Student Publications at JIBS
The Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS) research bulletin presents an overview of recent research published by the faculty, research scholars and students at JIBS organised under different themes. This issue is dedicated to recent publications by our Masters and PhD scholars.
Verma, S., & Parmar, T. (2026). Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Dating Violence (TFDV) and Its Association with Anxiety and Self-Esteem Among Indian Male University Students. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 35(4), 636–655. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2026.2658213
The increasing digitization of interpersonal relationships has given rise to new forms of abuse within romantic contexts, i.e. technology-facilitated dating violence (TFDV). Despite increasing global research on TFDV, limited scholarship exists in the Indian context, particularly among male university students, whose victimization is often overlooked due to gendered assumptions about violence. This study estimates the past-year prevalence of TFDV and examines its association with two salient psychological outcomes, self-esteem and anxiety, among Indian male university students. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey to recruit 397 Indian male university students (Mage = 21.39 years) and employed validated instruments to assess TFDV victimization, anxiety, and self-esteem. Results showed that 65.5% of the participants reported experiencing at least one form of past-year TFDV. Pearson’s correlational analyses showed that experiencing TFDV was significantly and positively associated with anxiety and negatively associated with self-esteem. Independent sample t-tests highlighted that victims of TFDV reported significantly higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem compared to non-victims. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that TFDV predicted anxiety and self-esteem after controlling for age, daily average internet use, and number of dating partners. Findings highlight the urgent need for gender-inclusive prevention strategies, digital relationship education, and providing mental health support services. This study extends the global literature on cyberpsychology and relational abuse by focusing exclusively on male victims in the Indian context, thereby underscoring the importance of considering cultural and gender dynamics in the study of TFDV.
Mehta, V., and T. Sharma. 2026. “ Aligning Well-Being Interventions and Sustainable Development Goals: Towards a Conceptual Framework for Children in Street Situations.” Sustainable Development 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.71047.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development plans to build a better world by 2030. In the era of sustainable development, inclusive development is a precondition for unceasing progress, thereby highlighting the inclusion of children in street situations (CSS) in the development process. However, the 2030 Agenda lacks specific targets for CSS. The current study addresses how the United Nations bodies can formulate specific guidelines to inform well-being interventions for children in street situations to enhance the inclusivity of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). To address this, the study used a dual approach: a narrative review of 22 United Nations documents to identify the focus areas of health and well-being for CSS, followed by a systematic literature review of 17 articles on health and well-being interventions designed for CSS to assess if the interventions align with the identified focus areas. This dual approach connected UN focus areas with on-ground interventions. Based on the findings, the study proposed a modified comprehensive framework tailored specifically for the well-being of CSS. The findings highlight that the unique and specific needs of CSS can be effectively addressed by focusing on key areas of the United Nations, such as governance, advocacy, evidence building, community empowerment, health systems, nutrition, and mental health. These results present implications for policymakers and stakeholders to develop targeted interventions in achieving inclusive, sustainable development goals, while also recommending the recognition of CSS as a distinct group in Voluntary National Reviews for the purposes of monitoring, policy, and reporting.
Palak Gujarathi
PhD Scholar, JIBS
Dr. Shankey Verma
Assistant Professor
Dr. Vipin Vijay Nair
Associate Professor
Gujarathi, P., Verma, S., & Nair, V. V. (2026). Pig Butchering Scams as Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime: A Scoping Review of Dimensions, Modus Operandi, and Victim-Offender Dynamics. Deviant Behavior, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2026.2677691
Pig butchering scams represent a complex form of cyber-enabled fraud involving psychological grooming and cryptocurrency-based investment deception. This scoping review synthesizes the fragmented but growing literature by mapping its structural dimensions, operational methods, technological enablers, and victim – offender dynamics. Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and reported in line with PRISMA‑ScR, four academic databases and supplementary sources were searched for empirical and scholarly studies published between 2020 and 2025. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five overarching themes were identified: (i) dimensions of pig butchering scams, (ii) modus operandi and techniques, (iii) victim characteristics, (iv) offender characteristics, and (v) outcomes and consequences. Across the literature, pig butchering scams are described as transnational and technologically sophisticated operations linked to organized criminal networks. Key features include scripted social engineering, fabricated investment dashboards, and cryptocurrency laundering mechanisms. Victims were often emotionally vulnerable, although not necessarily financially inexperienced, with some demonstrating financial or professional competence alongside relational susceptibility. Some offenders were identified as trafficked individuals coerced into scam operations. Consequences extended beyond financial loss to include psychological distress and social stigma. This scoping review highlights critical gaps in understanding offender pathways, regulatory responses, and prevention and victim-support strategies.
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Assistant Professor
Ms. Palak Surana
Masters Student in Applied Psychology, JIBS
Sinha, A. A., Patnaik, P., & Surana, P. (2026, February 5). India’s mental health budget 2026: Confronting the triple deficit of funding, access, and workforce. Article 15. Article 15 https://article15.in/indias-mental-health-budget-2026-confronting-the-triple-deficit-of-funding-access-and-workforce/
Seven out of ten Indians who need mental health care will never receive it and Union Budget 2026 tells us why. Mental health in India has always existed under-recognised. I say this because everyone knows mental health matters, yet few seek help or feel truly supported when they struggle. Over the years, conversations around anxiety, burnout, depression, and suicide have slowly entered public discourse. This conversation became especially significant especially after the pandemic. But access to care, trained professionals, and even basic awareness remain uneven and deeply unequal. Contrary to this reality, Indian Budget 2026 brought a moment of cautious optimism. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government’s intention to establish a second campus of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS-2) in North India. This is accompanied with upgrades to national mental health institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur. On paper, this seems like progress but when we step back and look at how mental health actually plays out in people’s daily lives, a deeper concern emerges. India’s challenge is not just a lack of institutions. It is a “triple deficit” of accessible infrastructure, trained professionals (particularly psychologists), and lack of a genuine focus on wellbeing beyond illness. While the presence of policies indicates intent, however the impact is weakened due to fragmented Centre-State coordination and feeble implementation. Mostly, mental health gets less priority within the state budgets and lacks proper monitoring. This widens the gap between policy design and ground implementation.
Verma, S., & Kaur, S. (2026). Associations between vape dependence and psychological distress among a sample of Indian university students. Journal of Substance Use, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2026.2707608
Background: Vape use is increasingly visible among university students worldwide and has been linked to psychological distress. Despite regulatory restrictions on the manufacture and sale of vapes in India, vape use continues among Indian youth, raising concerns regarding its potential mental health impact. This study aimed to estimate the sample proportion of self-reported vape use and examine associations between vape dependence, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among Indian university students. Method: Using a cross-sectional, web-based survey and a convenience sampling approach, 342 self-identified Indian university students (Mage = 21.94 years) completed measures assessing vape dependence, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Results: Findings revealed that 41.2% (n = 141) of participants reported current vape use. Female and postgraduate students reported significantly higher proportions of vape use compared with male and undergraduate students. Among participants reporting vape use, vape dependence was positively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants reporting vape use also demonstrated significantly higher anxiety and depressive symptoms than non-users. In multiple regression analyses, vape dependence remained significantly associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms after adjusting for age, gender, and academic level. Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for campus-level interventions that address both nicotine dependence and psychological well-being among university students.
