Manjushree Palit
Virginia Tech, Human Development, Graduate Student
Intimate partner violence (IPV) in India remains an entrenched and prevalent public health issue. Despite ample evidence of the widespread problem of IPV in India and associated mental and physical morbidities, far less is known about... more
Intimate partner violence (IPV) in India remains an entrenched and prevalent public health issue. Despite ample evidence of the widespread problem of IPV in India and associated mental and physical morbidities, far less is known about intervention models to reduce IPV in India. The aims of this meta-analysis and systematic review are to assess the effectiveness of community-based interventions to reduce IPV in India and to provide a narrative synthesis of these intervention approaches. A total of 9 databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed, English-language articles published between January 2000 and September 2022. The search identified 10 studies that met study inclusion criteria, including 3 randomized control trials, 4 quasi-experimental, 2 pre/post, and 1 time-series evaluation. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was notable variation in the interventions and approaches employed to reduce IPV and varying measurement of IPV outcomes. The results of t...
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The crime victim frequently suffers psychological/emotional damages along with physical, financial, and social damages. Understanding the damages victims suffer is essential in complex victim care. Individuals, criminal justice... more
The crime victim frequently suffers psychological/emotional damages along with physical, financial, and social damages. Understanding the damages victims suffer is essential in complex victim care. Individuals, criminal justice institutions, and victim support organizations attending to a victim post-victimization must be mindful of these damages to assist better and avoid further emotional damage in the form of secondary victimization. We accept the Criminal Justice System (CJS) as a given solution to criminalizable situations in society. There are enough indicators that challenge its effectiveness and use. In fact, our belief in its function is not based on any facts. In this paper, we examine where we fundamentally went wrong in our concepts of the criminal justice system; from crime to punishment and rehabilitation of offenders, from victimization to justice, and victim support. Furthermore, the article identifies some of the challenges that professionals in CJS and victim suppo...
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ABSTRACT A qualitative grounded theory approach was used to analyze 34 narratives from young men about their experience of retaining, losing, or giving away their virginity, where 7 said they were virgins, 26 said they were non-virgins,... more
ABSTRACT A qualitative grounded theory approach was used to analyze 34 narratives from young men about their experience of retaining, losing, or giving away their virginity, where 7 said they were virgins, 26 said they were non-virgins, and one did not mention his virginity status. We found that virginity is a multidimensional concept, with two distinct dimensions: the experiential and the developmental. The experiential dimension refers to young men's perception and understanding of their virginity in four overlapping areas: physical, spiritual, relational, and emotional. The developmental dimension refers to young men's perception of their underlying sexual identity growth processes and the gendered and sexual double standards that influence this understanding. Clinical implications of this study are useful in education and counseling. They seek to empower young men with information relating to the multidimensional nature of virginity experience, and minimize the negative effects on romantic relationships, sexual adjustment, and self-identity development. The findings are helpful in designing interventions for young men and women who are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections and can help them negotiate mutually safe and pleasurable experiences regarding their virginity.
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The present exploratory study is an initial effort to understand marriage and family therapists’ perceptions regarding women’s depression and preferred treatments in the United States and six other countries—China, Colombia, India,... more
The present exploratory study is an initial effort to understand marriage and family therapists’ perceptions regarding women’s depression and preferred treatments in the United States and six other countries—China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Iran, and the Philippines. With this aim, an online survey was completed by 87 U.S. therapists and 79 non-U.S. therapists. We analyzed the data through multiple t-tests for independent samples. Statistical comparisons of the responses indicated (a) U.S. therapists perceived it was more acceptable for women to talk about feeling depressed than non-U.S. therapists, (b) non-U.S. therapists perceived it was more frequent for women to present with somatic symptoms when depressed than U.S. therapists, (c) non-U.S. therapists reported using individual treatment for women’s depression more frequently than U.S. therapists, (d) U.S. therapists reported using couple or family therapy to treat women’s depression more frequently than non-U.S. therapists, and (e) U.S. therapists perceived husbands and male partners were open to participate in women’s therapy for depression more frequently than non-U.S. therapists. We discuss the clinical and research implications of our findings.
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We examine family therapy training from the perspective of a sample of 99 family therapists from the United States and another 101 from a total of six countries (Colombia, India, Iran, Indonesia, the Philippines, and two regions of China,... more
We examine family therapy training from the perspective of a sample of 99 family therapists from the United States and another 101 from a total of six countries (Colombia, India, Iran, Indonesia, the Philippines, and two regions of China, mainland China and Taiwan). We compared the responses of the United States sample to that of the other countries, both individually (for trends) and as a combined group. We found differences in training experiences both within and between countries, and discuss the implications of our findings for the continued development of family therapy training and the professionalization of the field in the countries studied.
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This chapter demonstrates how collaborative concepts allowed us to connect therapeutically across differences in our work with women and children refugees who had experienced atrocities of war in their home country or spent time in... more
This chapter demonstrates how collaborative concepts allowed us to connect therapeutically across differences in our work with women and children refugees who had experienced atrocities of war in their home country or spent time in refugee camps, and were now adjusting to a new culture in Houston, Texas. Using the philosophical underpinnings of collaborative therapy, including the creation of a dialogical space, the concept of client as expert, and the not-knowing stance, we were sensitive to the needs of the refugee women and children and successfully established a therapeutic alliance and collaboratively developed goals for group therapy, keeping in mind the needs of the population in the course of therapy.
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A prevalent form of violence against women worldwide and in India is Femicide, perpetuated through a wide range of acts such as infanticide, foeticide, trafficking, honor killing, dowry deaths, non-intimate partner violence, sexual and... more
A prevalent form of violence against women worldwide and in India is Femicide, perpetuated through a wide range of acts such as infanticide, foeticide, trafficking, honor killing, dowry deaths, non-intimate partner violence, sexual and domestic violence. World Health Organization describes “femicide, as the intentional violence against women because of their gender189. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), statistics from the years 2009-2014 report 65.8 % increase in crimes against women in India190; this increase in the span of five years is significant191. According to International labor Organization (ILO) and Oxfam, due to high incidences of sexual harassment, India ranks second lowest in G20 economies in women’s participation in the workforce. 192
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The objective of this dissertation study was to investigate the lived experiences of intimacy in married couples in India. The researcher specifically explored the couples’ intimacy experiences in six dimensions: emotional closeness and... more
The objective of this dissertation study was to investigate the lived experiences of intimacy in married couples in India. The researcher specifically explored the couples’ intimacy experiences in six dimensions: emotional closeness and self-disclosure, shared ideas and support, sexual intimacy, relationship skills, commitment and social intimacy. The Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET), an innovative method of data collection was used to collect pictures as metaphors from 11 couples (N=22) and the researcher conducted 45-90 minutes in-depth phone interviews. Phenomenological approach was used for data analysis and five themes (description, positive and negative experiences, barriers and strategies used, changes over time and perceived societal norms) provided information on the six dimensions of intimacy. The findings confirmed that intimacy is experienced in married Indian couples in each of the above mentioned dimensions. In addition, when intimacy is experienced they a...
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ABSTRACT In this article we share the structure and process of an ongoing cross-national family therapy research study that involves samples from 7 countries (Colombia, India, Iran, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, and 2... more
ABSTRACT In this article we share the structure and process of an ongoing cross-national family therapy research study that involves samples from 7 countries (Colombia, India, Iran, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, and 2 regions of China, mainland China and Taiwan). Various features of the study may serve as useful templates for others interested in collaborative cross-national research. Each of the 6 authors of this article at Virginia Tech have contributed 10 questions related to an area of their own particular family therapy research interest, and they will be the first authors on any brief research reports written on the topics of those 10 questions. Because all 6 Virginia Tech researchers have been part of the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of this study, all 6 also will be co-authors on each other's research reports. The authors include Filipino and Indonesian collaborators in the publication process, as well. This article reports on the structure and process of ongoing research and the lessons learned thus far.