalence of students' attribution of responsibility for sexual harassment. It was a survey based quantitative research with purposive and convenient sample of 500 university students enrolled in two public (Quaid-i-Azam university and Arid Agriculture university) and two private universities (Foundation and Bahria university), Time period of study was from September to October 2018. Of total 500 participants, 204 (40.8%) were males and 296 (59.2%) were females. In all 390 (78%, d=.47) participants gave responsibility to women for sexual harassment while only 110 (22%) reported that men are responsible for sexual harassment. High prevalence of attribution of sexual harassment towards women were found. Men blamed women for sexual harassment as indicated by high mean score achieved on t-test analysis. Prevalence of such phenomenon was not explored previously for student population and also, this study can serve as a very strong basis for planning relevant intervention programmes that focus more on perpetrator instead of victims of sexual harassment.

Adaptive family functioning and borderline personality disorder: Mediating role of impulsivity.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship among adaptive family functioning, iImpulsivity and borderline personality disorder, and to test the mediating role of impulsivity between the other two elements. METHODS: The cross-sectional correlational study was conducted at the National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, from August 17, 2015, to June 10, 2017, and comprised patients seeking psychiatric consultation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th Edition criteria was used to assess personality disorders. Correlation and mediation analysis was carried out on those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 408 patients assessed, 183(45%) had borderline personality disorder. Of them, 118(64.4%) were males and 65(35.5%) were females. Both impulsivity and borderline personality disorder were negatively related to adaptive family functioning (p<0.01). Significant positive relationship was found between impulsivity and border line personality disorder(p< 0.01) . CONCLUSIONS: The mediating role of impulsivity between adaptive family functioning and borderline personality disorder was established.

Gender association of prayer for health - perspective from university students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The role of religion and spirituality in coping with disease and promoting health has been reported from many parts of the World. However, no scientific studies on the use of prayers for health and wellbeing have been reported from Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey, using a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted among 1342 graduate and undergraduate students in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A huge majority of students had prayed for their own as well as their family members' health in the preceding three months. There is a need to better understand the role in Pakistan of prayers related to health.

Opinions on age of marriage -- perspective from university students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Child marriages are more common in developing countries, including Pakistan. This study was conducted to determine the perspective of university students on marriageable age in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Cumulatively, 1039 students participated in this cross-sectional survey based on convenience sampling. There were statistically significant differences between male and female students pertaining to opinions about what should be the legal age for women and men. Male respondents were more likely to accept 16 years of legal age at marriage for both males as well as females. Female respondents rejected 16 years as the legal age of marriage for girls on physical and emotional health grounds as well as on having negative impact on girl's education. Results stress the need for better understanding of socio-cultural norms in the country to more effectively address and discourage the practice of child marriage in the country.

Opinions of university students on honour killings: Perspective from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Honour killing incidents have been reported from every province of Pakistan. In 2014 a pregnant woman was killed in front of Lahore High Court, by her family members, in the name of honour. This study was conducted to determine the perspective of university students on honour killing with specific reference to one such killing incident in Lahore. Cumulatively, 989 students participated in the survey. Compared with female students, male students were less likely to agree and were more unequivocal that a woman has a right to marry any man she wants despite her family's disapproval, in a statistically significant manner. Similarly, male students were statistically significantly more likely to report that killing in the name of honour is always justified and were less equivocal about it compared to female students. Nonetheless, cumulatively 824 (83.3%) students believed that killing in the name of honour is not always justified.

University students perspective on polio vaccination--ruse or realistic need for Pakistani children?

Polio vaccinators and law enforcement officials protecting them, have been killed in the line of duty since 2012 in Pakistan. This study was conducted to determine the opinions of university students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, regarding the importance of polio vaccination, and the role of international donor agencies. Nine hundred forty-six students participated in this study; 833 (88.1%) students thought that polio is a public health problem in the country, and 815 (86.2%) thought that polio vaccination prevents polio in children. About a quarter of respondents thought that Pakistanis as well as non-Pakistanis working for either international nongovernmental organizations or United Nations agencies are spies working for the Western governments or their spy agencies. An appalling 300 (31.7%) respondents replied as either affirmatively or 'don't know' to the question whether killing of polio vaccinators is justified.

Assessing Demographics-Based Differences in Attitude Toward Honor Killings.

The current study has been conducted to explore demographics-based differences in assessing attitudes toward honor killing. The scale used to measure attitudes is a newly developed indigenous measure. The scale consists of two subscales as follows: (a) affirmation of honor killing and (b) deterrence of honor killing. The sample comprised 695 individuals (248 males and 447 females) with ages ranging from 18 to 55 years (M = 25.89, SD = 8.10). The sample was collected from the federal capital city of Pakistan and various cities of Punjab (Pakistan). The results of the study found nonsignificant gender differences in the attitudes toward honor killings. Furthermore, people living in rural setups showed more affirmation than people living in urban setups. Likewise, older adults showed more affirmation to honor killing than adults of younger age groups. Finally, participants belonging to a joint/extended family system were more affirmative and had acceptance toward honor killing than those who belonged to nuclear families. Hence, the findings of the current study suggest that demographic variables play a role in determining and shaping the attitudes and beliefs of individuals regarding the phenomenon of honor killing.

Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of a Multitasking Instrument in the Context of Collectivist Asian Culture.

Background: Multitasking is a rapidly evolving construct and we are in dire need of a sound tool for measuring multitasking behaviors and abilities across socio-cultural contexts. To this end, this study has put forward a cultural adaptation (through back translation) of an already developed (Kushniryk, 2008) measure i.e., Communication Specific Multitasking Measurement Instrument. Objective: This study is intended to translate, adapt, and validate a multitasking measure i.e., Communication Specific Multitasking Measurement Instrument (CSMMI; Kushniryk, 2008) in the context of collectivist culture in Pakistan. Design: The study was composed of two parts. The first part was completed in two phases. Phase I employed back and forward translation methods to translate the multitasking measure into an indigenous language. Phase II provided empirical validity of the translated and adapted instrument (CSMMI) using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on data collected from a sample of 230 married individuals. The second part of the study was designed to establish construct validity of the translated instrument using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on a larger data set of married individuals. Results: EFA using a varimax rotation on all 19 items of CSMMI showed that the instrument is a three-dimensional measure. CFA confirmed that the translated and adapted instrument is also a three-dimensional measure on the larger data set. Analysis of the intraclass correlation and alpha coefficient provided sound evidence for validity and reliability of the measure (CSMMI). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the translated and adapted multitasking measure (CSMMI) is reliable and valid when applied to the culturally collectivist population of Pakistan. This also pertains to any other populations where the translation is adequately applicable.

Over dental anxiety problems among university students: perspective from Pakistan.

Oral health seeking behavior is compromised by dental anxiety, and affects quality of life. This preliminary study using convenience sampling was conducted among university students in the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan, Pakistan, using standardized, valid and reliable scales to determine the prevalence and correlates of dental anxiety. Cumulatively 503 students including 278 males and 225 females, completed the questionnaire. High to severe anxiety on Dental Anxiety Scale-Revised was reported by 60 (21.6%) males and 54 (24%) females. Seventy-five (27%) males and 62 (27.6%) females reported being quite afraid to very afraid on Dental Anxiety Question. Results underline the need for population-based representative studies to determine the prevalence and correlates of dental anxiety for better dental health in Pakistan.

Video game-based and conventional therapies in patients of neurological deficits: an experimental study.

PURPOSE: In the past few years, medicine has upgraded its therapeutic techniques and practices, with the use of various modern methods that are due to advancement in technology and sciences. It is recognized that the physical health of the patients is significantly associated to their mental state, their motivation and engagement in overcoming the illness. This paper presents experimental comparison between virtual reality (VR) technology and conventional mode of therapy for physical rehabilitation among patients of neurological deficits. The objective was to explore the effectiveness of VR during physical interactions with different game-like virtual environment and potentially leading to increased mental health (i.e., lower depression, anxiety and stress), self-esteem, social support and intrinsic motivation (task-based competence, choice and interest). METHOD: The study sample consisted of thirty-four subjects with Cerebral palsy (CP), Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Spinal cord injury, Stroke and Parkinson's disease; divided into two experimental groups virtual reality exercise group (n = 17), and conventional therapy group (n = 17); who have upper- or lower-limb impairment. RESULTS: The outcome measures revealed significant differences across pretest and post-test conditions of both the experimental groups. Findings emerged from the study showed noticeable effectiveness of virtual-reality based rehabilitation in TBI, stroke and CP patients. Relationships between study variables and demographic variables (age and gender) were also presented. CONCLUSION: This study opens the way for future researchers, psychologists, physiotherapist and other practitioners to do more extensive work in the domain of virtual reality with different sample, constructs and approaches.Implications for rehabilitationIt has become increasing important to introduce new state-to-art technologies in domain of rehabilitation.People are reluctant to use all the traditional modes of treatment. As these conventional ways of treatment are least motivating and interesting to indulge the patients without force and burden. It is evident in the present study that addition of virtual reality-based exercise increases the self-motivated balance during functional task in contrast to conventional and task-dependent training participants.This study opens the way for future researchers to do more extensive work in this domain.

Prevalence of Rape Myths and Sexual Double Standards Among University Students in Pakistan.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of rape myths and sexual double standards among Pakistani university students. The sample size was 500 university students. The results indicated that 76.8 % students had more belief in rape myths, while 23.2 % had less belief on rape myths. In total, 71.4% had less sexual double standards, while 28.6 % had more sexual double standards. Furthermore, results showed that men believed more in rape myths as compared with women. Young adults of age ranging from 17 to 24 years had high sexual double standards as compared with adults of the age range of 25 to 32 years. Moreover, findings of focus group discussions (FGDs) highlighted that rape myths and sexual double standards are highly prevalent. The study revealed that Pakistani students are gender biased, as power and authority are associated with men. They also shared that rape victims in Pakistan do not get any support from family; rather, in most cases, the rape victims are killed in the name of so-called honor to maintain the reputation of family in society.

Comparative analysis of attitudes and perceptions about rape among male and female university students.

BACKGROUND: Rape and other forms of violence against women have been reported to be common in Pakistan, and police is often reluctant to register a rape complaint. We assessed and compared the attitudes and perceptions of male and female university students towards rape of females by males. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted among the male and female students of Quide-e-Azam University, Islamabad. A structured, self-administered, anonymous and pre-tested questionnaire was used with close-ended questions. Students were asked about their attitudes and beliefs regarding characteristics of the female rape victims, male perpetrators and contexts in which this type of violence is more or less likely. Interviewers approached conveniently-selected participants and explained the objectives of the survey, while emphasising voluntary participation in this study. Data was analysed for frequencies and counts, while Chi-square test was used to for pairwise comparisons between male and female students with STATA 9. RESULTS: Five hundred and four students, 247 male and 257 female, completed the questionnaire. Male students were more likely to believe that strong character of a woman would ostensibly shield her from the advances of a rapist; only young and pretty women get raped; woman's willingness is present in rape. About 25% of students also believed that a raped woman is not worthy of becoming another man's wife. One third of students believed that there could be no rape in marital context. CONCLUSION: Rape myths were common in our educated study respondents with significant gender differences. Attitudes and beliefs blaming the female victim of rape were more common in males.

Attitudes about honour killing among men and women--perspective from Islamabad.

BACKGROUND: The concept of honour has cultural, social and moral underpinnings that determine its expression and perseveration. Women are viewed as the bearers of family honour with chastity equated with abstinence from premarital or extramarital relationships and obeying norms determined and dictated by traditions and societies. The objective of this study was to determine the opinions of men and women pertaining to killing in the name of and saving one's honour. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted among the 18 years and older (range 18-71) men and women. Respondents were approached in markets, bus-stops, hospitals, and various other public places in Islamabad from April 12th to June 27th 2006. A structured, interviewer-administered, and pretested questionnaire was used with both open and close-ended questions on demographics and attitudes about honour killing based on a vignette that was slowly read out in Urdu, in a neutral and judgment-free tone of voice to potential respondents. Responses to close-ended questions based on the vignette provided, and pattern among men and women were compared using Pearson Chi-square test to determine associations between the dichotomous variables and gender, while responses to one open-ended question were summarised based on the observed similarities and bivariate associations with gender were determined. RESULTS: We approached 630 conveniently selected individuals at various public places in the city of Islamabad. Six hundred and one agreed to participate and completed the questionnaire, i.e., the response rate was 95.4%. Three hundred and seven respondents were male (51.1%), and 294 (48.9%) were females. Three hundred forty-three 343 (57.1%) respondents believed that the man in the vignette did the right thing by killing his wife upon finding her in bed with another man. Divorcing one's wife rather than resorting to killings, after having found her with another man was approved by 220 (36.6%) respondents, while the rest answered as 'don't know'. CONCLUSION: Majority of men as well as women considered it justifiable and acceptable to kill one's wife as a mean to save one's honour. The most significant finding was the fact that overwhelming number of men and women did not believe in either forgiveness or divorcing one's wife who has engaged in extramarital sexual relationship.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Implicit Beliefs Measure and the Role of Demographics among Pakistani Sample.

Implicit theories (also referred to self-theories) represent a cognitive conceptualization about a matter, generally raised as a belief. It is marked as the primary aspect of cognitive processing among living beings affecting their overall behavior towards others'. In the present study, it is attempted to consider a Pakistani perspective on this phenomenon of self-theories and also to validate the implicit theories Scale. It is a measure of people's beliefs about things to be fixed or changeable. A quantitative approach of correlational methodology was employed. Participants of the study were 355 Pakistani young adults with an age range of 20-30 years (M = 23.08, SD = 1.99). There were 175 males and 180 females (as they reported their gender) from Islamabad. Confirmatory factor analysis was computed to assess the dimensionality of the scale. An adequate model fit indices were found as Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .04, Comparative Fit Index = .99, Tucker-Lewis Index = .98, Goodness of Fit Index = .97, and Incremental Fit Index = .99, confirming a bidimensional implicit theories measure. The reliability coefficients of Entity Theory and Incremental Theory subscales were assessed through internal consistency and test-retest methods which are found to be in an acceptable range. Demographic specifications are also addressed to reflect upon the indigenous importance of this concept. This will be an additive feature in the literature to consider the cultural specification enabling individuals to align their mindsets in the desired direction of growth and achievement.

Mental health and imprisonment: Measuring cross-cutting symptoms among convicts in Punjab, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure-Adult (APA, 2013) is a self-reported instrument to measure comorbidity of psychiatric symptomology. Translation and validation of this instrument contribute to the literature, both in terms of its availability in native language Urdu and its usefulness in the prison settings of Pakistan. AIM: The purpose of the present study is to translate DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure-Adult (APA, 2013) and to measure comorbid psychiatric symptomology among convicted criminals of Central Jail Bahawalpur (CJB) and Central Jail Sahiwal (CJS). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional design was used and guideline proposed by Mapi Institute (Acquadro et al., 2012) was used for the translation and adaptation process. Data were collected from 362 imprisoned convicts. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: For construct validity, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was done by taking domains as continuous variables. The analysis was conducted using AMOS. Cross-tabulation analysis was conducted to see the association of comorbid psychiatric symptomology with respect to crime-related variables by using SPSS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Goodness of fit showed that the translated version of the instrument has a satisfactory to good construct validity. For domains with more than one items, Guttmann and Alpha reliability analysis showed satisfactory reliability of domains (.52-.71) and Alpha reliability of .89 for the overall instrument. Sleep disturbance and anger related symptoms showed a high prevalence in the current sample. Current and previous crime-related variables do associate significantly with comorbid psychiatric symptomology.