Sumit Singh

Disability is a multifaceted concept that has been understood, explored, and represented in diverse ways across cultures, societies, and disciplines. As we continue to make strides in understanding disability from a human right, medical, psychological, and social perspective, it is crucial that we reflect on the experiences of individuals who live with disabilities and the ways in which society shapes their lives. This book is an attempt to examine disability through various lenses, incorporating insights from psychology, education, healthcare, and advocacy. It aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, while also highlighting their resilience, strengths, and contributions to society. The narrative woven throughout the chapters seeks to challenge conventional perceptions of disability and foster a more inclusive, compassionate, and informed perspective. As someone who has worked closely with individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental challenges, We have witnessed firsthand the power of understanding, empathy, and informed support. It is our hope that this book serves as both a resource and a call to action—encouraging us all to consider how we can create a world that embraces diversity in all its forms, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, has access to the opportunities and respect they deserve. Through this exploration, We invite readers scholars, practitioners, and advocates alike to join us in shaping a future where the voices of individuals with disabilities are heard, their rights upheld, and their potential recognized in all aspects of life.

Background: This review explores how maternal mental and physical health interact to shape childbirth decision-making in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, qualitative studies published from 2015 to 2025 were reviewed using the PEOS framework. Sixteen studies involving approximately 825 participants were synthesised through thematic analysis. Results: Six major themes emerged: perceived medical necessity, fear and trauma, autonomy, recovery concerns, family support, and institutional trust. Findings highlight that women’s psychological safety often outweighs clinical advice in birth decisions. Conclusion: Maternal decision-making reflects an ongoing negotiation between physical health and emotional control. Integrating trauma-informed, person-centered care in Tamil Nadu’s maternal programmes is recommended.

Background: Cholelithiasis, a prevalent hepatobiliary disorder, involves the formation of cholesterol, pigment, or mixed gallstones within the gallbladder or biliary ducts. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the association between liver enzyme levels and cholelithiasis clinical parameters. Methods: In this study, we selected a population to collect data for identifying or associating the relationship of cholelithiasis with liver enzymes. Therefore, a cross-sectional study is used to gather information that can derive a relationship between cholelithiasis and liver enzymes. The total population size was 60 cholelithiasis patients. The calculated value 52. Then the considered sample size was also 52 cholelithiasis patients. Total number of patients who participated in this study was 57. Result: Indirect bilirubin was the liver enzyme indicator that showed the biggest difference between men and women (p = .001). Men had much higher levels (M = 3.21) than women (M = 1.11). The effect size was big (Cohen's d = 0.998), which shows that the difference was important and clinically relevant. However, other enzymes, such as total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP, did not show any statistically significant differences between men and women (p > .05), and the effect sizes were mostly small to moderate. Conclusion: The study's findings demonstrate the important role that liver enzymes, specifically SGPT and ALP, play in determining the size of gallstones in cholelithiasis patients, with smaller stones being linked to greater enzyme levels. Interestingly, male patients had considerably higher indirect bilirubin levels, which may indicate that the illness process has metabolic differences specific to gender.

Cyberbullying poses a growing threat to student well-being in higher education. This narrative review explores its emotional and academic consequences among university students, based on 42 peer- reviewed studies published between 2014 and July 2025. Emotional impacts frequently reported include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress. Recent studies show that up to 53% of victims experience clinically significant anxiety. Academically, cyberbullying is linked to reduced classroom engagement, increased absenteeism, academic withdrawal, and lower grade point averages. One 2025 study found that victimised students scored significantly lower on GPA compared to non-victims (t = 3.41, p < .01). The review also identifies key mediating and moderating factors such as gender, coping style, peer support, and the quality of institutional response. Despite growing attention, there remain gaps in regional data, particularly from South Asia, as well as in long-term and intersectional research. This review highlights the urgent need for evidence-based university policies, targeted peer and faculty training, and accessible trauma-informed mental health services to support affected students

Aim:This study designed to examine the prevalence of public speaking anxiety and social anxiety among university students and explore group differences based on university type, academic discipline, gender. Methodology:A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed. 320 students from both public and private universities in Delhi, representing science and social science disciplines, participated in the study. Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) were used. Statistical analyses such as descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, independent samples t-tests, and two-way ANOVA were used to assess prevalence and explore group differences. Results:The one-sample t-test revealed that public speaking anxiety indicated no elevated prevalence. In contrast, social anxiety scores were significantly reflecting a substantial prevalence. Independent samples t-tests showed that female students reported significantly higher public speaking anxiety than males, while no gender difference was found for social anxiety. Two-way ANOVA results indicated that social anxiety was significantly higher among public university students compared to private university students, but no significant differences were found for public speaking anxiety across university type. Academic discipline and age did not yield significant effects for either form of anxiety. Conclusion:The findings suggest that social anxiety is a more prominent concern than public speaking anxiety among university students in Delhi.

Background: Public speaking anxiety (PSA) and social anxiety (SA) are among the most common psychological challenges faced by university students. While both are known to impair academic performance, their broader impact on quality of life (QoL) remains underexplored, particularly in non-clinical student populations. Objective: This study aimed to examine the associations between PSA, SA, and QoL among university students, with the hypothesis that higher PSA and SA would be negatively associated with QoL. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 100 undergraduate students (54 females, 46 males) recruited from public and private universities in India. Participants completed three standardized measures: the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA), the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlations and multiple regression, controlling for demographic variables. Results: Descriptive findings indicated moderately high levels of PSA (M = 127.3, SD = 18.2) and SA (M = 87.5, SD = 14.6), alongside average-to-low QoL scores (M = 1.25, SD = 0.52). Correlation analyses revealed significant negative associations between both PSA and QoL (r = –.46, p &lt; .01) and SA and QoL (r = –.42, p &lt; .01). Regression analysis confirmed that PSA (β = –.32, p = .003) and SA (β = –.28, p = .017) were independent negative predictors of QoL, accounting for 37% of its variance. Conclusion: Findings support the hypothesis that PSA and SA are strongly linked to diminished QoL among university students. Both anxieties, while interrelated, contribute uniquely to well-being outcomes. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions such as communication skills training, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and mental health support services to reduce anxiety and promote holistic student well-being in higher education contexts. Keywords: Public Speaking Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Quality of Life, University Students, Higher Education

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety, state anxiety, trait anxiety, marital quality, and mental well-being among married individuals aged 35 to 45 years. Method: Employing a cross-sectional, correlational design, the study utilised standardised self-report tools: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and Quality of Marriage Index (QMI). Sample: The sample comprised 100 married individuals (49 males and 51 females) selected through purposive sampling from urban settings in Vashi and Thane area of Mumbai State. Statistical analyses, including Pearson’s correlation, moderation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 5), and independent samples t-test, were conducted. Results: revealed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between state anxiety and mental wellbeing (r = .208, p = .038), and a strong negative correlation between trait anxiety and mental wellbeing (r = –.540, p &lt; .001). Marital quality displayed a statistically significant but extremely weak negative correlation with mental well-being (r = –.048, p = .036). This counterintuitive finding suggests that higher perceived marital satisfaction may coexist with role strain or hidden stressors, requiring cautious interpretation with mental well-being (r = –.048, p = .036). Notably, marital quality significantly moderated the relationship between state anxiety and mental well-being (p = .037) but did not moderate the link between trait anxiety and well-being. Additionally, Gender differences emerged, with males reporting moderately higher levels of mental well-being than females (p = .001, Cohen’s d = .670), underscoring the need to consider gendered expectations and sociocultural pressures in marital dynamics. (p = .001, Cohen’s d = .670). Conclusion: The study concludes that while marital quality can buffer the effects of situational anxiety, trait anxiety poses a persistent threat to mental health. Keywords: State Anxiety, Trait Anxiety, Mental Wellbeing, Marital Quality, Anxiety Disorders.

Finding out how different parenting styles affect students’ levels of aggression and self-esteem was the lashing force behind this study. 100 students participated as per the randomly from Khordha, Odisha region. Students' gender was the sole criterion for evaluation. The wholesale of the study’s participants were students, in the age range of fifteen to seventeen. The calculated results presented a positive and strong correlation between aggressive parenting styles and aggressive behaviour, indicating that more authoritarian parenting styles may be associated with more aggressive behaviour. Having said that, there is no strong association among controlling styles of parenting and low self- esteem. Furthermore, a strong evidence linking in parenting styles of authoritarian to aggressive behaviour, which suggests that more authoritarian parenting methods may be associated with more aggressive children. These results show complicated relationship among parenting styles, aggressiveness, and self-esteem and that other factors might influence these results

The study examined the resilience of Indian adolescents, specifically exploring the variations in resilience characteristics between genders. The study investigated a sample of 124 adolescents from the Khordha district. The descriptive statistics indicated that there were moderate levels of resilience observed in all categories, and there were no significant differences between males and female adolescents. The results also indicated that gender does not have a significant effect on resilience characteristics. This challenges the initial belief that boys would exhibit better levels of resilience in some areas. The results are consistent with previous research indicating that resilience is affected by a range of external and intervention- related factors, rather than being only determined by gender. Research studies emphasize the efficacy of focused interventions and support structures in bolstering resilience, as exemplified by inner-city programs and institutional care settings. In summary, the study suggests that resilience is a dynamic process influenced by several factors, not limited to gender.