Neena Kohli

Beliefs About Breast Cancer and Help-Seeking Intentions for the Disease Among Women in India

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring malignancy among women in India, however, the recorded stage distribution at presentation in India is less favorable than in Europe. Health beliefs are important in help-seeking for potential symptoms of disease, which may be particularly important among women who do not have access to breast screening programs. The purpose of this study was to examine Indian womens beliefs about breast cancer and help-seeking for the disease and how these beliefs related to their intentions to seek help for a symptom of breast cancer. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine differences in the beliefs of urban- and rural-based women. Of 800 women, 685 were recruited in Allahabad in Northern India (response rate 86%). The women completed a questionnaire examining beliefs about breast cancer and help-seeking. One in four women reported that they would delay seeking help for at least one month following the discovery of a symptom of breast cancer. Rural respondents held more negative beliefs about breast cancer and were also more likely to report less positive attitudes toward help-seeking and a belief that they would be discouraged from seeking help. The findings of the study provide suggestions for the targeting of an intervention aimed at improving early detection and help-seeking for breast cancer symptoms. This may be of particular importance in India where a breast cancer screening program does not currently exist and is being debated.

Territoriality at the Magh Mela The Effects of Organizational Factors and Intruder Characteristics

The Magh Mela, an annual Hindu festival held at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, attracts about 150,000 pilgrims who stay for a month in campsites maintained by religious organizations. This study examined territoriality at the campsites in terms of (a) observed characteristics—including personalizations (e.g., flags, banners) and barriers (e.g., fences, gates)—and (b) behavioral responses to an experimental intrusion by 1 or 2 intruder-interviewers who were either male or female. Across dependent measures, larger organizations and more fundamentalist organizations were more territorial. Results from the experiment indicated that territorial defense, in the form of a faster response to an intrusion, was evidenced more for female than male intruders and more for 1 than 2 intruders. These findings suggest that the concept of territorial defense should be broadened beyond physically threatening intrusions to include symbolically threatening intrusions (e.g., an intrusion by a single woman).

Gerotranscendence and Life Satisfaction: Examining Age Differences at the Maha Kumbha Mela

This study applies scholarship on gerotranscendence and life satisfaction to an under-investigated context, mass pilgrimage sites. It focuses on the Maha Kumbha Mela 2013 Hindu pilgrimage, which took place in Allahabad, India. Drawing on a sample of 200 participants, this study examines the relationship between age, gerotranscendence, and life satisfaction. Using cross-sectional data, the findings show a positive correlation between age and gerotranscendence. Significant age differences in gerotranscendence scores, especially on the cosmic and solitude dimensions, are apparent. However, the relationship between gerotranscendence and life satisfaction was not statistically significant. Implications for the construct of gerotranscendence within Hinduism are discussed.