Harshalini Bundhoo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Harshalini Bundhoo

Psychological Reports, Aug 1, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depressionrelated symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Psychology & Developing Societies, Feb 17, 2016

This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women i... more This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women in a social context where ethnic/religious identity is not contested or threatened. In-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with young Muslim women who had started wearing the veil for the past four to five years. There was consensus amongst the respondents that wearing the veil was an obligation in Islam and it only reflects their commitment to their religion. However, the meaning of the veil was not limited to a piece of clothing. Modesty was considered to be an important dimension of the veil and was self-prescriptive, a reminder to conduct their life according to the Muslim belief system. Wearing the hijab consolidated their awareness of themselves as Muslims and in their practice. The findings are discussed within the multicultural context of Mauritius.

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, Mar 1, 2015

Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view ... more Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view of their negative impact on general functioning and efficacy in daily life. Moreover, the treatability and prognosis in most cases of depression encourage early detection. In this regard the present investigation sought to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in young college students in the small Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Using the University Student Depression Inventory (USDI) the researchers found that in their sample of 255 students, 16.5% reported sadness most of the time, 11.8% reported feelings of worthlessness and 7.1% noted suicidal ideation. Symptoms of low self-esteem (25.1%) and feelings of emptiness (15.7%) were also reported, while 26.7% wondered whether life is worth living. No significant gender differences were noted, although participants in the 21-22 year age group reported more symptoms than those in the 18-20 year age group. The results are discussed within the context of social and developmental issues.

South African Journal of Psychology, Dec 1, 2011

Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal ... more Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal well being, it is known to influence rates of academic failure and drop-out. This issue is especially relevant in poorer countries, where resources are few and the pressure for academic excellence is high. In this context, sources of stress and support were examined in 327 undergraduate students at a university in Mauritius. The results showed that academic concerns were the most stressful areas, with women significantly more affected than men. Family issues, including deaths, illness and financial difficulties were also prominent. Over 90% of the participants perceived their parents and friends as supportive, while about three-quarters of the sample viewed siblings and classmates as supportive. The results are discussed within the context of national social issues.

Psychological Reports, Aug 1, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depressionrelated symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2008

The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South Af... more The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South African (SA) and Mauritian university, including their views on its relevance to their social contexts. A total of 254 students (males = 48, females = 206; age range = 17–50 years) responded to a short questionnaire on their decision to study Psychology, how they learned about the profession, their views on its relevance to their social contexts, and its usefulness in their health care system. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, and χ2 tests of significance were applied. A significantly higher proportion of Mauritian students planned to become Psychologists, whereas a greater proportion of the SA students elected to become social workers. Among those wanting to become Psychologists significantly more of the SA students than the Mauritian students chose clinical psychology over the other categories. Significantly more Mauritian students than SA students learned about Psychology from the media, than all other sources combined. About two-thirds of the participants considered psychology relevant to their social context, or useful in their health care systems.

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 2015

Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view ... more Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view of their negative impact on general functioning and efficacy in daily life. Moreover, the treatability and prognosis in most cases of depression encourage early detection. In this regard the present investigation sought to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in young college students in the small Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Using the University Student Depression Inventory (USDI) the researchers found that in their sample of 255 students, 16.5% reported sadness most of the time, 11.8% reported feelings of worthlessness and 7.1% noted suicidal ideation. Symptoms of low self-esteem (25.1%) and feelings of emptiness (15.7%) were also reported, while 26.7% wondered whether life is worth living. No significant gender differences were noted, although participants in the 21-22 year age group reported more symptoms than those in the 18-20 year age group. The results are discussed...

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2008

The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South Af... more The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South African (SA) and Mauritian university, including their views on its relevance to their social contexts. A total of 254 students (males = 48, females = 206; age range = 17–50 years) responded to a short questionnaire on their decision to study Psychology, how they learned about the profession, their views on its relevance to their social contexts, and its usefulness in their health care system. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, and χ2 tests of significance were applied. A significantly higher proportion of Mauritian students planned to become Psychologists, whereas a greater proportion of the SA students elected to become social workers. Among those wanting to become Psychologists significantly more of the SA students than the Mauritian students chose clinical psychology over the other categories. Significantly more Mauritian students than SA students learned about Psych...

Psychology & Developing Societies, 2016

This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women i... more This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women in a social context where ethnic/religious identity is not contested or threatened. In-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with young Muslim women who had started wearing the veil for the past four to five years. There was consensus amongst the respondents that wearing the veil was an obligation in Islam and it only reflects their commitment to their religion. However, the meaning of the veil was not limited to a piece of clothing. Modesty was considered to be an important dimension of the veil and was self-prescriptive, a reminder to conduct their life according to the Muslim belief system. Wearing the hijab consolidated their awareness of themselves as Muslims and in their practice. The findings are discussed within the multicultural context of Mauritius.

Journal of Personality

Objectives The Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) capture indivi... more Objectives The Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) capture individual differences in aversive personality to complement work on other taxonomies, such as the Big Five traits. However, the literature on the Dark Triad traits relies mostly on samples from English‐speaking (i.e., Westernized) countries. We broadened the scope of this literature by sampling from a wider array of countries. Method We drew on data from 49 countries (N = 11,723; 65.8% female; AgeMean = 21.53) to examine how an extensive net of country‐level variables in economic status (e.g., Human Development Index), social relations (e.g., gender equality), political orientations (e.g., democracy), and cultural values (e.g., embeddedness) relate to country‐level rates of the Dark Triad traits, as well as variance in the magnitude of sex differences in them. Results Narcissism was especially sensitive to country‐level variables. Countries with more embedded and hierarchical cultural systems were more narcissistic. Also, sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed societies: Women were less likely to be narcissistic in developed (vs. less developed) countries. Conclusions We discuss the results based on evolutionary and social role models of personality and sex differences. That higher country‐level narcissism was more common in less developed countries, whereas sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed countries, is more consistent with evolutionary than social role models.

South African Journal of Psychology, 2011

ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on ... more ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal well being, it is known to influence rates of academic failure and drop-out. This issue is especially relevant in poorer countries, where resources are few and the pressure for academic excellence is high. In this context, sources of stress and support were examined in 327 undergraduate students at a university in Mauritius. The results showed that academic concerns were the most stressful areas, with women significantly more affected than men. Family issues, including deaths, illness and financial difficulties were also prominent. Over 90% of the participants perceived their parents and friends as supportive, while about three-quarters of the sample viewed siblings and classmates as supportive. The results are discussed within the context of national social issues.

Psychological Reports, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius ( n = 198) and South Africa ( n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Psychological Reports, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

South African Journal of Psychology, 2011

ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on ... more ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal well being, it is known to influence rates of academic failure and drop-out. This issue is especially relevant in poorer countries, where resources are few and the pressure for academic excellence is high. In this context, sources of stress and support were examined in 327 undergraduate students at a university in Mauritius. The results showed that academic concerns were the most stressful areas, with women significantly more affected than men. Family issues, including deaths, illness and financial difficulties were also prominent. Over 90% of the participants perceived their parents and friends as supportive, while about three-quarters of the sample viewed siblings and classmates as supportive. The results are discussed within the context of national social issues.

Psychological Reports, Aug 1, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depressionrelated symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Psychology & Developing Societies, Feb 17, 2016

This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women i... more This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women in a social context where ethnic/religious identity is not contested or threatened. In-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with young Muslim women who had started wearing the veil for the past four to five years. There was consensus amongst the respondents that wearing the veil was an obligation in Islam and it only reflects their commitment to their religion. However, the meaning of the veil was not limited to a piece of clothing. Modesty was considered to be an important dimension of the veil and was self-prescriptive, a reminder to conduct their life according to the Muslim belief system. Wearing the hijab consolidated their awareness of themselves as Muslims and in their practice. The findings are discussed within the multicultural context of Mauritius.

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, Mar 1, 2015

Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view ... more Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view of their negative impact on general functioning and efficacy in daily life. Moreover, the treatability and prognosis in most cases of depression encourage early detection. In this regard the present investigation sought to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in young college students in the small Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Using the University Student Depression Inventory (USDI) the researchers found that in their sample of 255 students, 16.5% reported sadness most of the time, 11.8% reported feelings of worthlessness and 7.1% noted suicidal ideation. Symptoms of low self-esteem (25.1%) and feelings of emptiness (15.7%) were also reported, while 26.7% wondered whether life is worth living. No significant gender differences were noted, although participants in the 21-22 year age group reported more symptoms than those in the 18-20 year age group. The results are discussed within the context of social and developmental issues.

South African Journal of Psychology, Dec 1, 2011

Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal ... more Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal well being, it is known to influence rates of academic failure and drop-out. This issue is especially relevant in poorer countries, where resources are few and the pressure for academic excellence is high. In this context, sources of stress and support were examined in 327 undergraduate students at a university in Mauritius. The results showed that academic concerns were the most stressful areas, with women significantly more affected than men. Family issues, including deaths, illness and financial difficulties were also prominent. Over 90% of the participants perceived their parents and friends as supportive, while about three-quarters of the sample viewed siblings and classmates as supportive. The results are discussed within the context of national social issues.

Psychological Reports, Aug 1, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depressionrelated symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2008

The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South Af... more The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South African (SA) and Mauritian university, including their views on its relevance to their social contexts. A total of 254 students (males = 48, females = 206; age range = 17–50 years) responded to a short questionnaire on their decision to study Psychology, how they learned about the profession, their views on its relevance to their social contexts, and its usefulness in their health care system. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, and χ2 tests of significance were applied. A significantly higher proportion of Mauritian students planned to become Psychologists, whereas a greater proportion of the SA students elected to become social workers. Among those wanting to become Psychologists significantly more of the SA students than the Mauritian students chose clinical psychology over the other categories. Significantly more Mauritian students than SA students learned about Psychology from the media, than all other sources combined. About two-thirds of the participants considered psychology relevant to their social context, or useful in their health care systems.

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 2015

Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view ... more Depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults are a source of concern, especially in view of their negative impact on general functioning and efficacy in daily life. Moreover, the treatability and prognosis in most cases of depression encourage early detection. In this regard the present investigation sought to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in young college students in the small Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Using the University Student Depression Inventory (USDI) the researchers found that in their sample of 255 students, 16.5% reported sadness most of the time, 11.8% reported feelings of worthlessness and 7.1% noted suicidal ideation. Symptoms of low self-esteem (25.1%) and feelings of emptiness (15.7%) were also reported, while 26.7% wondered whether life is worth living. No significant gender differences were noted, although participants in the 21-22 year age group reported more symptoms than those in the 18-20 year age group. The results are discussed...

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2008

The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South Af... more The study sought to examine students' views regarding their study of Psychology at a South African (SA) and Mauritian university, including their views on its relevance to their social contexts. A total of 254 students (males = 48, females = 206; age range = 17–50 years) responded to a short questionnaire on their decision to study Psychology, how they learned about the profession, their views on its relevance to their social contexts, and its usefulness in their health care system. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, and χ2 tests of significance were applied. A significantly higher proportion of Mauritian students planned to become Psychologists, whereas a greater proportion of the SA students elected to become social workers. Among those wanting to become Psychologists significantly more of the SA students than the Mauritian students chose clinical psychology over the other categories. Significantly more Mauritian students than SA students learned about Psych...

Psychology & Developing Societies, 2016

This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women i... more This qualitative study aimed to capture the views and reasons for veiling by young Muslim women in a social context where ethnic/religious identity is not contested or threatened. In-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with young Muslim women who had started wearing the veil for the past four to five years. There was consensus amongst the respondents that wearing the veil was an obligation in Islam and it only reflects their commitment to their religion. However, the meaning of the veil was not limited to a piece of clothing. Modesty was considered to be an important dimension of the veil and was self-prescriptive, a reminder to conduct their life according to the Muslim belief system. Wearing the hijab consolidated their awareness of themselves as Muslims and in their practice. The findings are discussed within the multicultural context of Mauritius.

Journal of Personality

Objectives The Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) capture indivi... more Objectives The Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) capture individual differences in aversive personality to complement work on other taxonomies, such as the Big Five traits. However, the literature on the Dark Triad traits relies mostly on samples from English‐speaking (i.e., Westernized) countries. We broadened the scope of this literature by sampling from a wider array of countries. Method We drew on data from 49 countries (N = 11,723; 65.8% female; AgeMean = 21.53) to examine how an extensive net of country‐level variables in economic status (e.g., Human Development Index), social relations (e.g., gender equality), political orientations (e.g., democracy), and cultural values (e.g., embeddedness) relate to country‐level rates of the Dark Triad traits, as well as variance in the magnitude of sex differences in them. Results Narcissism was especially sensitive to country‐level variables. Countries with more embedded and hierarchical cultural systems were more narcissistic. Also, sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed societies: Women were less likely to be narcissistic in developed (vs. less developed) countries. Conclusions We discuss the results based on evolutionary and social role models of personality and sex differences. That higher country‐level narcissism was more common in less developed countries, whereas sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed countries, is more consistent with evolutionary than social role models.

South African Journal of Psychology, 2011

ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on ... more ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal well being, it is known to influence rates of academic failure and drop-out. This issue is especially relevant in poorer countries, where resources are few and the pressure for academic excellence is high. In this context, sources of stress and support were examined in 327 undergraduate students at a university in Mauritius. The results showed that academic concerns were the most stressful areas, with women significantly more affected than men. Family issues, including deaths, illness and financial difficulties were also prominent. Over 90% of the participants perceived their parents and friends as supportive, while about three-quarters of the sample viewed siblings and classmates as supportive. The results are discussed within the context of national social issues.

Psychological Reports, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius ( n = 198) and South Africa ( n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Psychological Reports, 2010

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age liv... more Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

South African Journal of Psychology, 2011

ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on ... more ABSTRACT Stress among university students is a significant problem, and apart from its effect on personal well being, it is known to influence rates of academic failure and drop-out. This issue is especially relevant in poorer countries, where resources are few and the pressure for academic excellence is high. In this context, sources of stress and support were examined in 327 undergraduate students at a university in Mauritius. The results showed that academic concerns were the most stressful areas, with women significantly more affected than men. Family issues, including deaths, illness and financial difficulties were also prominent. Over 90% of the participants perceived their parents and friends as supportive, while about three-quarters of the sample viewed siblings and classmates as supportive. The results are discussed within the context of national social issues.