Papers by Jyotsna Agrawal
Änanda, along with sätvika, räjasika and tämasika sukha are different types of happiness as discu... more Änanda, along with sätvika, räjasika and tämasika sukha are different types of happiness as discussed in the Indian tradition. Further different pathways to these have also been discussed such as niùçreyasa path to änanda, çreyas path to sätvika sukha and preyas path to räjasika - tämasika sukha. While änanda is experienced on liberation, most people in the world experience sukha, although its type differs based on the path taken. In a series of empirical studies on happiness of sukha type, with urban Indian adults, we found that most people at any point of time are happy. Sätvika qualities and çreyas type of activities were associated with happiness, while räjasika and tämasika qualities, along with preyas type of activities were related to more unhappiness. In general people preferred a mix of both çreyas and preyas type of activities, with higher frequency of çreyas type. High preyas focus in terms of alcohol dependence was associated with high tamas, low sattva and more frequent experience of negative emotions. These studies suggest development of sattva by taking a çreyas pathway may be associated with better mental health, on the other hand predominant focus on preyas pathway may be associated with räjasika - tämasika qualities and poor mental health. More studies are required in future to further test this hypothesis by developing sattva based interventions.
European Journal of Mental Health, 2022
Well-being stands among the widely researched concepts and is relevant in ensuring the quality of... more Well-being stands among the widely researched concepts and is relevant in ensuring the quality of our existence. It is now accepted that well-being consists of a positive and holistic state, which includes physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being (Keyes, 2014; Vaillant & Vaillant, 2005), rather than just an absence of psychological problems. Technological and economic development has offered all possible measures for maintaining an effortless and comfortable lifestyle; however, achieving sustainable happiness or well-being remains challenging (Christopher,
For an organization to succeed it is important to give attention to employees’ well-being. With t... more For an organization to succeed it is important to give attention to employees’ well-being. With the advent of Positive Psychology, there is empirical evidence to suggest positive experiences, and individuals leads to a profitable organization, through building personal and social resources. When it comes to application of meditation as an intervention for this purpose, research has predominantly focused upon the beneficial aspects of concentrative and mindfulness meditation. The meditative traditions have a long and rich tradition, which also includes interpersonal aspects, however research in this area trails behind. Since the vedic times, there has been an emphasis on the development of qualities called brahmavihara and in yoga tradition, Patanjali has emphasized it for overcoming a variety of difficulties. The work place interpersonal context can become a fertile ground for development of jealousy, hatred, unhealthy competitiveness etc ( Sarawasti, 2013). To counter these Brahmav...
Current Psychology
While rural ‘Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs)’ delivering primary care at the village-l... more While rural ‘Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs)’ delivering primary care at the village-level in India experience high levels of work stress and burnout, little is known about the potential of positive psychology interventions in helping them respond to stressful situations. We aim to describe a systematic approach to designing and developing a ‘character-strengths based’ coaching program for rural ASHAs to help reduce their work-stress and improve their delivery of routine primary care. The development of the coaching program involved: (1) formative work, (2) blueprint development, (3) content development, (4) content-testing, and focus groups discussions to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, specifically the coaching workshop. This was followed by thematic qualitative analysis of ASHA perspectives/feedback to inform further modifications to the workshop. Intervention development occurred over 11 months, and the final coaching material consisted...
International Social Science Journal
Ideas around self and identity are at the core of various reflective traditions in both East and ... more Ideas around self and identity are at the core of various reflective traditions in both East and West. In the psychological literature, they have multiple meanings. However, they usually reflect the idea of self-sameness across changing time. The current study aimed to explore various ways in which contemporary Indians define their 'self' and if there were any parallel between modern and traditional construal of self. An open-ended Twenty Statements Test (TST) was used along with a quantitative measure Ahamkara Questionnaire (AQ) based on an Indian model of self, known as 'ahamkara'. A sample of 240 educated, adults (Females=104, Males= 136; Mean age= 38.17 years, SD=11.45 years; range 20-60 years) were purposively selected from an urban area of North India and recruited in this mixed-method, cross-sectional research study. Thematic analysis of TST responses uncovered five broad thematic categories in self-concepts: Individuality, Belongingness, Separation, Agency and Spiritual/Transpersonal. Four of them overlapped with sub-components of 'ahamkara'. They also differed with age where Spiritual/Transpersonal theme was frequent in self-concepts of older samples. Quantitative results from AQ also indicated that the level of ahamkara significantly differed with age and gender. These findings have implications for mental health and developing interventions utilising Indian conception of self.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2022
BackgroundInterest in the use of yoga to enhance engagement with and augment the benefits of psyc... more BackgroundInterest in the use of yoga to enhance engagement with and augment the benefits of psychological treatment has grown. However, a systematic approach to reviewing existing research examining the use of yoga with psychological treatment is lacking.Materials and MethodsThis mapping review identified and synthesised research trialling yoga as an integrated or adjunct therapy with evidence‐based psychological interventions for the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and eating disorders.ResultsOverall, the review identified ten published and three unpublished studies, representing either single group or small quasi‐experimental research designs.DiscussionLimited but promising findings were shown for yoga with CBT for anxiety and depression, and the integration of yoga within intensive treatment models for PTSD.ConclusionsFuture research is encouraged to focus on controlled trials that enable examination of the component effect of yoga when applied with evidence‐based psycho...
Indian models of personality are seldom explored in relation with alcohol dependence. Triguna is ... more Indian models of personality are seldom explored in relation with alcohol dependence. Triguna is an Indian model of personality originating from Sankhya philosophy, whereby three gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas describe personality features. Anasakti has been discussed extensively in Bhagavad Gita and is an equivalent for the concept of non- attachment.The current study discusses these two Indian concepts and attempts to explore their relationship with personality and subjective well-being, among males with and without alcohol dependence.A cross-sectional survey method was adopted, with a sample of 84 males from community without alcohol dependence, screened through AUDIT and 30 males diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test.The males without alcohol dependence scored significantly higher on variables such as Sattva, extraversion and...
Supplemental Material for What Do Preschool Children in India Understand About Death?: An Explora... more Supplemental Material for What Do Preschool Children in India Understand About Death?: An Exploratory Study by Jyotsna Agrawal in OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying
Comparison of Body Mass Index is a useful marker for energy imbalance and associated variations a... more Comparison of Body Mass Index is a useful marker for energy imbalance and associated variations across populations. High BMI is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, whereas low BMI is associated with increased mortality. BMI comparisons across geographical locations may give us indication as to which direction the public health policies should head and what could be the corrective approach towards a more balanced and healthier energy level. The current study uses Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) data for women from 2005-06 to develop state-specific models of BMI and do interstate comparisons. We also examined the individual versus contextual predictors of these variations. Of the total sample (N = 118,734), 29% had a BMI lower than 18.5, and were classified as underweight, with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of underweight women, followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka. Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, collectively had lowest percentage of underweight residents. Female respondents who had higher levels of education, were married, and were employed, had a lower prevalence of being underweight (p<0.000). Women who smoked and consumed alcohol were also more likely to be underweight. But addition of such individual level variables like income and wealth variables, educational and demographic variables, and health behaviors alter the odds of having a low BMI in some states (such as Punjab, Kerala, Goa & Delhi), but not in others (such as
In the entire spectrum of available meditations, those focused on interpersonal aspects have been... more In the entire spectrum of available meditations, those focused on interpersonal aspects have been relatively less studied. Such aspects need equal research attention in a world where majority of practitioners live a life populated with interpersonal joys, interactions, concerns and sufferings. The contemplative traditions rooted in India, from Yoga-Vedanta to Buddhism have emphasized development of positive interpersonal qualities, such as maitri, mudita, karuna and upeska. These concepts have been discussed in-depth in the present chapter, along with a review of the available research and future directions.
Änanda, along with sätvika, räjasika and tämasika sukha are different types of happiness as discu... more Änanda, along with sätvika, räjasika and tämasika sukha are different types of happiness as discussed in the Indian tradition. Further different pathways to these have also been discussed such as niùçreyasa path to änanda, çreyas path to sätvika sukha and preyas path to räjasika - tämasika sukha. While änanda is experienced on liberation, most people in the world experience sukha, although its type differs based on the path taken. In a series of empirical studies on happiness of sukha type, with urban Indian adults, we found that most people at any point of time are happy. Sätvika qualities and çreyas type of activities were associated with happiness, while räjasika and tämasika qualities, along with preyas type of activities were related to more unhappiness. In general people preferred a mix of both çreyas and preyas type of activities, with higher frequency of çreyas type. High preyas focus in terms of alcohol dependence was associated with high tamas, low sattva and more frequent...
Indian journal of social psychiatry
Indian journal of social psychiatry
Background: The face of Indian marriages is changing with time. With couples living in nuclear se... more Background: The face of Indian marriages is changing with time. With couples living in nuclear set ups, women becoming economically independent and social inhibitions getting fewer, boundaries in relationship are getting diffused and relationships outside marriage common. This article looks at extra-marital involvement when it involves sexual and emotional involvement with a partner outside marriage and its impact on marriage through a specific case report. The article outlines the discovery of infidelity in one partner and the consequent process of rebuilding the marriage in the context of couple therapy. As the process of therapy unfolds the role of therapist's assessment, handling disclosures, therapeutic intervention, dimensions of change in rebuilding marriage, and managing breach of trust during therapy are explored. Key Words: Extra-Marital involvement, infidelity, couples therapy, India
Anasakti and ahamkara, translated as ‘nonattachment’ and ‘ego’ in English, respectively, play a s... more Anasakti and ahamkara, translated as ‘nonattachment’ and ‘ego’ in English, respectively, play a significant role in determining true happiness, according to Indian psychology. A total of 240 educated urban Indian adults (Females = 104, Males = 136) were surveyed to investigate their relationship with well-being variables. Results revealed anasakti as a significant factor for ensuring life satisfaction and experiencing positive emotions. Although ahamkara contributed significantly towards improving cognitive well-being and affective state, negative emotions were also better predicted by ahamkara. Findings of the current study may widen our understanding of ‘what makes us happy?’
Background: The face of Indian marriages is changing with time. With couples living in nuclear se... more Background: The face of Indian marriages is changing with time. With couples living in nuclear set ups, women becoming economically independent and social inhibitions getting fewer, boundaries in relationship are getting diffused and relationships outside marriage common. This article looks at extra-marital involvement when it involves sexual and emotional involvement with a partner outside marriage and its impact on marriage through a specific case report. The article outlines the discovery of infidelity in one partner and the consequent process of rebuilding the marriage in the context of couple therapy. As the process of therapy unfolds the role of therapist's assessment, handling disclosures, therapeutic intervention, dimensions of change in rebuilding marriage, and managing breach of trust during therapy are explored. Key Words: Extra-Marital involvement, infidelity, couples therapy, India
Anasakti and ahamkara, translated as ‘nonattachment’and ‘ego’in English, respectively, play a sig... more Anasakti and ahamkara, translated as ‘nonattachment’and ‘ego’in English, respectively, play a significant role in determining true happiness, according to Indian psychology. A total of 240 educated urban Indian adults (Females= 104, Males= 136) were surveyed to investigate their relationship with well-being variables. Results revealed anasakti as a significant factor for ensuring life satisfaction and experiencing positive emotions. Although ahamkara contributed significantly towards improving cognitive well-being and affective state, negative emotions were also better predicted by ahamkara. Findings of the current study may widen our understanding of ‘what makes us happy?’
Indian models of personality are seldom explored in relation with alcohol dependence. Triguna is ... more Indian models of personality are seldom explored in relation with alcohol dependence. Triguna is an Indian model of personality originating from Sankhya philosophy, whereby three gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas describe personality features. Anasakti has been discussed extensively in Bhagavad Gita and is an equivalent for the concept of non- attachment.
The current study discusses these two Indian concepts and attempts to explore their relationship with personality and subjective well-being, among males with and without alcohol dependence.
A cross-sectional survey method was adopted, with a sample of 84 males from community without alcohol dependence, screened through AUDIT and 30 males diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test.
The males without alcohol dependence scored significantly higher on variables such as Sattva, extraversion and conscientiousness, positive affect and life satisfaction, than the participants in the clinical group. Participants who were diagnosed with alcohol dependence, scored significantly higher on Tamas, neuroticism and negative affect.
Using an Indian model of personality helps to understand the etiology of alcohol use from the Indian context which is also helpful in the development of indigenous interventions.
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Papers by Jyotsna Agrawal
The current study discusses these two Indian concepts and attempts to explore their relationship with personality and subjective well-being, among males with and without alcohol dependence.
A cross-sectional survey method was adopted, with a sample of 84 males from community without alcohol dependence, screened through AUDIT and 30 males diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test.
The males without alcohol dependence scored significantly higher on variables such as Sattva, extraversion and conscientiousness, positive affect and life satisfaction, than the participants in the clinical group. Participants who were diagnosed with alcohol dependence, scored significantly higher on Tamas, neuroticism and negative affect.
Using an Indian model of personality helps to understand the etiology of alcohol use from the Indian context which is also helpful in the development of indigenous interventions.
The current study discusses these two Indian concepts and attempts to explore their relationship with personality and subjective well-being, among males with and without alcohol dependence.
A cross-sectional survey method was adopted, with a sample of 84 males from community without alcohol dependence, screened through AUDIT and 30 males diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test.
The males without alcohol dependence scored significantly higher on variables such as Sattva, extraversion and conscientiousness, positive affect and life satisfaction, than the participants in the clinical group. Participants who were diagnosed with alcohol dependence, scored significantly higher on Tamas, neuroticism and negative affect.
Using an Indian model of personality helps to understand the etiology of alcohol use from the Indian context which is also helpful in the development of indigenous interventions.