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Buffer zones in Wayanad: A social constructivist exploration into farmers mental health
Buffer zones are regions set aside to border protected areas to preserve biodiversity, control interactions between people and wildlife, and foster sustainable development. The majority of research on buffer zones focuses on ecological issues, and little is known about how they affect local communities mental health. This study explores buffer zones potential consequences on farmers mental health in Wayanad. Through purposive sampling, eleven participants residing in Wayanad were recruited for the study. The socio-demographics of participants were collected through printed translated questionnaires. The qualitative exploration of their lived experiences, perceptions, and coping strategies was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke was used to gain a clearer understanding of the data collected. Through in-depth analysis of the data, it was identified that Mental Health Factors, Communication Factors, Financial Impact, Operational Stress, Interference of Judiciary and Legislature, and Seclusion of the Tribal Community were the issues the farmers faced in Wayanad. The results will contribute to the expanding mental health field and give policymakers, conservationists, and mental health professionals information about the potential psychological effects of buffer zones and guide them in creating suitable interventions and support systems to improve mental health. The Author(s) 2024. -
Experimental, FEA, and machine learning studies on wear behavior of LM13 aluminum hybrid composites reinforced with zircon and graphite
This paper examines applied load and zircon reinforcement influence on LM13 alloy composites wear behavior. LM13 was reinforced with 3?wt.% graphite with 3, 6, 9, and 12 weight percent of zircon utilizing a stir casting technique with a chill end to achieve unidirectional solidification. Wear tests were conducted on specimen's chill end using a pin-on-disc apparatus under loads of 30?N, to 70?N in steps of 10?N incremental. The results indicated that when the amount of zircon went up, the wear rate dropped, reaching a minimum at 9?wt.% zircon, then slightly increasing at 12?wt.%. Specifically, wear rate reduced from 4.2?10?3mm/Nm at 3?wt.% zircon to 2.7?10?3mm/Nm at 9?wt.% zircon, before rising to 3.5?10?3mm/Nm at 12?wt.%, establishing 9?wt.% zircon as the optimum reinforcement. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) had been used to simulate wear behavior, and its predictions aligned well with experimental data, with deviations under 5%. Both experimental and FEA results confirmed that wear rate increases proportionally with applied load. Additionally, machine learning techniques were employed to validate the observed trends, enhancing the reliability of the findings. Microstructural analysis through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy showed evidence of plastic deformation and delamination at higher stress levels, compromising material integrity. Notably, the composite with 9?wt.% zircon exhibited reduced wear deformation and minimal microstructural damage, confirming its effectiveness in improving wear resistance. IMechE 2025 -
From my research to our research: moving toward titi as an Indigenous method in Mizo research
Mizos (an Indigenous community in North-East India) have a form of communication called titi (conversation based on looking out for one another and laughing together). In Mizo academia, there have not been attempts made to establish titi as a Mizo Indigenous method. This article aims to situate titi as a Mizo Indigenous method by locating it within the Mizo Indigenous Paradigm through the Mizo Indigenous Standpoint. Indigenous scholars have stated how relationality sums up the Indigenous Paradigm. This article further looks at the roots of relationality by exploring the values and ethics of Indigenous communities as something that creates a special bond in the research process through titi. In doing this, it also looks at the Mizo Indigenous worldview through humor. In this way, we argue that Mizo Indigenous peoples feel accountable to the research, thereby making participants feel like the research belongs to them and acting like researchers themselves. The Author(s) 2025 -
Psychic Restructuring in Trauma Recovery Among the Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee Women
This qualitative study explored the dimensions of psychic restructuring (PR) in trauma recovery among Sri Lankan Tamil refugee women. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women residing at refugee camps in southern India; the acquired data was analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. PR encompasses positive, negative, and neutral dimensions; it comprises the changes in social dynamics, healing of psychic wounds, and reunification of the individual and collective psyches. Its key positive dimensions included symbolic representations, channeling the attitudes and victimization experiences, and positive self-concept. Findings highlight the critical role of innovative PR-based mental health interventions in empowering refugee women by enhancing self-representation and agency. The Author(s) 2025 -
Silent Battles of Indian Women: Womanhood, Fertility, and the Weight of PCOS
Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted, complex endocrine condition affecting many women worldwide, with increased prevalence in South Asian nations, including India. Though biomedical consequences such as irregular menses, infertility, and insulin resistance are well established, the psychological and social aspects of PCOS are not well understood, especially where femininity is equated with reproduction and physical beauty. Method: This qualitative research examines the PCOS lived experience of eight Indian women. A narrative method was employed, with semistructured interviews used to capture participants individual experiences from diagnosis through treatment and psychosocial adjustment. Results: Five Global themes, 15 organizing themes, and 36 subthemes were identified through thematic analysis. The global themes identified are as follows: (1) PCOS Awareness and DiagnosisDelays and misinformation during diagnosis. (2) Living with PCOSDaily struggles with physical and emotional symptoms. (3) Coping and Seeking SupportReliance on family, friends, and online communities. (4) The Healthcare ExperienceMixed interactions with medical professionals and systemic gaps. (5) Cultural Expectations and IdentityThe impact of gender norms on self-image and social roles. Conclusion: These results highlight the pressing need for culturally responsive, multidisciplinary models of PCOS treatment that tackle the physical manifestations, psychosocial and sociocultural weights experienced by women. The research adds to an expanding literature on chronic disease and gendered health in the Global South, calling for a more holistic view of women's health. The Author(s) 2026 -
The Mediating Role of Normative Male Alexithymia on the Relationship Between Traditional Masculinity Ideology and Emotional Intelligence Among Indian Men
This study investigates the association between traditional masculinity ideology (TMI) and emotional intelligence (EI) among 319 young cisgender heterosexual Indian men, examining the mediating role of normative male alexithymia (NMA). Data showed that stronger endorsement of TMI correlated with lower emotional intelligence (? = ?.18, p < .001), with NMA mediating this relationship (? = ?.28, p < .01). These findings highlight how unhealthy masculinity norms may impact emotional awareness and expression. Understanding this relationship within the context of postmodern patriarchal India offers insights into mens emotional experiences and highlights the need for psychoeducation and tailored mental health interventions. Promoting emotional intelligence could help challenge rigid gender norms, fostering healthier emotional expression and gender equality. 2025 SAGE Publications -
Unheard and Unseen: Exploring the Disenfranchisement of Perinatal Loss in North-Indian Men
Mental distress is recognised as common following perinatal loss. But often, existing literature and bereavement care standards focus on women, leaving a gap in understanding mens grief. This qualitative study examined the emotional experiences of males from some Northern states of India, who had experienced perinatal loss, with a focus on grief disenfranchisement. Eleven participants were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. Thematic analysis unveiled themes on the intersection of religiosity and grief, social structuring of grief patterns, gender-based grieving, inhibited expression of grief in men, disenfranchisement of grief, self-focused coping, coping with the help of others, and interpersonal barriers to emotional disclosure. The findings provide valuable insights, helping mental health practitioners better understand mens experiences of perinatal loss and develop more effective support strategies. 2024 SAGE Publications. -
Validating a Teacher Professional Development Program to Develop Leadership and Mentorship among in-Service Teachers
School teachers are pivotal in shaping the world's future. Their ongoing professional development (PD) is crucial to fostering a positive school culture. This study aimed to develop and validate a PD program for in-service teachers, ensuring its content and empirical validity in enhancing teacher leadership and mentorship. The module underwent content validation by 14 experts using Lawshe's content validity ratio and the content validity index to determine its appropriateness and alignment with PD proposed by the National Education Policy 2020. Empirical validation was conducted with 30 participants using a single-group pre-testpost-test design to measure the module's impact. Content validation confirmed the high expert agreement, indicating strong content relevance. Empirical validation revealed significant improvements in participants leadership and mentorship competencies as evidenced by positive post-test outcomes. The findings suggest that the module effectively enhances teacher professional development (TPD) by improving association, professional learning, assessment, instruction, community and policy in leadership, and self-efficacy and outcome expectancy in mentorship. The validated module is a structured framework for TPD that contributes to evidence-based educational training. Future research could explore its long-term effectiveness with larger samples and a mixed-methods design, employing multiple models and frameworks, including India-specific ones, across diverse educational contexts. The Author(s) 2026 -
What Keeps Secondary School Teachers Motivated? A Qualitative Study from Urban Indian Classrooms
Teacher motivation is widely recognized as central to instructional quality and teacher retention, yet limited research has examined how it is experienced and sustained within policy-driven, high-pressure school systems. This qualitative study explores how secondary school teachers in Bengaluru, India, understand and maintain motivation in their everyday professional practice. Drawing on six in-depth interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, five interrelated drivers were identified: student engagement, emotional connection, instructional autonomy, collegial support, and recognition. Teachers described motivation not as a stable trait, but as a dynamic process continually shaped through relationships, daily pedagogical decisions, mentoring roles, creative planning, and small acts of professional agency. By foregrounding teachers lived experiences, the findings complement large-scale motivation research and offer insight into how motivation is relationally constructed and negotiated within structural constraints. The study underscores the importance of school environments that protect autonomy, acknowledge emotional labour, and cultivate trust as conditions for sustaining long-term teacher engagement. The Author(s) 2026 -
Understanding Teacher Work Motivation: Structural, Relational, and Emotional Predictors from India's Urban Classrooms
This study examined predictors of work task motivation among secondary-school teachers in Bengaluru, Indiaa rapidly urbanizing education context marked by diversity and workload challenges. Survey data from 756 teachers were analyzed using multiple regression models. Instructional design explained the largest variance in motivation (R2?=?25.1%), followed by affirming school environments (R2?=?23.2%) and teachers socialemotional competence (R2?=?15.2%). Key predictors included socialemotional instruction (??=?.312), cooperative learning (??=?.170), warmth and support (??=?.299), and social awareness (??=?.198). Female teachers showed stronger motivation in collaborative settings, and experienced educators benefited more from supportive climates. Findings align with OECD and UNESCO evidence emphasizing that supportive environments and structured pedagogy are central to sustaining teacher motivation and retention. The Author(s) 2025 -
Effect of Professional Development Programme on Mentorship in Enhancing Self-efficacy and Outcome Expectancy of In-Service Teachers
Emphasizing the importance of Continuous Professional Development programmes for teachers to ensure quality performance, Educational Policies, frameworks, and professional standards for teachers across nations around the world advocate qualitative and quantitative mentorship training for them, given the dearth of such opportunities. Holistic professional development programs for in-service teachers enhancing their mentorship skills and supporting their overall well-being have become inevitable part of the academic calendars of progressive institutions given the renewed and well-justified emphasis by policies and for their known and established benefits. Though scanty in number, integrated programs supporting the development of mentorship skills among in-service teachers have been reported to be of qualitative benefit in raising their performance bar. The present study reports the formulation and validation of a Professional Development Programme on Mentorship for in-service teachers and its implementation through an intervention adopting the quasi-experimental, single-group pre-test and post-test design. The program module, designed as per the ADDIE model, consisted of five units focusing on self-efficacy, outcome expectancy and skills development in four areas: personal, professional, instructional, and assessment. A group of 48 (n = 48) in-service teachers participated in the study and responded to the Mentor Efficacy Scale, a self-assessment questionnaire, before and after the intervention. Analysis of the pre-test and post-test data shows a significant increase in self-efficacy and outcome expectancy variables of mentorship among in-service teachers. The study's findings offer valuable insights for advocating the professional development program on mentorship skills to build and sustain a professional learning culture, a robust support system for colleagues and a positive school culture. Given the positive and promising results of the program, there is scope for further research exploring the long-term effects of the intervention with a mixed-method design. The Author(s) 2025. -
Teachers Technology Proficiency for Quality Learning and TeachingA Scoping Review
Teachers with solid technological backgrounds are better equipped to improve and transform the educational process to achieve a high-quality education. The Arksey and O'Malley framework was adopted for this scoping review, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used to choose journals. The study aimed to analyze international studies to ascertain the authors study design, teachers ICT proficiency, the study's significance, and potential areas for improvement. The findings suggested that teachers ICT proficiency would increase instructional efficacy, ultimately raising educational standards. The Author(s) 2025. -
Voicing Out Parental Experiences of Schooling Their Children with Learning Disabilities: A Qualitative Study of Inclusive Government Schools of India
The paper shone light on the lived experiences of parents of children with learning disabilities. The specific objective was to understand the challenges, experiences and aspirations of parents for their children. A phenomenological study was adopted for the study so as to focus on the experiences of the parents. Participants were parents (female- 17 and male- 3) of children in primary classes, who were identified through purposive sampling from government schools of Delhi, NCR from 3 underdeveloped areas of Delhi - Nangloi, Mangolpuri and Ranhaula. The data was collected by semi-structured interviews and later thematically analyzed. The findings were on the basis of the past and present experiences and further their future aspirations for the children. They revealed that the parents faced challenges with applying and issuance of the UDID certificates, but with the collaborative efforts of the special educator and the parents along with various support systems that are provided by the school their experiences became positive. It was also brought to light that the mother was the main caregiver in most of the cases. All the parents were worried, what will happen to their children if they are not there with them. They aspired that the students will be financially independent and have a safe future ahead of them. They dream of a society where all the students are equal in an inclusive environment. The Author(s) 2025. -
Endurance and Evolution: Exploring Levels of Resilience Among Indian Breast Cancer Survivors
Resilience for Indian women with breast cancer involves maintaining positivity and adaptability amid the complex challenges affecting their physical, emotional, and social well-being. However, research focused on resilience amongst this population in Indian settings is limited. Therefore, the aim of the study is to explore the experience of levels, patterns, and processes of resilience in Indian women living with breast cancer. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to study resilience. Thirty-three participants from two hospitals underwent semistructured interviews, including survivors, women in cancer therapy, and family members. Data collected via audio recordings were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis techniques. The finding describes four themes of experience of resilience in women living with breast cancer. (a) Cancer diagnosis is a life-changing experience. Breast cancer diagnosis and therapy cause existential crisis, psychological distress, and social stigma. (b) Restoring healthy perception in an adverse event. Navigating challenges and achieving a balance between internal and external factors. (c) Types of supportthe pathway to resilience. Enhanced their resilience through internal support including attributes, past experiences, sociodemographic factors, and brain fitness. External support includes family, friends, religious or spiritual advisors, medical care, role models, other cancer survivors, and comfortable environments. (d) Learning and growing from the experience. Gained a better perspective on life, ultimately resulting in a new normal and finding meaning in the experience. Data show breast cancer survivors experience dynamic resilience, highlighting the need for culturally tailored interventions and supportive avenues within cancer care by healthcare providers and policymakers. The Author(s) 2024. -
Psychosocial Group Interventions for Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Older adults are facing complex, multifaceted psychosocial issues, such as loneliness, social isolation, financial stress, and cognitive decline, which crucially impact their mental health and quality of life. Group-based psychosocial interventions have gained recognition as valuable tools for strengthening peer interaction and collective healing. The review aims to map the important literature on psychosocial group interventions for older adults. Six electronic databases were searched from March to June 2025. Inclusion criteria are: psychosocial interventions within the last 10 years and group interventions in English research papers only. Review papers, conference proceedings, medical interventions, and individual interventions have been excluded. After the screening process, eight articles were identified as psychosocial group interventions for older adults from eight different countries. Each intervention is unique, and 90% of them effectively address the psychosocial needs of older people. The results are explained and grouped under three themes that have emerged from the research questions underlying the review. They are: (a) the efficacy of psychosocial group interventions on cognitive and mental well-being; (b) addressing social isolation, loneliness, and enhancing social connection; and (c) impact of environmental and socio-cultural contexts on older adults psychosocial interventions. A significant observation is the need for a structured intervention model to promote the well-being of older adults. This review provides a foundation for developing new insights into psychosocial interventions for older adults. The Author(s) 2026 -
Shrinking Sizes, Swelling Prices: Evaluating the Ripple Effects of Inflation and Shrinkflation on Economic Growth Using Dynamic Panel Framework
This study used the novel cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) model and the JuodisKaraviasSarafidis (JKS) causality test to investigate the intricate nexus between inflation, shrinkflation, and economic growth in 20 countries from 1990 to 2022. The results validated the detrimental effects of inflation and shrinkflation on economic growth, underlining price stability, and reverse or positive shrinkflation as crucial for sustained expansion. Causality analysis further revealed feedback causality between inflation and economic growth. Finally, our findings solidify the quantity-led growth or value-driven growth hypothesis. Reverse shrinkflation, or growth driven by value, drives economic growth unidirectionally. Consumption expenditure increases as the value or quantity of goods and services increase, which boosts consumption, aggregate demand, and economic growth. Hence, to stimulate sustainable economic growth, policymakers should implement prudent monetary policies to control high inflation, a major contributor to shrinkflation. Additionally, industries should be encouraged to enhance productivity and reduce manufacturing costs without sacrificing product size or quality. Lastly, it is essential to monitor pricing changes in critical industries and intervene if unjustified shrinkflation trends emerge. 2025 Emerging Markets Institute, Beijing Normal University -
The Impact of Corporate Governance Structures on Corporate Investment: Moderating Role of Institutional Quality and Firm Life Cycle
This study delves into the relationship between corporate governance and corporate investment, specifically examining how institutional quality and the different stages of a firms life cycle can influence this relationship. Utilising a panel data framework, the analysis focuses on a sample of 548 non-financial listed Indian companies over the time span from 20102011 to 20222023. An investigation into the relationship between governance and investment is conducted using a fixed-effect regression model. To ensure the reliability of the findings, additional analyses are performed on subsamples, alternative proxies for corporate governance are considered, and a two-step system generalised method of moments approach is utilised. The findings provide strong evidence of a positive correlation between corporate governance and corporate investment, with the quality of institutions further amplifying this impact. In addition, the study uncovers that the impact of governance on investment is more noticeable in the early, expansion and later phases of the companys life cycle. This study stands out for its analysis of the relationship between governance and investment in a developing market, considering the companys life cycle and the institutional quality. 2025 Institute of Public Enterprise -
From Vulnerabilities to Social Protection for Migrant Workers: Exploring the Missing Links
The article attempts to explore the formal and informal social protection strategies available to the migrant workers in Kerala in the context of the vulnerabilities faced by them. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with plywood industry workers in Ernakulam district, which accounts for the highest proportion of migrant workers in Kerala. The narratives obtained from the plywood workers reveal their workplace vulnerabilities, highlighting the failure of private capital in providing decent work and social protection. The Kerala government has attempted to bridge the gap by extending social protection schemes like Aawaz and Roshni exclusively for the welfare of migrant workers. These programmes highlight a progressive approach to policy, recognising these workers as a distinct group within the social protection framework. However, there are some gaps in the implementation of these schemes owing to inadequate coverage, institutional barriers and language constraints. Findings from the study suggest that a comprehensive and collaborative approach must involve an active role of the employer, along with state support, to address the vulnerabilities of the migrant workers. 2026 Institute for Human Development -
Evaluation of Social Media Marketing Literature in the Tourism Industry Using PRISMA
Social media is an effective communication and information-sharing tool for tourism enterprises and organisations. Tourism marketing shall tap the growing popularity of social media and internet users, embracing a technological shift by optimising the potential of social media. This research study evaluates the academic journal articles related to social media in the tourism industry published on EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar academic databases from 2005 to 2022. The article adopts a content analysis approach to review the articles and to evaluate the present state of knowledge of social media marketing in academic literature. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) is used for reporting and screening the review papers. The articles were coded and categorised under six major themes: Marketing, Destination experience/image, Tourism recovery, Smart tourism, Communication and Promotion. The research analysis has identified two major areas: (a) Travellers/tourists Perspective which has a focus on their behavioural attitude and (b) Tourism Agencies Perspective which has a functional approach. Based on the review of the literature to give direction for further research, an improvised version of the definition for the term social media with the inclusion of more specific terms in it has been proposed with theoretical and practical implications. 2023 MICA-The School of Ideas. -
Indian Parents Vocational Inferences of Play and Communal Strategies to Regulate the Adverse Effects of Childrens Excessive Screen Time
Background: Since time immemorial, childrens intrinsic desire to immerse themselves in amusing, autonomous activities in vast, open spaces has engendered their holistic development through play. However, the steady decline in playgrounds has compelled children to seek solace in a digital landscape, which offers them a plethora of innovative play opportunities that pushes them away from the outdoors and pull them indoors. This infiltration of technology in urban households enhance childrens propensity to engage in media-centric activities due to their proclivity toward electronic devices. Consequently, the passive entertainment afforded by the dominance of digital culture predisposes children to inertia, insomnia, sedentary lifestyle diseases and public health issues like screen dependency disorders (SDD) and gaming disorders, which are officially recognized by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). This necessitates a conscious, synergetic effort by health practitioners, researchers and policy makers to ensure that children have access to safe and affordable spaces for active, outdoor play to counter the adverse effects of excessive screen time (EST). Methods: Therefore, this qualitative research aims at understanding how urban parents perspectives of play are governed by their sociocultural milieu and their respective professions by expounding their outlook on the relevance of play in a digital era. It also delineates the pivotal role of parents in curtailing the mediating role of discretionary screen time (DST) over childrens physical inactivity through semi-structured interviews of 13 mother-father dyads who reside in the metropolitan city of Bengaluru in Karnataka, India. Results and Conclusions: Findings from the directed content analysis revealed parents initiation of healthy movement behaviors during childrens formative years by employing mediation tactics and role modeling healthy screen habits like digital detox to regulate the aftermath of prolonged screen time on childrens psychosocial development 2025 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).