This book focuses on the theoretical concepts of community psychology and its applications in day-to-day life. It discusses the challenges that adversely affect the welfare and well-being of common people and suggests community-centric, evidence-based measures to address them. Factors like new-age lifestyles, fast-paced development, and an increase in occurrence of natural calamities have been detrimental to the psychological well-being of the community. This volume integrates the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental aspects of community psychology to address community life-based issues which include mental health stigma, social asymmetries, resource disparities, disadvantaged minority groups, the differently abled, HIV/AIDS patients, project-affected people, and disaster victims. Key features of this book include: Dedicated intervention-based chapters on mental health, physical health, differently abled people, the elderly, vulnerable children, HIV/AIDS patients, and people affected by development projects and disasters Focus on challenges faced by students and school-based family counselling Case studies and conceptual models for better understanding and application of the subject The volume will be a valuable resource to students, researchers, and teachers of Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, and Social Economics. It will also be an indispensable read for social workers, NGOs, advocacy groups, and policymakers working in the field of social upliftment.
Background: An endeavour to probe into the psychological profile of infertile women in a comparative stance with the fertile women is not very common. This study is an attempt to explore the possible non-apparent personality factors which contribute to the unexplained pain of infertility. Methods: The main objectives of the present study were (a) to examine whether infertile women are different from fertile women in terms of selected psychological variables- narcissistic components, dimensions of attachment style and uses of defensive manoeuvres; and (b) whether the primary infertile women (n=18) are different from the secondary infertile women (n=12) with respect to those variables. A total of 60 individuals (30 infertile women and 30 matched fertile women) were assessed through Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was administered on to the fertile women to rule out the psychiatric morbidity. Results: Findings revealed that infertile women group differed from fertile women group with respect to narcissism, dimensions of attachment style and uses of defense mechanism. The primary infertile group also showed marked difference from the secondary infertile group with respect to those variables. Conclusions: This study endeavours to enrich the knowledge regarding the personality dynamics of infertile women to design psychotherapeutic programme to aid their well-being, help them to cherish the flavour of parenthood and improve their quality of life.
This book presents a kaleidoscopic view of the positive layers of ageing as well as key interventions that can help generate and maintain positivity and well-being among the elderly. It explores the connections of ageing with spirituality, nature and existentialism, and leisure to encourage creativity, individuation, happiness, and emotional detachment. It further examines various interventions such as end-of-life care, mindfulness and yoga, retrospection, life review, and so on, which may improve the overall quality of life by promoting the health of the elderly individual. The book focuses on authentic ageing, transpersonal gerontology, the concept of the elder child, geriatric interventions, and caregiving, and suggests practical improvements in health and facilities for the elderly. It also covers aspects of the inner life of the prolonged ailing or dying person from a mental health perspective and emphasizes the value of positive ageing. A guide to applied geriatrics and geriatric psychology, with its simple style and clear methods in end-to-end praxis, the book shows how mental well-being can be fostered in the elderly to help them find meaning and purpose in old age. This book will interest students, teachers, and researchers of psychology, positive psychology, geropsychology and gerontological studies, sociology and social work, public health, medical education, and geriatric nursing. It will also be useful to practitioners including psychologists, counsellors, gerontologists, mental health professionals and NGOs working with the elderly, and the interested reader.