Mallika Banerjee

Bio: Mallika Banerjee is an academic researcher from University of Calcutta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Coping (psychology) & Vigilance (psychology). The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 11 publications receiving 17 citations.

The Process of Meaning Making from Trauma Generated out of Sexual Abuse in Childhood

Abstract: The study tries to explore the process of constructing meaning from the experience of being sexually abused in childhood. The focus of this study is to explore the dispositional characteristics to identify what helped them sustain the integrity of their sense of 'self' and 'existence' subsequent to intense sexual abuse that they had faced during their childhood. This study is part of a larger study in which the participants were selected through the use of a specially designed 'screening questionnaire' which sought information about the participants' life experiences and demographics in a subtle, non-invasive and non-threatening manner. The purpose of this study was to tap the unique and personal process of coping with a trauma of this stature. Three individuals participated in the present research and they shared their tribulations and unique process of coping with the researcher in an intensive interview that lasted for two hours and thirty minutes. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was used to interpret the data. Significant themes that emerged after analysis were- the ability to focus one's psychic energy on alternative pursuits like career and academics, the capacity to obtain sustenance from relationships, the inner strength to free oneself from the vicious cycle of anger and vengeance and to look beyond; practising forgiveness and the ability to consider each experience as learning. Thus the common point in the process of meaning making is the ability of all these persons to make use of the positive repertoire of personality.

Indian Adolescents’ Perspective of Childhood Abuse and Neglect as Reflected Through Narratives and Drawings

Abstract: The study explores thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of victims about their experiences of abuse and neglect and how therapeutic intervention encourages disclosure. Narrative accounts given by 15 Ind...

Does Absence of Hearing Ability Enhance Visual Vigilance? It Depends on Task Complexity

Abstract: Successful performance of a vigilance task in a particular modality can be affected by the allocation of attentional resources to other cognitive processes using same or different modalities. The present study investigated whether loss of hearing affects visual vigilance task performance and also if it’s a function of increased task complexity. A sample of 30 adolescents ( 15 with hearing loss and 15 with normal hearing) were selected by matching them in pairs according to their working memory functioning and other relevant organismic variables. A software program measured the performance on vigilance task with varying task complexity levels. Analysis of the obtained data indicates that the effect of hearing impairment on visual vigilance is moderated by task complexity and that is contingent to attentional resources. Here, deprivation in hearing ability negatively affects functioning of visual vigilance significantly only when the task complexity increases. But no significant differences are observed in hearing and hearing impaired adolescents when the task demanded less attentional resources.

Roles of Emotional Reactions and Potency in Coping with Abusive Experiences of Indian Adolescent.

Abstract: Victimized children’s perceptions of the severity of abusive incidents have been found to be associated with their willingness to disclose. However, the relationship between perceptions, disclosure, and coping processes of abused Indian adolescents, has rarely been studied. To explore the roles of emotional reactions associated with disclosure, and potency on individuals’ perception of the severity of abusive incidents, reluctance to disclose, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. A randomly selected sample, consisting of 324 adolescents (aged 12 to 16) in Kolkata, India was included. Of these, 170 adolescents disclosed incidents of abuse last year. Data were analyzed by conditional process modeling. A moderated mediation analysis (n = 170) revealed that the overall perception of the severity of abusive incidents predicted greater reluctance to disclose (B = .63, p < .0001) through heightened emotional reactions, especially with a higher potency level (B = .07, p < .05; B = .1, p < .05). Potency moderated (B = −.02, p = .01) the effect of reluctance on posttraumatic stress symptoms. When tested on the entire sample (324) the results replicated the sub-sample (170). Adolescents revealed similar results irrespective of their exposure. The reluctance to disclose abuse is discussed from an Indian cultural and societal perspective.

Impact of Vygotskian Intervention on Persons with Intellectual Impairment

Abstract: Vygotskian mode of intervention is a suitable technique for teaching. This study is an attempt to explore the role of Vygotskian mode of intervention in facilitating cognitive development of persons with intellectual impairment. Thirty individuals with mild intellectual impairment (IQ 50–69) from various organizations at Kolkata, India, participated in this study. An intervention program based on Vygotskian principles was run. Findings of the study showed that this method was able to accelerate cognitive functioning of the participants. It is suggested that scaffolding may be used as a rehabilitation method for the persons with intellectual impairment.

Would You Tell Under Circumstances Like That?: Barriers to Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse for Men

Abstract: Although public awareness is increasing in regard to the realities of child sexual abuse (CSA) for boys, male survivors often delay disclosure of the abuse for years or even decades. Little is known about the factors that impede or obstruct disclosure for sexually abused boys/men. Because disclosure is often a prerequisite to help-seeking and accessing resources for healing, the purpose of this study was to identify barriers to disclosure of CSA for male survivors. Using content analysis, the researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data obtained from a large, nonclinical sample of men with histories of CSA (N 460) who completed an online survey. The data analyzed in this study included responses to an open-ended item on disclosure barriers. Our analyses identified 10 categories of barriers that were classified into 3 domains: sociopolitical (e.g., masculinity, limited resources), interpersonal (e.g., mistrust of others, abuser factors), and personal (e.g., internal emotions, naming the experience as sexual abuse). Based on our results, these domains were distinct yet interrelated. The implications for policy, clinical practice, and future research are discussed.

Quality-of-life changes and hearing impairment : a randomized trial.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To assess whether hearing aids improve the quality of life of elderly persons with hearing loss. SETTING Primary care clinics at a Bureau of Veterans Affairs hospital. PATIENTS One hundred and ninety-four elderly veterans who were identified as being hearing impaired from a screening survey involving 771 consecutive clinic patients. Of the original 194, 188 (97%) completed the trial. INTERVENTION Subjects were randomly assigned to either receive a hearing aid (n = 95) or join a waiting list (n = 99). MAIN ENDPOINTS: A comprehensive battery of disease-specific and generic quality-of-life measures were administered at baseline, 6 weeks, and 4 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Persons assigned to the two groups were similar in age, ethnicity, education, marital status, occupation, and comorbid diseases. At baseline, 82% of subjects reported adverse effects on quality of life due to hearing impairment, and 24% were depressed. At follow-up, a significant change in score improvements for social and emotional function (34.0; 95% CI, 27.3 to 40.8; P less than 0.0001), communication function (24.2; CI, 17.2 to 31.2; P less than 0.0001), cognitive function (0.28; CI, 0.08 to 0.48; P = 0.008), and depression (0.80; CI, 0.09 to 1.51; P = 0.03) was seen in subjects who received hearing aids compared with those assigned to the waiting list. Six drop-outs (three per group), no crossovers, and no significant changes in cointerventions were seen. Average, self-reported, daily aid use in the hearing aid group was 8 hours. CONCLUSION Hearing loss is associated with important adverse effects on the quality of life of elderly persons, effects which are reversible with hearing aids.

Promoting self-determination for students with intellectual disability: A Vygotskian perspective

Abstract: Despite weak correlations between IQ scores and self-determination, research indicates that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) show lower levels of self-determination than their non-disabled peers, and that they experience lower effects of self-determination interventions. From a Vygotskian perspective, self-determination skills can be considered complex cognitive abilities that develop through social interaction with and adequate scaffolding by competent tutors. This approach raises the need to look into how self-determination interventions can be adapted to the cognitive profiles of individuals with ID. In this article, the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction was used with eight adolescents with mild ID over a three-month period. Typical challenges that were encountered are described, and suggestions for how these challenges can be addressed are discussed. Findings from this study illustrate how the development of self-determination skills may be facilitated when there is congruence between the individual's neurobiological development and the social conditions for development.

Promoting self-determination for adolescents with mild intellectual disability. Validation of a self-determination measure and evaluation of an educational intervention

Abstract: This study describes the adaptation and validation of the American Institute for Research (AIR) Self-Determination Scale for use in Norwegian research and education. The study contributes to the field by enabling reliable assessment of self-determination of Norwegian students with intellectual disability. The operational equivalence of the construct of self-determination in American and Norwegian culture were examined. The article further describes the adaptations that were made to the scale to ensure its fitness for intended use. Psychometric reliability (Cronbach’s and test-retest reliability) was tested on 121 students, and the underlying structure of the scale was examined by means of principal component analysis. The adapted version of the questionnaire (AIR-S-NOR) shows respectable psychometric properties. Suggestions for how the AIR-S-NOR can be used in future research and educational practices are presented.

Meaning Making Mechanisms in Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Scoping Review

Abstract: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a complex and prevalent problem with devastating long-term consequences for survivors. Despite these consequences, some survivors seem to find a source of meaning and fulfillment throughout their recovery process, which may facilitate resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG). However, little is known from the literature about the specific meaning making mechanisms that CSA survivors experience. A scoping review was conducted by searching relevant journals and several online databases such as EbscoHost, Scopus, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies published in English and that discussed meaning making as a topic of recovery from CSA in the context of women survivors’ experiences were included, where a total of 57 articles were selected including qualitative (n = 32), quantitative (n = 9), mixed method (n = 9), and review (n = 7) articles. Using thematic analysis, the results of the scoping review found four mechanisms of meaning making and seven sources of meaning describing the meaning making processes of women survivors of CSA. The mechanisms were identified as being benevolent; restoring and empowering the inner self; mobilizing external and social resources; and lastly actively integrating the trauma narrative. This study contributes toward the global knowledge base on meaning making mechanisms of women survivors of CSA by providing the first known summary of studies to date. Future research is recommended to further confirm these findings to inform treatment interventions for women survivors of CSA.