Foundation University Journal of Psychology

Barriers Perceived by Pre-Engineering Students at FSc. Level and its Impact on Academic Satisfaction

2024-02-06T09:44:53+00:00

Adolescence is the most crucial developmental and emotional stage of life where educational decision-making takes center stage. This challenge is especially difficult for the students of pre-engineering. The highest attrition rate is prevalent in STEM due to a lack of interest and academic dissatisfaction among students which is in part due to a number of barriers perceived by them. Therefore, the major objectives for this research were to identify those perceived barriers, develop an indigenous valid and reliable measure for identifying perceived barriers in pursuing pre-engineering, quantify the most encountered barrier, and establish the impact of perceived barriers on academic satisfaction. The present research was accomplished in two phases. In Phase I, a 27-item Perceived Barriers in Pursuing Pre-Engineering Scale was developed by utilizing an empirical approach. Through principle component analysis of exploratory factor analysis (N = 324), 4 factors emerged, and another iteration gave 3 factors. However, a unidimensional scale was finalized following the consensus of Subject Matter Experts to maintain the theoretical integrity. In Phase II (N = 923), adequate psychometric properties of the measure were established. The most commonly reported barrier turned out to be pressure from the family on subject selection. A significantly negative relationship was found between perceived barriers and academic satisfaction. Male students reported higher scores on barriers and academic satisfaction than female students. This research has important implications for stakeholders seeking to rectify low enrollment rates in engineering.

Meta-Analysis of the NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol for Child Sexual Abuse Cases

2024-07-27T17:54:11+00:00

Abstract

Background: Forensic interviews are pivotal to the investigation of child sexual abuse cases. Following best practice, evidence-based guidelines when conducting such interviews is essential in obtaining a credible and reliable testimony. The investigative interview protocol developed by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) incorporates these guidelines into a structured interview procedure. An integral part of the NICHD protocol is to promote open-ended, invitational interviewer prompts. The current research was conducted to observe the impact of the NICHD Protocol in encouraging invitational prompts and discouraging suggestive prompts when compared to non-protocol interviews.

Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of the NICHD protocol was conducted, including 11 studies selected following inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were determined through the PICO framework. The included literature were experimental studies comparing the NICHD protocol with other structured or unstructured interview methods in interviews conducted with children in suspected cases of child sexual abuse (CSA), with a focus on assessing the quality of investigation using interviewer prompts as a dependent measure. Electronic online databases and Registers/websites including PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google Scholar, OSF, Dissertation Abstracts International, and ProQuest Dissertations and These were searched for both peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. The analysis used a random effect model that computed separate weighted mean of the effect sizes shown in independent studies for prompts namely: Directives, Option-posing, Suggestions, and Invitations.

Results: Results of the analysis indicated that overall, interviews with the NICHD protocol had less directives (g= -0.9106), option-posing (-0.9178) and suggestive prompts (g= -0.5516), and more invitational (g= 1.9859) prompts than non-protocol interviews.

Conclusion: These results corroborate with the findings of previous studies. However, these findings should be considered with caution due to the detection of high levels of heterogeneity.

Keywords: Eyewitness testimony, Investigative interviewing, Meta-analyses, Child sexual abuse, NICHD protocol, Interviewer prompt

Associations between Behavioral, Emotional, Cognitive Self-Regulation and Adolescent Mental Health and Psychosocial Strengths

2023-08-11T10:48:05+00:00

Background. Self-regulation is an essential developmental asset during adolescence related to the prevention and promotion of mental health. This research aimed to analyze how various domains of self-regulation (behavioral, emotional and cognitive) were associated with mental health (internalizing and externalizing problems) and psychosocial strengths (interpersonal strengths, intrapersonal strengths and family involvement) among adolescents. A secondary aim was to analyze gender differences in these effects and in self-regulation.

Method. A cross-sectional survey research design was used to collect data from 373 adolescents (age range = 10 – 18 years; 188 boys, 215 girls) through a convenient sampling technique from the five provinces of Pakistan. Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF-2), Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ), and Behavior and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS-2) were used to measure the study variables.

Results. Results indicated that ineffective behavioral, emotional, and cognitive regulation were significant predictors of externalizing problems while ineffective emotional and cognitive regulation significantly predicted internalizing problems. Ineffective behavioral and cognitive regulation significantly negatively predicted interpersonal strengths. Only cognitive regulation appeared as a significant predictor for intrapersonal strengths and family involvement. Multigroup analyses revealed no significant gender differences.

Conclusion. The findings highlight the differential relationship of self-regulation with mental health and psychosocial strengths which can inform practices in the prevention and promotion of mental health in adolescents.

Impact of Communication Patterns and Relationship Dissatisfaction on Emotional Distress among Married Individuals

2024-07-27T17:54:11+00:00

Abstract

Background. Marriage satisfaction is a crucial component of numerous people's lives and has been linked to greater life satisfaction as well as the psychological health of married people in Pakistan. The purpose of this research study was to find out the impact of different communication patterns and relationship dissatisfaction on emotional distress among married individuals.

Method.A cross-sectional study was conducted in which sample of the present study consisted of (N=226, M=1.35, SD=.48) married individuals (n=148 males and n=78 females) from Islamabad. Survey method was used to collect the data. Purposive sampling technique was used for selecting the sample. Perceived Emotional Distress Inventory (PEDI), Communication Pattern Questionnaire (CPQ) and Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI) were administered to married individuals.

Results. The findings demonstrated that relationship dissatisfaction, self-demand/partner withdraw, and partner demand/self-withdraw communication patterns are all highly significant predictors of emotional distress, and that among married people, constructive communication pattern is a negative predictor of emotional distress.

Conclusion. Effective communication often acts as a protective barrier against emotional suffering in married couples. When couples honestly and actively listen to one another, they are better able to understand and feel more connected to one another. This can lead to a more helpful and harmonic connection, which reduces the likelihood of emotional suffering.

Keywords. Emotional distress, constructive communication pattern, self-demand/partner withdraw, partner demand/self-withdraw communication patterns, relationship dissatisfaction.

Masculinity Ideologies of Adult Pakistani Men and Women

2024-02-06T09:44:52+00:00

Abstract

Background. Masculinity related ideologies are rooted in most cultures and Pakistan is not different, however not much is known about these ideologies in recent times. This study investigated masculinity ideologies in adult men and women of Pakistan.

Method. In across-sectional design,a convenient sample of 268 men and 173 women (N = 441)was taken that ranged in age from 19 to 51 (M = 29.21, SD = 5.44) years. We used Masculinity Ideologies Scale (Imtiaz& Kamal, 2023) that measures four aspects of masculinity includingmale privilege and power, traditional roles and responsibilities, avoiding effeminacy, and restricted emotionality as subscales.

Results. Results revealed that men endorsed significantly greater traditional masculinity ideologies than women and particularly significantly moremale privilegeand power and restricted emotionality than women; however, no significant differences were found for traditional roles and responsibilities and avoiding effeminacy across genders.

Conclusion. We discuss masculinity in a cultural context where patriarchy prevails, where male masculinity is held as a symbol of authority.

Keywords. Gender differences, masculinity ideologies, Pakistani adults, patriarchy