255

© Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology

July 2012, Vol.38, No.2, 255-261.

Gender, Age and Regional Perspectives of Mental

Health in Armed Forces Aspirants
T. Purushothaman and Nagle, Y.K.
SCC, Bhopal DIPR Delhi

Mental health is indispensable for a good quality of life and thus needs to be
addressed as an important component of improving overall health and well-
being. Research data showed that long-term outcomes for adolescents with
conduct problems were closely similar. In a country with wide cultural differences
and traditions, the study attempts to evolve regional difference in mental health
among the genders and two age groups. On a judgmental sampling (N= 431) of
armed forces aspirants there are significant differences in mental health among
the genders, where as there are no differences among age groups and among
subjects from various geographical regions of India. In factorial analyses the
interaction effects of age, gender and region significantly impacts mental health.
Within considerations the results has its relevance of unified perspective of
gender, age and region in accessing the personality of armed force aspirants.

Keywords: Mental Health, Gender, Regions, Armed forces aspirants

Mental health is increasingly seen as common language, the concept of mental

fundamental to physical health and quality of health is used in different ways, and often it
life and thus needs to be addressed as an has a negative connotation because it is
important component of improving overall associated with severe and chronic mental
health and well-being of an individual. It is illnesses. In principle, mental health refers to
determined by multiple and interactive social, the characteristics of individuals, but one can
psychological, and biological factors, just as also speak about the mental health of
health and illness in general (Desjarlais et families, groups, communities and even
al., 1995). Over the past 25 years the societies. Mental health as a concept reflects
multidisciplinary field of prevention science the equilibrium between the individual and the
in mental health has developed at a rapid environment in a broad sense. The WHO,
pace, resulting in fast-growing number of defines mental health as “a state of well-being
scientific publications and programmes. in which the individual realizes his or her own
However the programmes are less competent abilities, can cope with the normal stresses
in ensuring the mental health of the masses. of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and
Many misconceptions exist among the is able to make a contribution to his or her
general public, and even professionals, community” (WHO, 2001b).
regarding the concept of mental health. This The primary vision of health psychology
is due to the fact that mental health is is to impart psychological knowledge;
undervalued in many ways in the present methods and skills to prevent illness, facilitate
societies. The concept is often confused with recovery as well as promote health and
severe mental disorders and associated with wellbeing. On the contrary, mental health and
societal stigma and negative attitudes. In public health had a long history of weak
256 Mental Health Perspectives

interactions, despite the possibilities for a substantial increase in adolescent conduct

stronger working relationship (Cooper, 1990; problems over the 25-year study period that
Goldberg & Tantam, 1990; Goldstein, 1989). has affected males and females, in all social
Mental Health and Gender classes and all family types (Pronczuk &
Garbino, 2004).
Gender is an area of concern while
looking at the mental health. Males have There was also evidence for a recent
better mental health than females (Thomas, rise in emotional problems, but mixed
Corinne & Natacha, 2000), as there are evidence in relation to rates of hyperactive
multiple roles, which are bound to impact behaviour (Stephan, et al., 2004). Analyses
mental health of females. Failing to capture using longitudinal data showed that long-term
the gender differences causes omissions in outcomes for adolescents with conduct
complexity and diversity of human health, and problems were closely similar. This provided
errors in understanding that can lead to poor evidence that observed trends were
evidence and inappropriate potentially unaffected by possible changes in life styles.
injurious outcomes (Doyal, 2002; Greaves, (Gottlieb, et al., 1987) suggests that health
et al., 2000). Mental health outcomes differ behaviours associated with sex and age
in sexes (Finch, Kolody & Vega, 2000). On differences should be generally looked in for
the contrary it is undeniably easier to record future research.
sex rather than measure the relevant body Mental Health and Region
dimensions, but it may not be as good a When considering the subcontinent
predictor (Messing & Stellman, 2006). Women India, which has inflow of various practices
involved in health care are liable for more associated with culture and a wide diversity,
professional health hazards and infections it is necessary to further look in to the cultural
and more exposed to psycho-social risks issues or the mental health of people from
(Arcand et al., 2000) and its causative various regions. In India, people come
towards mental health Arcand et al., 2000). forward for treatment only if treatment is
Gender has significant impact on adjustment readily available. Government’s role lies in
level of the students (Arvind & Kamdar, 2000). incorporating the formulation and
Therefore a concerted and articulated action remodulation of the National Mental Health
can be evolved on the basis of gender. Program and the Mental Health Act. For
Mental Health and Age example, rehabilitation camps for addicts in
Age is another parameter which does the community, rehabilitation of opium addicts
play a role in mental health. Consistent in the high prevalence areas, introduction of
associations exist between mental health and yoga in prisons are a few futuristic vision
age. Family is considered the cradle of future examples (WHO, 2007).
society. It is within the family that adolescents In classical Indian tradition, health is
learn who and what they are (Veena & Khadi, ‘conceptualized as a state of delight or a
2004). Youth aged between 12 and 29 had feeling of physical, mental and spiritual
the lowest prevalence of positive mental wellbeing, which is at the proximity towards a
health and highest prevalence of mental mind which is peaceful serene, free from
health problems (Thomas, Corinne & conflicts and desires’ (Ram 1998; Sinha,
Natacha, 2000). Research reveals a 1990). The understanding of what health is,
substantial rise in psycho-social disorders differs among various strata of people. For a
affecting young people over the past middle class and upper middle class people
50 years. Child development studies show in India, health includes spiritual striving and
T. Purushothaman and Nagle, Y.K. 257

is seen as a value or a norm in itself, research questions are as follows:

something to be sought and achieved i.e. the H 1 There will be differences in Mental
equilibrium (Sama or a balanced state Health of different regions.
‘Samyavastha’) but for poor in remote
villages, illness-free bodies and economic H 2 There will be differences in Mental
wellbeing constitute health and happiness Health between the two age groups.
(Chakraborti, et al., 1999; Priya, 2002). The H 3 There will be differences in Mental
spiritual dimension of mental health also Health between the genders.
gains concern in the subcontinent due to its H 4 There will be main and interaction
culture. effects of Gender, Age, Region on Mental
Need of the study: Health.
Mental health is an indivisible part of the Method
general health and well-being. The positive Sample:
value of mental health, which contributes to
human well-being, quality of life and creativity, The candidates appearing in the armed
is not accorded high priority. Building an forces officers’ entry served as sample for the
evidence base is an incremental process. It study after their testing hours with willing
should be culturally sensitive and use a wide consent. Normally, the age of the candidates
range of research methods. The necessity appearing for officer’s selection ranges from
for expanding the evidence base is more 18 to 45 years. For the present study, it was
relevant to sense the reality of those working decided that participants who were between
and living in low-income countries (WHO, the age range of 18 and 30 years were alone
LMIC, 2007). McQueen (2001) points out the considered. The candidates are from various
strong cultural and geographic bias in which parts of the country who have undergone the
evidence is currently articulated and entire selection procedures during the period
represented in the health literature. of Oct ‘2010 in a particular venue formed the
part of the study. In total the sample consisted
Objective: of 431 participants out of whom 214 were
The aim of the paper is to study the males and 217 were females. The average
mental health levels of defence service age was 23.81 years. The researcher
aspirants from various regions of the believed that the sample is typical of the
subcontinent which are likely to have population hence a good and representative
implications in the selection of the armed of the population. Assuming the concerned
forces personnel. cases to be typical nature of the population
Hypotheses: within the age frame using the judgmental
sampling (Singh, 2008), the sample was
The existing empirical evidence identified as region-wise sample. The
suggests that the mental health has been participants were from five regions on the
influenced by many variables. The basis of their geographical dwelling so as to
subcontinent India where the study is include all parts of the country.
undertaken has wide variety of cultures. In
order to cater for those differences, the region Instrumentation:
was taken as a separate entity in the present Mental Health Scale {MHS} (Kamlesh
study. The interactions of the above- Sharma, 1996): It consists of 60 items (30
mentioned variables with the demographic positive and 30 negative statements). Items
variables of age and gender are also a were arrived after item analysis and later the
possibility. The hypotheses framed for the scale was standardized on a sample of 1200
258 Mental Health Perspectives

subjects. This scale has a reliability of 0.88 Since the genders and age are of two
by spilt half method and 0.86 by test retest groups they are tabulated together as above.
method. The validity coefficient with From the table II the mental health was found
equivalent Mental Health Check list (Pramod to be M= of 88.19 (SD=12.70) among the
Kumar, 1996) was found to be 0.79 and males and 93.31 (SD= 10.90) among the
hence considered as reliable and valid test females. Here the mean score of Mental
for the present study. The data was collected Health of females was found to be more than
in groups of approximately 40-55 participants that of males. The F value was found to be
on various sessions as per availability. The 20.17 at the highest confidence level which
reliability coefficient was 0.81 infers there the differences among the mental
Results health between genders are significant.
Hence the hypothesis H 3 is accepted. Mental
The Mean Score of Mental health on the health was found to be M= of 90.59
sample was found to be M= 90.77 (SD= (SD=12.02) in group I and 90.96 (SD= 12.18)
12.09).Initially the probability plot of the data in group II. Here the mean score of Mental
was done to see the normality of the data. Health has insignificant differences as the F
The figure II below reveals the nature of the value was found to be 0.10 Hence the
data. hypothesis H 2 was rejected.
Normal P-P Plot of Mental Health The mental health of subjects from
various regions was found to be M=91 (SD
1.0

=12.01) in North Indian Sample, M=89.43

0.8
(SD=12.49) in South Indian sample, M=91.15
Expected Cum Prob

0.6 (SD=11.49) in the Eastern region, M=91.87

0.4
(SD=12.28) in the Western region, M=90.35
(SD=12.25) in central Indian sample. Analysis
of variance among the five regions conveys
0.2

0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
that, F value was 0.50 which infers that there
Observed Cum Prob
are no significant differences in the mental
Figure II Normal Probability plot of Mental health levels of the subjects from various
Health. regions. Hence the hypothesis H 1 is rejected.
The ascending nature of the slope in the Table 1. ‘F’ values of main effects and
above figure 1.1 indicates that the data is in interaction effects of Age, Gender, and
close approximation. The plot conveys that Region on Mental Health
the sample studied was within the limits of Mental Health Attribute df F Values
normality with scope for generalization. Main Effects Region 4 .682
Moreover, the sample size is N = 431. Larger Gender 1 16.885 **
datasets (more than 40) yields increased Age 1 .094
statistical power, and more over the empirical Interaction Effects
error rates do eventually stabilize at 0.05 Region & Gender 4 1.957
confidence levels as a consequence of the Region & Age 4 .170
central limit theorem, which takes care of Gender & Age 1 .009
Region & Gender & Age 4 2.366 *
violations of the normality (Jerome & Arnold,
*p< 0.05 **p<0.01
2003). Hence, the researcher assumed that
Table 1 displays the summary of F
the statistical power is adequate as the two
values arrived by univariate analyses of
criteria of normality limits and large sample
variance of mental health. The main effect of
size being met.
T. Purushothaman and Nagle, Y.K. 259

region on mental health was found to be (Gureje et al., 1998). The term health is a
insignificant with F value being 0.682, where comprehensive term which covers a range
as the main effect of gender on mental health of activities, such as eating sensibly, getting
sounds very significantly with F value being regular exercise and adequate sleep,
16.885. The effect of age attribute was avoiding smoking, engaging in safe sexual
insignificant on mental health with F value practices, wearing safety belts in vehicles and
being 0.94 .The interaction effects were also adhering to medical therapies.
found to be insignificant with F values being In cultural context, health and illness as
1.957, 0.170, 0.009 in between region and linked to societal beliefs, values and practices
gender, region and age, and as well as (Joshi 2000). There will be individual and
gender and age respectively. However the cultural differences of mental health among
compounded interaction effects of gender, populations. Efforts to maximize their options
region and age on mental health was found through improved physical health, supportive
to be significant with F value being 2.366 social conditions and opportunities for
.Hence the hypothesis H 4 is partly accepted personal growth would promote mental health.
in case of gender and as well as In this particular study the difference are trivial
compounded interaction effects of age, when considering the demographic
gender and region where as it is rejected in parameters. But at the same time one should
cases of main and interaction effects of region not deny the effects viewed upon
and age on mental health. compounding of these factors as they cease
Discussion to exist in independently. For example an
The findings of the present study seem individual cannot be in isolation from his
to be fruitful in viewing the mental health community nor be refrained from mingling with
trends in the armed forces aspirants in India. others.
Mental health is an individual resource The results of this study gains relevance
contributing to different capacities and skills. when the demographic attributes of gender,
It was compared to natural, renewable age and region were taken together. The
resources (Lehtonen, 1978). Its renewal must results reveal that there is significant impact
be understood as a continuous process which on the mental health when these factors of
makes up the course of life, consisting of a considered together and obviously these exist
sequence of phases in which the earlier only in total when considering an individual.
always affects those that follow. In favorable Application to the defence services
circumstances, mental health can increase, recruitment
but when exploited beyond their natural
capacity for renewal it can even be destroyed With reference to the armed forces the
due to inappropriate actions by the society. term health is even more comprehensive
which also relates to the quality of the work
Research has pointed two main the individual can perform and as well as the
pathways through which a person’s mental value system, integrity which the nation relies
and physical health and functioning mutually on the individual inadvertently as a service
influence each other over time, interacting requirement. In times of stress and
with social and environmental influences on troublesome moments which are a part of
health. The first pathway is directly through defense services, if people are taught to be
physiological systems, such as resilient and optimistic, they will be less likely
neuroendocrine and immune functioning. The to suffer from depression and will lead
second pathway is through health behaviour happier and more productive career. Positive
260 Mental Health Perspectives

health psychology relates to concepts of approaches (OECAD, 2005). All health

optimism and authentic happiness. These promoters, regardless of their professional
concepts were explored by Seligman (1991, area of interest, should be united by their
2002). In other words, it can be seen as dedication to one overriding aim i.e. equity in
building psychological ‘muscles’ before health. That is, they should seek to reduce
problems occur. Evidence suggests interplay the gap between those with the best and
between mental, physical health and those with the worst. Alarmingly, this gap
wellbeing with outcomes such as educational seems to be widening (WHO, 2002b). In an
achievement, productivity at work, optimistic view, mental health is the foundation
development of positive personal for wellbeing and effective functioning for an
relationships, reduction in crime rates and individual and a community. It is more than
decreasing harms associated with use of the absence of mental illness and capacities
alcohol and drugs (Tudor, 1996). Promoting as noted in the definition which has value in
mental health should not only result in lower them.
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Accepted: October 30, 2011

T. Purushothaman, PhD, Psychologist (Scientist C, DRDO), SCC, SI Lines

Bhopal - 462 001.
Nagle, Y.K., PhD, Scientist-E, DIPR, Delhi - 110 055