Maternal nutritional awareness might reduce the risk of malnutrition in children. This study assesses the impact of mothers' nutritional and health awareness (MNHA) on the nutritional status of pre-school children in rural South Punjab. Using a proportionate purposive simple random sampling technique we collect data with the help of a self-administered questionnaire on height, age, the weight of children, and socio-economic profile from 384 rural households in one of the marginalized districts of Punjab. The study applied the binary logistic regression model to compute the probability of malnutrition. The results indicate that malnutrition was high in the district (the prevalence rate for underweight is 46.1%, for stunting 34.83%, and for wasting is 15.49%). Around 91.84% of malnourished children belonged to the low MNHA category compared to medium (5.61%) and high (2.55%) MNHA categories. The results further show that the prevalence of moderate and severe stunting, wasting, and underweight in low MNHA categories was much higher with large differences compared to both medium and high MNHA categories. The binary logistic regression results depict that, across the household deprivation index (HDS), the odds of a child becoming malnourished were lower in households HDS-2 category (OR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01–0.89), and odds were also lower in households HDS-3 category (OR = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.001–0.16). Similarly, across the scores of MNHA index, the odds of malnutrition were lower among the children of those mothers who had medium MNHA (OR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.002–1.24), and also the probability of child malnutrition was lower among the children of mothers who had high MNHA (OR = 0.008, 95% CI: 0.002–0.29). The study urges that well-resourced, targeted, and coordinated health and nutritional education and awareness programs are required to tackle malnutrition.

Objectives: This research investigates the association of malnutrition with social and economic factors in general and environmental factors in specific such as sanitation facilities and drinking water sources for Pakistan. Methods: Authors used the latest data of 1010 Under-Three children from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017–2018. Cumulative Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) was developed to measure the malnutrition status among children based on z-scores of WHZ, WAZ, and HAZ, respectively. The study has applied the discrete-choice logistic methodology to find the relationship of malnutrition with socio-economic characteristics. The interaction terms of drinking water source and sanitation facility have been measured to see the impact of environmental factors on child malnutrition. Results: The study results depict that the likelihood of malnutrition increases when the child had diarrhea recently and the child belongs to the deprived region such as KPK, Sind, and Baluchistan. However, the chances of child malnutrition drop with (1) an escalation of mothers’ education, (2) a rise in wealth status of the household, and (3) the improved water source and sanitation facility in the household. The only water-improved sanitation category of the interaction term is significant in the model which depicts that households having both improved water and improved sanitation facilities had very fewer chances of malnutrition among their children. Conclusion: Authors conclude that malnutrition in younger children is associated with improved water as well as sanitation facilities, maternal education, and household wealth in Pakistan.

Bullying in children and adolescents has become a serious social problem and a stern threat to mental health and well-being, leaving a shadow for severe psychopathology. Previous research has highlighted bullying behavior is a leading cause of emotional disturbances in children and adolescents, worsening their physical, psychological, and social sense of well-being. The aim of the present research was to explore the influence of bullying behavior on pre-adolescents, and adolescents’ mental health and quality of life.  Further, age group and gender differences were also explored. For this purpose, a random sample of 400 children and adolescents, aged between 8-18 years from different schools and colleges of Sialkot-Pakistan were considered for assessment of bullying behavior.  A self-develop demographic sheet along with different scales to assess bullying behavior, mental health and quality of life was administered. The results suggest that bullying behavior was negatively and significantly associated with mental health problems and quality of life in the whole sample. Findings further indicates the significant difference among pre-adolescents and adolescents on the variables of bullying behavior (t=13.34, ***p<0.01), QOL (t=-3.37, ***p<0.01) and mental health problems (t=-3.69, ***p<0.01). Gender differences on the variables of bullying behavior (t=13.34, ***p<0.01), QOL (t=-3.75, ***p<0.01) and mental health problems (t=-3.69, ***p<0.01) were also found significant. Bullying behavior exerts a greater impact on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. There is an immense need to devise preventive strategies to enhance the emotional, psychological well-being of this group.

Background: Major depressive disorders (MDD) is common worldwide, and it causes significant functional impairment. Evidence-based therapies significantly address MDD symptoms severity; therefore, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy (PTh), cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), and Islam-based interventions (IBIs) to treat symptoms severity of patients MDD-m. Methods: This RCT was conducted by the Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University Faisalabad, from December 20, 2020, to October 31, 2021, at different hospitals in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Patients with MDD-m were allocated to three different evidence-based treatment approaches (i.e. PTh, CBT, & IBIs). Patients Health Questionnaire; Positive & Negative Affect Scale, Digit Span Scale, Standard Progressive Matrices, Self-Esteem Scale and Decision-Making Questionnaire were administered. SPSS version 27 was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 210 were approached, 159 were assessed for eligibility, and 118 met the inclusion criteria, including males 66(55.94%) and females 52(44.06%) with the age range of 22 to 46 years. Findings reported all the treatment interventions produced significant treatment outcomes to reduce the depressive symptoms and improve memory, reasoning ability, decision-making skills, self-esteem, and wellbeing. PTh was an effective supportive intervention, while CBT and IBIs played an effective role as reeducative constructive therapies. Conclusion: All three interventions seem to be effective for major depressive disorder with mild severity, and CBT and IBIs emerged as more efficient and constructive therapies for MDD-m.

Background Major depressive disorders (MDD) is common worldwide, and it causes significant functional impairment. Evidence-based therapies significantly address MDD symptoms severity; therefore, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy (PTh), cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), and Islam-based interventions (IBIs) to treat symptoms severity of patients MDD-m. Methods This RCT was conducted by the Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University Faisalabad, from December 20, 2020, to October 31, 2021, at different hospitals in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Patients with MDD-m were allocated to three different evidence-based treatment approaches (i.e. PTh, CBT, & IBIs). Patients Health Questionnaire; Positive & Negative Affect Scale, Digit Span Scale, Standard Progressive Matrices, Self-Esteem Scale and Decision-Making Questionnaire were administered. SPSS version 27 was used to analyze the data. Results A total of 210 were approached, 159 were assessed for eligibility, and 118 met the inclusion criteria, including males 66(55.94%) and females 52(44.06%) with the age range of 22 to 46 years. Findings reported all the treatment interventions produced significant treatment outcomes to reduce the depressive symptoms and improve memory, reasoning ability, decision-making skills, self-esteem, and wellbeing. PTh was an effective supportive intervention, while CBT and IBIs played an effective role as reeducative constructive therapies. Conclusion All three interventions seem to be effective for major depressive disorder with mild severity, and CBT and IBIs emerged as more efficient and constructive therapies for MDD-m.