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U n i v e r s i t y of P e r a d e n i y a

The Institutional Repository of the University of Peradeniya is the University's digital gateway to scholarly knowledge and research excellence. Established as the next phase of the Digital Library initiative launched by the University Library in 2011, it preserves, showcases, and provides open access to the intellectual output of the University community.

Through a rich collection of research articles, conference proceedings, theses, dissertations, and other scholarly works, the repository enhances the visibility, accessibility, and long-term preservation of knowledge, extending the global reach and impact of the University of Peradeniya’s academic and research contributions.

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Social factors affecting health seeking behaviour (HSB) of elders with physical disabilities (EWPD)
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021-11-11) Thilanka, W.A.S.; Gunasena, K.A.K.I.C.
Since ageing has become an alarming issue in the Sri Lankan population, elders‘ wellbeing is being challenged in many domains. Among them, physical disability increases the degree of elders‘ vulnerability. In this milieu, this study identified HSB of EWPD as a significant research area. Study attempted to identify the availability of supportive services and individual determinants that impact the HSB of EWPD. Primary qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews from purposively selected 20 EWPDs. Study was conducted in 205-A GN division of Ja-ela DS division located in the industrial zone. Data was analysed using thematic analysis method. The elected area had the necessary public and private infrastructural facilities. It was found that EWPD prefer private facilities over public ones due to unspecific reasons. Considering individual determinants, it was revealed that financial capacity has a great impact on individual‘s HSB. Those who have savings, receive pensions, or possess other financial capacity are independent in making decisions with regards to their health expenses. When caregiving is performed by family, it becomes an influencing factor of HSB. Intimate relationships are a push factor to be self-conscious about the wellbeing of EWPD. Conflictual primary relationships discourage the HSB further increasing health vulnerability. In addition, cultural beliefs and practices play a significant role in governing HSB. Specially, disability is interpreted in terms of religious beliefs. Instead of professional medical support, they mostly seek complementary or alternative medical support. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the financial self-sufficiency leading to affordability of health and other supportive facilities empowers EWPD to make decisions on HSB Despite physical impairments. The nature of their primary relationships plays a decisive role in HSB of EWPD. Finally, socio-cultural constructions on ageing and disability too determine HSB although other factors contribute positively. Overall, HSB of EWPD is primarily influenced by individual factors, not socio-economic factors such as the availability and accessibility of health services.
Impact of stuttering related emotions on participation in educational activities among adolescents with stuttering in Western Province
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021-11-11) Kudaarachchi, K.A.W.M.; Wijesinghe, T.; Perera, B.M.R.K.
The nature of stuttering has the potential to elicit embarrassment, frustration, and/or pity from the listener; therefore, it is inevitable that it is associated with some degree of fear, anxiety, and/or frustration in the person who stutters. The main aim of the study was to determine the influence of stuttering-related emotions on participation in educational activities and to specifically identify the types of emotions (negative/positive) of adolescents with stuttering, to determine thoughts associated with activities related to education of adolescents with stuttering and to identify the impact of stuttering related emotions and thoughts on the participation in the activities related to education. The study included 20 adolescents in the age range 11 – 17 with stuttering who are attending mainstream schools and have accessed speech and language therapy clinics in general hospitals in the Western Province but still received only the assessments. 75% were male and 25% were female. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed study (with quantitative and qualitative components) was used for this study and two different tasks were used for collecting data: self-administered questionnaire (Likert scale) and Semi-structured interview. The content validity was done with 5 SLTs with 5 years‘ clinical experience. The continuous variable was used in obtaining the mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum values, while the descriptive analysis of the discrete variables was used to calculate the absolute and relative frequency. Phenomenological qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis. The present study indicates that adolescents with stuttering have more negative feelings and thoughts toward their stuttering; the majority of the participants had to experience negativity in school, classroom and private class situations. These negative emotions and thoughts related to stuttering mainly negatively affected their participation in educational activities. Therefore, the current study concludes that most adolescents with stuttering impact their participation in educational activities due to negative emotions and thoughts related to stuttering. However, supportiveness from friends, teachers and other educational professions can encourage positive feelings and thoughts which may then transform this to a positive output.
Factors affecting overall quality of life of the elderly living in informal caregiving settings in Colombo District, Sri Lanka
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021-11-11) Wijesiri, H.S.M.S.K.; De Silva, Weliange, S.H.; Wasalathanthri, S.; Wijeyaratne, C.N.
Quality of life (QOL) explains the aspects of health, functional status and well-being of the people. This community-based cross-sectional study examined the factors affecting the overall QOL of the elderly living in informal caregiving settings in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. A representative sample (n=723) of elderly people aged >65 years was obtained by multi-stage cluster sampling. Sociodemographic variables were recorded and overall QOL was assessed using a validated Sinhala version of WHOQOL BREF Questionnaire. Activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were assessed using validated Sinhala versions of 10-item Barthel Index and Lawton IADL scales respectively. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to find the associations between overall QOL and the sociodemographic data, activity limitations and morbidity data. Mean ± SD age of the elderly was 72.236.3 years and mean ± SD score of the overall QOL was 56.73±12.57 out of 100. Overall QOL was negatively associated with ADL (beta coefficient [β]=-6.44, p<0.001) and IADL limitations (β=-4.82, p<0.001), and having arthritis (β=-3.01, p<0.01) and heart disease (β=-2.84, p<0.05) in adjusted models. Significant positive associations were observed between the overall QOL and the educational status (secondary education β=3.29, p<0.01; tertiary education β=8.91, p<0.001), living conditions (living with spouse β=6.43, p<0.01; living with spouse and children β=5.05, p<0.01), participation in religious activities (β=7.01, p<0.001), frequently visited by relatives or friends (β=3.13, p<0.001) and financial independence (β=3.52, p<0.001) in adjusted models. Presence of activity limitations and chronic diseases, especially arthritis and heart disease tend to reduce the QOL while having higher educational status, living with family members, participating in religious activities, having regular social interactions with friends and relatives and financial independence tend to improve the QOL of elderly living in informal caregiving settings.
Developing a culturally sensitive parenting style measure
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021-11-11) Ekanayake, E.H.M.R.K.; Mudiyanse, R.M.; Wickramasinghe, V.P.
The significance of parenting on child development has been recognized as early as the 17ᵗʰ century. Baumrind recognized authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles in 1971. After the recognition of responsiveness and demanding dimensions of parenting, a 4ᵗʰ entity called neglectful parenting also emerged. The implications of parenting style on child development have been well documented. Developing tools to assess parenting style is a challenge due to the socio-economic and cultural influences on it. The instruments developed taking these facts into consideration would help educators and researchers to assess parenting style. The objective of this study was to explore items available in the literature to determine parenting style and to evaluate their suitability to be used among Sinhala speaking parents of preschool-aged children in Sri Lanka considering expert opinion. Out of 54 instruments published from 1941 to 2017, 19 were parent-reported questionnaires and 35 were child-reported questionnaires. Out of them, Parenting practices questionnaire, Parent as Social Context Questionnaire, Preschool Parenting Measure and Parenting Style Four Factor Questionnaire were selected because of their reported validity as parent-report questionnaires. These instruments consisted of 134 items and they have been recognized either as parenting styles or as core features of parenting. After the elimination of duplicates, there were 74 items that could possibly be adopted to develop a parenting style survey tool. These items were submitted to a 4- member panel of experts in the field of pediatrics and education with the request to comment on the suitability of those items to assess parenting style in Sri Lanka. However, the panel stressed the need to develop authentic and culturally sensitive items suitable for Sri Lanka. In conclusion, in spite of the availability of internationally recognized tools for the assessment of parenting style, the consensus was to develop a culturally sensitive locally validated tool. Available literature could be used in developing a guide for Focus Group Discussions and In-depth interviews.
Development of a screening tool to identify psychological morbidity of new entrants of University of Peradeniya
(University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021-11-11) Herath, H.M.C.L.; Rajapakse, T.; Edussuriya, D.; Karunannayake, D.D.K.S.; Chandrasena, W.D.
Mental well-being is very important to become an effective and efficient member of the society. The mental health and behavior of a person is influenced by individual and environmental factors experienced during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. Although many studies have been conducted with the general public, there are only a very few studies conducted to identify risk factors for development of psychological morbidities among university students. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a screening tool to identify those at risk of developing psychological morbidity among new entrants to the University of Peradeniya. This study adopted a mixed methods approach. In phase I, the preparation of a preliminary questionnaire was accomplished with developing a Semi-Structured Interview Guide (SSIG) through literature review. To identify risk factors for development of psychological morbidity among new entrants, in- depth interviews were conducted using the SSIG among key informants and a list of risk factors was identified through thematic analysis. In the phase II, refining the preliminary questionnaire and the reduction of items were carried out through discussion with an expert group and after conducting two Delphi rounds among experts consisting of administrative staff and service staff of the university and teaching hospitals in Peradeniya and Kandy. The data was collected in the above two phases from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Wardens, Sub-Wardens, Heath Center staff, Staff of the Career Guidance Unit, Senior Student Counsellors, Consultant Psychiatrists, and Psychologists. The pilot test of the prepared tool was conducted with 50 first year students. The final tool was constructed with 28 items and the reliability of the factors was greater than .6 in the Cronbach alpha scale. The prepared tool is ready to use with the new entrants of University of Peradeniya to screen and extend support to vulnerable students to help them overcome their psychological issues.