The main objective of the current research was translation and adaptation of Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (Andreassen et al., 2015) in Urdu language and its validation. The sample (N = 400) was selected from two cities of Punjab by using convenient sampling technique from adults above age 18 years. The forwardback translation method was used for translation followed by expert panel evaluation, linguistic and conceptual verification of the measure, and then a final translated version was confirmed. After analysis the sample adequacy was in acceptable range with seven factors including salience, conflict, relapse, mood modification, problems, withdrawal, and tolerance. For confirmatory factor analysis data was collected from 350 participants with age range 18 to 40 years through convenient sampling. Results showed that indices of good fit model were adequate. For validation of the translated scale, data was collected from 356 individuals aged 18 years and above (186 participants for test-retest reliability, 170 participants for convergent validity) from Gujrat and Gujranwala by using convenient sampling. The values of test re-test reliability and convergent validity were up to acceptable levels. The finding of the current research would provide direction to new researches and awareness about shopping addiction.

Literature emphasizes that there is an increasing need to assess underlying suicide intent among patients with self-harm. Since, Beck Suicide Intent Scale (Beck, 1991) is most frequently used instrument to assess underlying suicide intent in clinical setting, the aim of present research was to translate Beck Suicide Intent Scale into Urdu, to examine cross-cultural validation and estimate reliability of Urdu translated scale; a cross-sectional research design was used. A clinical sample of forty patients with self-harm with age of 18 to 35 years was collected from different mental health departments of hospitals in Rawalpindi, Multan and Jehlum, Pakistan. Study was conducted in two phases; in phase I Urdu translation of Beck Suicide Intent Scale was carried out using guidelines by Brislin (1970). In phase II, cross-language validation was conducted through test-retest Cronbach alpha reliability estimation and item-total correlations. Results of current research revealed that Urdu-Urdu group had high correlation coefficients than English-English with acceptable Cronbach alpha reliabilities were adequate. Moreover, significant positive item correlation with composite score of Beck Suicide Intent Scale was found. The findings of current research established that Urdu-version of Beck Suicide Intent scale was reliable and valid for use in Pakistani culture.

The current study aimed to find out the mediating role of anxious self-esteem and self-appraisal of trauma in the relationship of neuroticism and psycho-social stressors of trauma in a sample of 213 (men =31%, women = 68%) between the ages of 18 to 26 (M = 20.78, SD = 2.46). Participants were selected by using a purposive sampling strategy studying in private and government universities of Lahore, Pakistan. Neuroticism vs. Emotional Stability Scale (John et al., 1991), Anxious/ Withdrawn Self-esteem Scale for University Population (Zafar et al., 2012), Psychosocial Stressors of Trauma scale (PSST) (Rani et al., 2021), and Self-Appraisal Scale (Rani et al., 2021) were used to assess the neuroticism vs. emotional stability, anxious self-esteem, self-appraisal of trauma and psycho-social stressors of trauma in university students. Findings of correlation analysis depicted the interrelatedness of neuroticism, anxious self-esteem, self-appraisal of trauma, and psycho-social stressors. Mediation analysis suggested the serial mediating role of anxious self-esteem and self-appraisal of trauma in the association of neuroticism vs. emotional stability and PSST in university students. These findings might be used to overcome the adverse outcomes of trauma in University students.

This purpose of the study was to investigate the role of perfectionistic self-presentation aspect of perfectionism with the desire to present a perfect self, which may have a significant impact on emotional and social well-being. The present research assessed the experience of anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction among university students (N =1000) including males (n = 500) and females (n = 500) enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program. Perfectionistic Self-presentation Scale (Hewitt et al., 2003), Body Dissatisfaction Scale (Tariq & Ijaz, 2015), Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al., 1996) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988) were used to assess the study variables. Results indicated that perfectionistic self-presentation was significantly correlated with anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction in female participants whereas, there was significant correlation between perfectionistic self-presentation and anxiety in male participants. Moreover, two mediation models were tested to see the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and body dissatisfaction using anxiety and depression as mediators. Using regression analysis, results suggested that there was a significant change in the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and body dissatisfaction after adding the mediators i.e., anxiety and depression. The study provided evidence that individuals who display high perfectionistic-self presentation are particularly vulnerable to anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction. The results have been discussed in the light of previous findings.

Relapse is an inevitable part of recovery from substance use such that polysubstance users have high chances of relapse (Andreas et al., 2015). In Pakistan, approximately 70% of people with substance use have history of relapse (Masood & Sahar, 2014). Actively changing substance use behavior have a protective effect against relapse (Hartney, 2020) which is basic component of personal growth initiative (Robitschek, 1998). The overall personal growth initiative however has not yet studied in this context. The present study thus aimed to assess relationship of personal growth initiative and chances of relapse along with the moderating role of polysubstance use for this relationship. Personal Growth and Initiative Scale-II-Urdu (Zaman & Naqvi, 2020) and Advance Warning of Relapse (AWARE-Urdu) Questionnaire (Sahar & Naqvi, 2021) were administered on sample of people with substance use (N = 240) ranging in age from 20-60 years. The sample was recruited from rehabilitation centers within Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Findings demonstrate that personal growth initiative negatively associates and explains 15% variance in chances of relapse. Results from moderation analysis suggest that the interaction effect for polysubstance use and personal growth initiative explains about 5% of variance in chances of relapse (ΔR2 = .05) such that, significant decrease in chances of relapse is observed with increasing personal growth initiative among the drug addicts with lower polysubstance use. It was found that the most commonly used drugs among the sample were cannabis (n = 109), cocaine (n = 74), and alcohol (n = 67). These findings could help address relapse among drug addicts.

Marriage is the oldest and widely accepted institution in the world, but new normal of the modern era influenced this institution in a very adequate way. It is commonly observed that financially independent women are avoiding to bound themselves in the rope of marriage. This qualitative study is designed to explore this shift in usual pattern of society. The nine (disinclined to marry) professional (doing some job) women were recruited in this study; their ages were between 25 to 35 years and they were purposefully inducted in the study. The predominant aim of the study encouraged us to go for telephonic interviews that lasted from 20-30 minutes. Before starting the data collection, a formal protocol of study was approved from the departmental research committee. The data were audio-tapped and transcribed by three veterans of qualitative research; memos were also incorporated along with the data. Content Analysis was used to analyze the transcribed data through the lens of Rubin (2021). None of the authors of this research have anti-feministic reflexive orientation that may cause any inclination towards some specific outcomes. This study has been taken care the rigor criteria given by Tobin and Bagley (2004). The findings exhibit that the burden of responsibility, sacrificing career, mistrust in men, financial dependency, compromised decisions for self, letting go of freedom and autonomy were the main factors that were the reason behind compelling a lady not to marry. Findings of this study make us able to see the real picture of the issue that was under the carpet otherwise.

This study was conducted to assess perceived social support as predictor of peripartum mental illness in Gilgit region of Pakistan. Peripartum mental illness was defined as antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety while significant other’s support, family’s support, and friends’ support constituted the concept of perceived social support. Research data were collected from 250 women of ages between 20 and 48 years (M = 28.02 & SD = 5.57) grouped into five categories: first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, four weeks postpartum, and one year postpartum. Participants’ perceived social support, depression, and anxiety were assessed using Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (Akhtar, et al., 2010), Patient Health Questionnaire (Ahmad, et al., 2018), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (Ahmad, et al., 2018). Kruskal-Wallis test results indicated that there were insignificant differences in all levels of depression and anxiety across five categories. Depression and anxiety were significantly and negatively correlated with significant other’s and family’s support. Women’s occupation was significantly associated with both depression and anxiety; age was significantly correlated only with depression; while living area and monthly income were significantly associated with anxiety. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that after controlling the effect of demographic variables only family’s support out of the three main variables of social support made significant and independent contribution to women’s depression and anxiety.

The main aim of present study is to test the associations between Financial stress, Student’s positivity and their academic achievement and family conflicts. Moreover, it also aimed to test the role of family conflicts as a mediator between financial stress and student’s positivity and their academic achievement. Our sample comprised of 259 students using purposive convenient sampling technique. For data collection we used Financial Stress Scale, Positivity Scale, Brief Family Relationship Scale and Academic Achievement was measured by their Grades in School, College and University. Findings indicate that there is significant and negative relationship between financial stress and student’s positivity and their academic achievement. Whereas results also show that there is significant relationship between financial stress and family conflict but there is negative relationship between family conflict and student’s positivity. Furthermore, family conflicts act as a partial mediator between financial stress and student’s positivity and student’s academic achievement. This study is beneficial in finding ways to enhance the positivity of students in time of economic crisis so that they can deal with negative outcomes of their behaviors.

Depression and anxiety had been among the most common mental health concerns reported in students across academic levels. With increased globalization, the influx of international students pursuing various professional courses in different countries has increased manifold in recent years. A bulk of research investigating the factors that affect health and adjustment of international students describe the unique challenges faced by them in adapting to new cultural environment and making successful transition. The present research focused on examining depression and anxiety among male and female Iranian students in India. The study sample consisted 300 male and 300 female students totaling to 600 students who were pursuing graduate, post graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral degrees. Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al., 2001) and IPAT Anxiety scale (Cattel, Krug, & Scheier, 1976) were used to assess depression and anxiety; respectively. Results indicated that education level did not have a significant impact on depression and anxiety implying that Iranian students in India experience similar levels of depression and anxiety irrespective of their varied educational background. However, gender-wise comparison reveals a statistically significant difference, with female students reporting higher rates of depression and anxiety than their male counterparts. Therefore, it is necessary to address depression and anxiety at the earliest during college years so as to arrest their negative impact on academic outcomes.

This research investigated the mediating role of emotional intelligence between personality traits and academic achievements among undergraduate students in Pakistan. A sample was comprised of 150 undergraduate college students (boys = 74, girls = 76) having age range 18-24 as boys (M = 21.09, SD = 1.41) and girls (M = 20.18, SD = .71). The data was collected from Queen Mary College, Lahore, and Govt. G.C. University Lahore by using a convenient sampling technique. Big Five Inventory (John & Srivastava, 1999), Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (Petrides & Furnham, 2003), and student's Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) were used as measures. Mediated hierarchical regression revealed that after controlling the effects of emotional intelligence (the Mediator) the personality traits (extroversion, agreeableness, and openness) not significantly predict academic achievements which indicate full mediation. Implications of the findings were discussed for family/home; educational settings, policy makers’ counselors, and clinical psychologists’ guidance in the context of Pakistani culture.