Avinash Thombre

Religious Coping and Posttraumatic Growth Among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients in India

Growing attention has focused on relationships between religious coping and health outcomes among cancer patients. However, surprisingly little is known about religious coping among family caregivers. Moreover, few studies have been conducted outside of Western developed nations. This investigation evaluated family caregivers in Pune, India. The authors examined discrete dimensions of cancer-specific religious coping, and their associations with posttraumatic growth, among families at a similar phase of treatment. As hypothesized, posttraumatic growth was associated with increased use of positive religious coping strategies and diminished use of negative coping strategies. In multivariate analyses, the strongest predictors were benevolent religious reappraisals and punishing God reappraisals. Findings underscore the importance of meaning-focused religious coping.

Posttraumatic growth among cancer patients in India.

Cancer patients sometimes report positive life changes in addition to more harrowing ones. Theoretically, several cognitive processes are thought to contribute to posttraumatic growth, but few studies have examined these relationships empirically among cancer patients. Moreover, most research has been conducted in western developed countries. This preliminary study offered a novel examination of posttraumatic growth and its cognitive correlates among cancer patients in western India. As hypothesized, in bivariate analyses perceived growth was significantly associated with greater meaning-focused coping (sense-making, benefit-finding), and with reappraisal of worldviews. Growth was not related to subjective appraisals regarding illness threat or stressfulness. In multivariate analyses, reappraisal of worldviews was the strongest concurrent predictor of posttraumatic growth. Results suggest that deliberative cognitive processes merit further study.

HIV/AIDS Stories on the World Wide Web and Transformation Perspective

ABSTRACT Survivor stories have been an important part of therapy and social support for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS (PLWHAs), and the World Wide Web has made these stories accessible to a vast audience. These stories are examined in the light of the concept of “transformation perspective” defined as a self-communicative experience that changes an individuals life so that priorities and self-identity are refocused. The trigger event that alters the individuals life might be a diagnosis with cancer, HIV, diabetes, or some other serious illness; divorce; financial tragedy; unemployment; or retirement. The “disorienting dilemma,” according to Mezirow, leads to self-examination, and thus to changes in the individuals frame of reference. The present study found that PLWHAs stories with more details were more likely to reflect transformation perspective.

(Dis)similar Readings Indian and American Audiences’ Interpretation of Friends

The present article compares Indian and American audiences’ interpretations of the Hollywood sitcom Friends. The article is guided by Olson’s narrative transparency theory, which posits transparency as ‘the capability of certain texts to seem familiar regardless of their origin, to seem a part of one’s own culture, even though they have been crafted elsewhere’. Thirty-seven regular viewers of Friends in India and 35 from the US were interviewed personally and in focus groups. Indian viewers questioned the truth-value of the content to conclude that Friends portrayed a universal American culture that is completely different from an Indian standpoint. These interpretations made the media text opaque, and the Indian audience members rejected the safe sex message discussed in the episode studied. The American audience found Friends overly exaggerated, but safe sex and sexuality messages somewhat more culturally proximate.

An Investigation of User Comments on Facebook Pages of Trinidad and Tobago’s Indian Music Format Radio Stations

Starting in the 1990s, the Caribbean two-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago witnessed the establishment of several Indian-music format radio stations, most of which now stream their content on the World Wide Web or otherwise make their content available beyond the range of their terrestrial radio transmitters. The convergence of traditional terrestrial radio with audio streaming technology combined with the spread of high speed broadband connections has expanded the audience of a typical radio station from a few kilometers to a globally dispersed set of listeners who often include those physically displaced from their native cultural programming. The present investigation examines the Facebook comments of domestic and foreign listeners to Indian-music format radio stations from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Understanding Perspective Transformation among Recently Diagnosed Cancer Patients in Western India

Accumulating evidence indicates that some patients perceive positive life changes in the aftermath of serious illness. Construed as perspective transformation or posttraumatic growth, these health outcomes have received increasing attention from investigators. However, little is known about these outcomes in cultural settings outside of Western developed societies or the basic processes that contribute to positive changes. The current study examined communicative dimensions and cultural representations of perspective transformation among cancer patients receiving active treatment in Western India. Specific dimensions of perspective transformation, processes of change, and associated features were explored using narrative data. Individuals high in perspective transformation described changes in life review, life satisfaction, forgiveness, spirituality, and altruism. Among the factors associated with perceived growth was purposeful reflection and efforts to make sense of illness, to find benefits, and to use social support. Results provide an initial picture of perspective transformation among Indian cancer patients and point the way toward further research.