Bahria Journal of Professional Psychology

14-26

Authors: Fahad Khan; Kainaat Malik

One of the dilemmas of post-modern thought is the reductionistic approach to human ontology. This is further disparaged by the post-colonial mindset that has developed in the Indian subcontinent. Iqbal attempted to challenge these views by developing the concept of Khudi and presented a model of self-development (Tarbiyat-e-Khudi) in his work, Asrar-i-Khudi. Khudi can be defined as a life force, innate within the human existence, striving towards the achievement of its primordial goal of reuniting with its Ultimate Creator. It is cultivated through self-sufficiency, self-respect, self-confidence, self-preservation, even self-assertion in the cause of truth, justice, duty, and morality. In this model of self-development, Iqbal proposed a three-stage spiritual development process: Obedience (Ita’at), Self-Control (Zabt-e-Nafs), and Divine Vicegerency (Neyabat-e-Ilaahi). This article makes a humble attempt at conceptualizing this model from a psychological lens with the intention of making it more applicable, accessible, and understandable.

40-51

Authors: Shanzeh Babar; Kiran Bashir Ahmad

The current study seeks to determine efficacy of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on the levels of Body Dissatisfaction in women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In a quantitative pre-post experimental design, a purposive convenient sample of 10 women, aged 18 to 25 were recruited after the administration and the scoring of Body Dissatisfaction Scale (BDS; Ijaz & Tariq, 2015) and PCOS symptom checklist. Only those participants who were falling in the mild to moderate range of body dissatisfaction were retained in the study. After the screening of participants in the pretest, 5 participants in the experimental group were subjected to 7 individual sessions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions, while remaining 5 were kept in the wait listed control group. Once the intervention phase ended and posttest scores were acquired from both the groups, paired sample t-test, and independent sample t-test were applied for statistical analysis and the results showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the levels of body dissatisfaction post CBT interventions, and there was also an insignificant difference (p > 0.05) when the levels of body dissatisfaction of the control and experimental groups were compared. The results of the study have important implications for clinical practioners.

62-77

Authors: Sana Sadia; Amena Zehra Ali

Children’s' drawing are good indicators of emotion, self- esteem and social competence, as well as other personality aspects. Children in the phase of development, express their emotions more through images or drawings instead of words (Catte & Cox, 1999). The current study aims to explore emotional indicators in the drawings of children and adolescents with ADHD. More specifically, the objective of the investigation is to determine if there are gender and age –wise differences in emotional wellbeing. Human figure drawing of 52 children and adolescents were analyzed according to 5-category emotional problems (Skybo, Ryan-Wenger, & Su, 2007), based on emotional indicators of Koppitz (1968; 1984). The emotional problems were characterized as impulsivity, insecurity-inadequacy, shyness-timidity, anxiety and anger- aggressiveness. Emotional indicators amongst each category were analyzed to find if they were linked to gender and age groups. Chi-Square analysis showed gender differences within the emotional indicators; boys who participated in this study manifested more anger related issues than girls; whereas, girls showed more traits of shyness. Similarly, significant difference was found amongst age groups. On emotional indicators of shyness timidity, insecurity-inadequacy and impulsivity, children scored higher than adolescents. The findings suggested emotional wellbeing of children with ADHD increases with age, additionally while girls remain timidly shy and boys retain aggressiveness. The findings have important implications for clinical and educational psychology.

11-34

Authors: Fatima Afsar and Dr. Humaira Jami

Research has shown a decreased readiness and motivation of students to pursue engineering fields despite of increased demand for trained workforce for economic growth and development. The present study was undertaken to explore the factors influencing students at their high school level to pursue engineering as a career or not. The objective was to explore students’ perception of psychosocial factors involved in their academic satisfaction, and persistence intention to pursue career in engineering while studying at pre-engineering level. Twelve focus group discussions with students from BS engineering (7) and non-engineering (5) educational fields from different public universities of Islamabad were conducted. Thematic analysis was done to analyze the data. The major themes emerged were academic and vocational interest, motivation, social support, personality characteristics, barriers etc. The result suggests the importance of these factors in pursuing career in engineering where there must be interest of the students in the field opted; they must be motivated to learn in context of social support extended by friends, family and teachers. Beside this, there are some barriers from different sources like academia, parents, teachers, etc. that restrain the students from perusing and getting into engineering field. There were some major group differences among engineering and non-engineering students regarding perception of different themes. Conclusively, both groups differed in their interest, motivation, support, and barriers although students from non-engineering academic fields had high grades and potential to continue engineering, but barriers were stronger in some situations or interest and motivational factors were lacking that inhibited them to pursue career in engineering.

61-74

Authors: Sidra Shoaib and Dr. Amena Zehra Ali

The current study is aimed at exploring the teachers’ perspective of academic dishonesty in higher education institutes of Karachi, Pakistan by employing qualitative research method. Data was collected through in-depth qualitative interviews with university teachers (N=4) working in public (n=2) and private (n=2) sector universities of Karachi, belonging to faculty of social sciences who were approached through convenient sampling technique. The data was analysed through critical reflective thematic analysis. Three major themes have been generated i.e. acts, reasons of AD and characteristics of individuals (teachers, students & administration) who are engaged in it. The findings showed that AD was defined as a lack or absence of certain tangible and intangible practices and actions. As far as the reasons of AD are concerned, different reasons have been identified for teachers, students and administration. Teachers are engaged in AD as they want to maintain their self-image or are incompetent. The students indulge in these acts because of their personal and social reasons. Lastly, administrative staff is involved in AD because they either want money or they are ineligible for the job and its requirements. To control AD, strict measures need to be taken with the help of administration, teachers and parents of students. Finally, if the intangible acts can be controlled then separate measures should be taken for teachers, students and administration. The findings of the current study are important for the policymaking and its implementation to control AD.

88-98

Authors: Rimsha Tanveer Malik, Dr. Zainab Hussain Bhutto and Dr. Zainab F. Zadeh

The present study aimed to explore the efficacy of schema therapy for young adults with features of borderline personality. It was hypothesized that features of borderline personality of participants would significantly reduce in posttest followed by schema therapy sessions. The participants of this study comprised of 9 young adult female (Age M=23.44; SD=2.12)from Karachi, Pakistan who were approached through a purposive convenient sampling technique. In a pre-post experimental design the participants were selected after their screening with the help of Borderline Symptom List-95 (BSL-95; Bohus et al., 2007). Twelve individual schema therapy-based sessions (adaptation of The Schema Therapy: Clinician’s Guide [Farrell, Reiss & Shaw, 2014]) were conducted. Features of borderline personality of the participants were once again assessed in posttest with the same tool. The statistical analysis of pretest and posttest scores showed a significant decrease in features of borderline personality of the participants. Therefore, the results of the study put forth schema therapy as a promising therapeutic modality for enhancing mental health of individuals with borderline personality features.

10-19

Authors: Nida & Dr. Saima Masoom Ali

The study was meant to compare body shape apprehension based on gyming and gender among undergraduate students of Karachi. Therefore, it was anticipated that university students who go to the gym would have a high level of body shape apprehension than those who do not go to the gym. Female students would have a high level of body shape apprehension as compared to male students. The participants of this study comprised of 400 university students (Male n=200 & Female n=200) in the age range of 19 to 25 years ( M=22.55; SD =1.81) from Karachi, Pakistan. After taking consent from the authorities of universities, research participants were approached through purposive convenient sampling. They were then requested to fill the demographic form and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-16; Evans & Dolan, 1993). Results showed that students who go to the gym have a highly significant level of body shape apprehension than those students who do not go to the gym. Furthermore, female university students reported significantly high levels of body shape apprehension than male students. Therefore it is important for academic institutions to promote health, well-being, self-acceptance, physique satisfaction and positive use of gym for students to deter the maturing extensiveness of body shape worries among them.

27-43

Authors: Umar Rizwan, Muhammad Aqeel & dr. Shahid irfan, Dr. Tasnim Rehna

The current study aimed to investigate the moderating role of tolerance in the relationship of domestic violence and aggression in married working women. A cross-sectional design and purposive sampling technique were used in the current study. The participants of the study comprised of 100 married working women who were approached from various organizations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Their age ranged from 18 to 35 years. Three instruments were used to measure domestic violence, physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility and tolerance. Co-relational and moderation analysis were used in current study. The findings of the study demonstrated that those working married women who had greater behavioral blame of victim, exhibited more hostile behavior due to low tolerance level. Moreover, tolerance was negatively associated with aggression and domestic violence and those working married women who had lower behavioral blame of victim; exhibited lower hostile behavior because of higher tolerance level. This study concluded that domestic violence could demote aggression because of the higher tolerance level in working women. On the other hand, those working women who had to face domestic violence; were exposed to more aggression because of lower level of tolerance. These results support the broad feminist theory recommending that domestic violence is linked to aggression and tolerance among married working women.

57-67

Authors: Saria Rafiq & Dr. Kiran Bashir Ahmad

The current study attempts to explore the efficacy of creative interventions mixed with positive interventions on the hope levels of orphaned females living in an institutionalized setting. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant enhancement in hope after applying combined interventions. A pre-post quasi experimental design as used in which 10 female participants between18 to 24 (M=20.5, SD=2.12) years were approached using purposive convenient sampling at a local orphanage, Karachi, Pakistan. In the Pre- intervention phase, the Hope Scale Urdu version (Saleem, 2016) was used to establish a baseline for existing hope levels. In the intermediary group intervention phase, creative interventions were merged with interventions gleaned from positive psychotherapy targeting hope while the efficacy was tested using a pre and post test analysis. Statistical analysis using SPSS 22 and the paired sample t-test showed that there was a significant enhancement in post-intervention levels of hope. The research carries implications for practitioners especially those using traditional models of psychotherapeutic interventions to understand the importance of further exploration in the arena of creative interventions when merged with positive interventions for better hope levels in adversely affected populations.

21-30

Authors: Sonia Mukhtar

Need of school counseling has grown rapidly in various countries. This article ascertains principal dilemmas in School Counseling in Pakistan that were identified through panel discussions, focus groups, and dialogues held with academic psychologists (n=6; teaching school counseling with basic training), undergraduate students (n=2; intends to choose school counseling as majors), graduate students (n=4; major school counseling), and practicing professional school psychologist (n=3). The findings highlight the Internal Dilemma, including ideational process, personal improvement, completion purpose of professional school counseling, training requisite, pedagogical apprehensions, pragmatic action research, school counseling services to rural and urban areas, and dissemination of awareness about school counseling to society; External Dilemma, including course contents’ upgrading, creative pedagogy, specialized training in school counseling, obscure research methods (laboratory experiments, neuropsychological research), the feasibility of research in a developing country, and cross-cultural framework in the theory-practice discrepancy, and System Dilemma referring to the school counseling specialization and training programs in Pakistan. The preliminary analysis indicated the discrepancy in school counseling in terms of specialization, needs, and availability of school counseling psychologists. Currently, there is a serious need of specialization in school counseling in Pakistan. Few propositions towards addressing the issues are discussed.

55-70

Authors: Fozia Aamir Siddiqui; Nagina Parveen Soomro

Present study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence; problem focused coping strategy, occupational stress and active avoidance coping strategy among female School teachers of District Hyderabad through a quantitative correlational research. The participants of the present study comprised of 968 female government school teachers, between 22 to 52 years of age (M=36.07, SD=19.85). Simple random sampling was used for data collection. It is being hypothesized that the emotional intelligence of female teachers will be negatively correlated with occupational stress and positively correlated with problem focused coping strategy. Moreover, occupational stress would be positively correlated with active avoidance coping strategy. To test these hypotheses four measuring tools were used that is, Occupational Stress Scale (Sohail & Khanum, 2000), Self-Report Measure of Emotional Intelligence (Khan & Kamal 2010), Brief Cope Scale (Akhtar, 2005) and Personal Information Questionnaire. Findings of the present study supported the hypotheses and have important implications for educational sector, particularly for teachers’ training and development.

95-118

Authors: Tooba Farooqi; Anila Amber Malik

The purpose of this paper is to report the initial findings (item analysis & factorial structure) of a study intended to develop an indigenous measure, the Inventory of Character Strengths (ICS) in the Urdu language. A sample of 485 adults from different towns of Karachi, Pakistan, aged from 18-62 years (M=32.71; SD=8.80) were recruited and their responses on a 62 statements item pool were subjected to statistical analysis for item refinement, and then finally, 47 retained item scale was factor analyzed, using Varimax rotation. Items demonstrated good indices of internal consistency (r=.91, p<0.01) and item-total correlations were also within satisfactory range r=.30- r=.54 (p<0.01). Exploratory Factor Analysis resulted in a five-factor solution described as Temperance and humility, Self-regulation, Social facilitation and positivism, Honesty and perseverance, and Inquisitiveness and collaboration. The analysis established culture relevant domains of Character Strengths specific to Pakistani culture.

11-34

Authors: Muhammad Imtiaz Chaudhry and Dr. Shazia Khalid

Present study was designed to develop a test of nonverbal intelligence for youth in group settings for large scale testing and screening of human resource induction. Items were developed to minimize the effect of education and language proficiency. Items of the proposed test were constructed from figurative material and drawings of geometric symbols, shapes, designs and patterns. The theoretical foundation of the test was derived from the Cattell’s (1963)concept of Fluid Intelligence. The test was divided into five subscales i.e. matrices, odd one out, similarity, series and analogies, and consisting ability areas (abstract reasoning, analogical reasoning, working memory, processing and perceptual speed, inductive & deductive reasoning). Research was conducted in three phases. In the first phase of the main study 200 items were developed and presented to subject matter experts (SMEs) for their opinion (qualitative analysis/ content validity). In the second phase, two studies were conducted. Firstly try out testing was conducted on a sample of N=100 students of Army Public College, Malir to assess the feasibility of test format, clarity and comprehension of items and test instructions. Item strength and distracter analysis were also carried out. Second study was conducted for item analysis on a randomly selected sample of N=300 intermediate level college students of Faisalabad. Item analysis was carried out to estimate the difficulty level, discrimination index and internal consistency (quantitative analysis). Items with difficulty level range between 0.30-0.70, discrimination index greater than 0.30 and item to total correlation values greater than 0.30 were retained. After data analysis 80 items were found fulfilling the set criterion for fair item selection. Items were arranged in relative order of difficulty and the final draft of the test was prepared. In the third phase of the main study, test taking time was estimated for each subtest and full test. The time limit for the test was decided to be 30 minutes. Current research provides a valid and reliable tool for the measurement of non-verbal intelligence in youth in a group setting.

51-62

Authors: Noorulain Bakhtawar Siddiqui, Prof. Dr. NaginaParveen and Dr. Muniza Malik

The study aimed to investigate the relationship of emotional intelligence with parental attachment among university students. The Participants of the study consisted of N=200 participants including both genders (Male n=100 & Female n=100). Data was collected through simple random sampling from University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Two questionnaires namely, Parental Attachment Questionnaire, and Emotional Intelligence scale were administered on the participants. Findings of the study revealed that parental attachment, parental social support, and parent as facilitator of independence are positively correlated with emotional intelligence of university students. Moreover, significant gender differences in parental attachment were apparent where females perceived their parents as more facilitating and supportive. Implications of the study are useful for the parenting, family therapy and student counselling.

77-102

Authors: Rubia Munir, Shahza Aqil, Sukaina Kasem, Muhammad Daniyal Mughal & Sidra Shoaib

The current research aimed to explore the relationship of Spirituality, Closeness to God and Identity Achievement among Adolescents in a quantitative correlational research survey design. Through purposive convenient sampling, adolescents N=350 (Male n=208 & Female n=142) were approached; age ranging from 15-21 years (M=17.99, SD=1.79), from different educational institutes of Karachi. Data was collected through Daily Spiritual Experience Scale and Ego Identity Process Questionnaire. It was hypothesized that there will be a positive relationship between Spirituality, Closeness to God and Identity Achievement (Exploration & Commitment) and that adolescents with different levels of spirituality will differ in the levels of identity achievement. The findings revealed a significant weak positive relationship of Commitment with spirituality and Closeness to God, while no significant relationship between Exploration and Spirituality was found and there is a significant weak negative relationship between Closeness to God and Exploration. It can be interpreted that there is a weak partial positive relationship between Spirituality and Identity Achievement. Findings also revealed significant differences in the levels of commitment of adolescents with different levels of spirituality (Ƞ2=.04) and levels of closeness to God (Ƞ2=.05). Current findings have implications in educational settings, curriculum development and counselling.