India is one of the most depressed states: Expert

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Chandigarh, September 18

We are one of the most depressed states. Around 36 per cent people here are likely to have a severe depressed episode in life. This was stated by keynote speaker Prof SN Ghosh while addressing the 4th International and the 6th Indian Psychological Science Congress at Panjab University (PU) on Monday.

Prof Ghosh is from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). Citing an example of the HP, he said for a population of 70 lakh, there were around 15 psychiatrists.

He pointed out that India was ranked 144 among 188 countries in global health index. “We are just six places ahead of Pakistan and far from Sri Lanka,” he said.

“Extreme weather, temperature and rising sea levels are leading to rise in diseases as well. Malaria and dengue too are on the rise,” he said.

He said even in health supplements in newspapers, hardcore health issues were not covered. Just one per cent coverage was given to these issues.

“Research has revealed that discipline of psychology can play a vital role in containing both chronic and communicable diseases while working in tandem with other care professionals in developing a comprehensive health model. The model would place priority on biological, psycho-social, environmental and economic factors. Behavioural factors have been found to play a substantial role in both chronic and communicable diseases,” he said.

‘Internet addicts have lower psychological well-being’

A paper on internet addiction by researchers from Kurukshetra University (KU), ‘Comparison of Psychological Well Being among Internet Addicted and Non-Internet Addicted Adolescents’, which is a part of special issue released on Monday at the conference pointed out that internet addicted adolescents have lower psychological well-being compared to those who are not addicted. The paper says that those who are spending more time on internet succumb to social pressure to think and act based on evaluation of others. They lack sense of control over the external world, lack sense of improvement over time, have few trusting relationships and feel dissatisfied with self.

‘Females change profile photos often, men seek new relationships’

One paper from the HPU, ‘Gender differences in Facebook usage, Internet Addiction and Privacy Concerns’, says that both men and women, with an average age of 25, do not differ significantly in Facebook usage and internet addiction. But women were found to be concerned over their privacy issues as compared to men. The paper says that men tend to seek dominance and sexual pleasure with the usage of internet, while women mainly seek out close friendships, romantic partners and prefer anonymous communication in which they hide their appearance. Women were seen to be more active in changing one’s profile picture and interacting with existing friends, while men were found to prefer making new relationships and passing time.

‘Trollers do it for mental satisfaction’

In a paper, ‘Psychology of Social Media Troll among Digital Users’, it came out that from the sample of trollers that over 80 per cent are men. The paper has authors from Kerala. According to the paper, 73.5 per cent of the trolls were created for mental or psychological satisfaction, 44.9 per cent for social acceptance and 4.9 per cent for financial benefits. However, there is no correlation between the dark triad personality and social competence.