Mind and Society

Human being and Social Life

Aradhana Shukla — 2026-01-30

Man is a social being and as a human he can not live without society and social interaction. Therefore, man's life to, an enormous extent a group life and it revolves around his / her surroundings. The relationship between man and society can be understood by the fact that man is always known by his relationships with the others.

Exploring the dynamics of Supervisor Support, Supervisor Harassment and their impact on Career Satisfaction an d Positive Mental Health of Older Working Women

Urmila Rani Srivastava — 2026-01-30

This study examined the independent and combined effects of supervisor support and harassment on career satisfaction and positive mental health of 203 senior manageria l and professional women in IT, healthcare, education, and manufacturing across North India. Supervisor harassment independently and negatively predicted career satisfaction, while supervisor support positively influenced both career satisfaction and positive mental health, with stronger effects than harassment. Notably, high supervisor support mitigated the negative impact of sexual harassment on positive mental health. Both supervisor support and supervisor harassment significantly positively predicted positive mental health. The authors emphasize that simultaneous examination of support and harassment provides a nuanced understanding of supervisory relationships, with implications for research and practice.

Negative Psychological States, Coping Strategies, Self-esteem, and Life Satisfaction of Individuals with Infertility

Ritika Tiwari — 2026-01-30

Infertility is when an individual experiences failure to conceive even after a year of unprotected sex; it affects millions of people not only physically but also emotionally, socially, and psychologically. It can harm a person's self-worth and overall well-being, leading to distress that is often difficult to cope with. Based on this rationale, the following objectives were formulated: the study intended to examine the gender difference and relationship between negative psychological states (stress, depression, anxiety), coping strategies, self-esteem, and life satisfaction among infertile individuals. A cross-sectional design was employed. Sixty-two participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed life satisfaction, self-esteem, coping strategy, and negative psychological states. Independent sample t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficients were employed to explore gender differences and relationships between variables. Men revealed higher life satisfaction and self-esteem than women. Women experienced greater levels of stress, depression, and anxiety than men. Coping strategies also differed, with men relying more on problem-focused coping and women on emotion-focused coping. The correlation results showed that infertile men with higher stress, depression, anxiety, or avoidance coping reported lower life satisfaction. At the same time, greater self-esteem and problem-focused coping were associated with better life satisfaction. Among women, life satisfaction was lower when stress, depression, anxiety, or emotion-focused coping was higher, but higher when self-esteem was strong. Stress was closely positively tied to depression, anxiety, and emotion-focused coping, while self-esteem showed a significant negative association with depression and anxiety. It underscores the importance of gender sensitive interventions in addressing the unique challenges and psychological needs faced by infertile men and women.

Family Dynamics and Mental Health Outcome Among Substance Abusers

Dr. Reena Malviya — 2026-01-31

Substance use disorders (SUDs) constitute a significant public health concern and are frequently associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Although existing research has largely emphasized biological and individual psychological determinants, the role of family dynamics in shaping mental health during treatment has received limited quantitative attention in the Indian socio-cultural context. The present study examines the relationship between family dynamics and mental health outcomes among individuals undergoing treatment for substance use disorders. Using a quantitative correlational research design, data were collected from 200 individuals receiving treatment at the ‘Punarjanm’ Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA) in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Family dynamics and perceived familial support were assessed using standardized, culturally validated instruments, while mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were measured using widely accepted clinical scales. Correlational and multiple regression analyses were employed to examine associations between family-related factors and mental health outcomes. The findings indicate that positive family characteristics, emotional cohesion, open communication, and perceived familial support are associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. In contrast, family conflict and excessive control are linked to poorer outcomes. Perceived familial support remained a protective factor.

Sociodemographic Predictors of Psychological Distress among Police Personnel: An Empirical Investigation

Pramod R. Gupta — 2026-01-30

Background: Police work is one of the most responsible and demanding professions. It is obvious that police officers frequently experience daily stress, anxiety, and in some circumstances, depression.However, there are few researches investigating the responsible socio-demographic factors that might contribute to psychological distress among police personnel. Aim: Present study aims to study the level of anxiety, stress, and depression among police personnel. It also aims to explore the sociodemographic factors that significantly predict the mental health of the study participants.Method: Total 480 police personnel were recruited for the study using purposive sampling method. A socio-demographic data sheet and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale were administered on the participants to collect data regarding their sociodemographic details. Result: It was found that a significant portion of the participants experienced mild to extremely severe level of stress (31.70%), anxiety (34.20%), and depression (27.10%). Female police personnel were more likely to experience (t= -8.94, p<0.01) depression, anxiety (t=8.89, p<0.01), and stress (t=6.66, p<0.01) than their male counterparts. Lastly, gender, age, and monthly income emerged as the significant predictors of the general mental health of police personnel. Conclusion:Police personnel are facing a substantial amount of stress, anxiety, and depression. Young, female, and, low monthly income earning police personnel are at greater risk for developing mental health than their counterparts. Female police personnel experience more psychological distress than male police personnel.

The Influence of Stereotype Threat In Self-Esteem Among University Tribal Students

Anant Shankar Pandey — 2026-01-30

Stereotype threat refers to the fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one’s social group, which can negatively affect psychological functioning and academic experiences. Students from tribal communities often face social stigma, low expectations, and identity-based pressure within higher education settings, making them particularly vulnerable to stereotype threat. The present study examines the influence of stereotype threat on self-esteem among tribal university students. The study employed a quantitative correlational research design. A sample of 200 tribal students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs at a university in Madhya Pradesh participated in the study. Standardized measures of stereotype threat and self-esteem were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were applied to examine the relationship between the variables. The results indicated that participants experienced relatively high levels of stereotype threat and moderate levels of self-esteem. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between stereotype threat and self-esteem, indicating that higher levels of stereotype threat were associated with lower self-esteem. Regression analysis further revealed that stereotype threat had a significant predictive value for self-esteem among tribal university students. The findings suggest that stereotype threat plays an important role in shaping the psychological well-being of tribal students by undermining their sense of self-worth. The study highlights the need for identity-safe and inclusive educational environments that reduce stereotype-based pressures and support the self-esteem of tribal students in higher education.

Human Goal-Seeking Behaviour: A Psychological Comparison of the Purushartha Framework and Western Motivational Concepts

Pavitra Bajpai — 2026-01-30

The Purusharthic paradigm promotes a balanced and integrated pursuit of numerous life goals, in contrast to western psychological models that explain motivation through hierarchical or need-based frameworks, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-determination theory, and drive-reduction theory.The basic aim of this paper is to investigate the psychological meaning of Purusharth and applicability to modern behavioral science. Each Purushartha is viewed through contemporary theoretical frameworks: Moksha in connection with mindfulness, self-actualization, and transcendence; Kama in connection with affective neuroscience and attachment theory; Artha in connection with achievement motivation and reward systems; and Dharma in connection with moral development and prosocial behavior. The paper synthesizes an integrated cross-cultural model of motivation by conducting textual analysis of traditional Indian philosophical sources and Western motivational ideas using a theoretical and comparative methodology and literature reviews. The Purusharthas provide a multifaceted explanation of human motivation that goes beyond the individualistic and hierarchical slants of Western philosophies.The results of different texts and literature review highlight that how the Purusharthas can be used as a culturally grounded paradigm in applied psychology as well as research to better understand human motivation. Significant theoretical and practical ramifications result from its incorporation into contemporary psychology, including culturally sensitive methods of psychological testing and treatment in multicultural and South Asian settings. In the end, reinterpreting the Purusharthas in light of modern behavioral research advances the decolonization of psychological theory and practice by fostering a more inclusive and internationally applicable understanding of human motivation.

Breaking Social Connections: Alzheimer’s and the Erosion of Social Cognition

Leema Jacobs — 2026-01-30

Alzheimer’s disease is usually recognised for its catastrophic impact on human memory and cognition. However, a less discussed but equally important consequence is the distortion of social cognition. Social cognition refers to a set of cognitive abilities that enable people to understand, integrate, and respond appropriately in various social contexts. Social cognition encompasses skills such as theory of mind, emotion recognition, social judgment, and empathy. In Alzheimer’s disease, as the brain tissues, especially the areas of the frontal lobe and the temporal lobes, degenerate, these social skills progressively decline. Patients may struggle to identify the emotions of their loved ones, misunderstand social cues, or show socially inappropriate behaviours. As a result, patients may experience intense frustration in social relationships, withdraw from social interaction, and feel social isolation. This erosion of social skills may lead to a “breakage of social cognition”, not just with their friends or family, but also with the society where they live. This article helps us to evaluate these cognitive connections and find the appropriate remedies to mitigate the after effects of these symptoms. Recognising these social changes by caregivers is crucial because early interventions, social engagement therapies, and empathy-based care can help patients slow down their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Behind the Therapist’s Chair: A Qualitative Exploration of Counsellors’ Mental Health Support Needs

Sitara Kapil Menon — 2026-01-30

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the significance of self-care, personal therapy, and emotional resilience among professional counsellors, specifically to understand whether counsellors benefit from seeking treatment. With training programmes frequently lacking structured self-care, the study further investigates whether counsellors should seek counselling themselves. The study explores whether counsellors who engage in personal therapy and reflective practices report greater emotional resilience and professional effectiveness. Qualitative Method was used in this study. Five Professional Counselling Psychologists were interviewed. Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis was applied to semi-structured interviews. The findings show that personal therapy improves self-awareness, reduces counter transference, and prevents burnout, but its use is inconsistent. Participants identified emotional exhaustion, difficulty maintaining boundaries, and early-career self-doubt as major challenges. Self-care strategies such as meditation, journaling, creative hobbies, and taking breaks between sessions were identified as critical to maintaining well-being and professional competence.

Factors Affecting Employee’s Performance during Work from Home

Anurag Upadhyay — 2026-01-30

Work from home brings new opportunities of working culture to the organization. During pandemic it was used on a very large scale. Work from home allows employees to work with convenient way. It helps to develop trustful relation among management and employees. They can develop their own routine. It helps to prevent unnecessary work place stress. They can use extra time with friends‟ family or to sleep. Because of extra health benefits of exercise and additional sleep, employees‟ physical and mental well-being enhance. It helps to save economic burden of office space, supplies and utility bills.It is not necessary that work from home suits every employees of organization. There are individual differences. Some employees might feel difficulties during work from home. They might prefer routine of office environment to perform effectively then work from home. They might feel more job satisfaction during office hours. They prefer direct interaction with their team members and co-workers. Purpose of present research paper is to understand the factors that influence employee‟s performance during work from home. It has been observed that there are many psychological factors such as personality traits, mental health, adjustment ability, perceived self-efficacy, stress coping style and perceived job security affect performance. Perceived social support, family structure, and interpersonal relation are social factors that affect employee‟s performance during work from home. It affects their mental health negatively. Previous studies suggested that work from home lead to anxiety, depression. They are more vulnerable to suicide.