Perception of Home Demands, Demography, and Mental Health amongst Married Women During COVID-19

This study aims to explore the relationship between the perception of home demands, demography and mental health of married women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The predictive role of perception of home demands, and demographics has also been assessed, in determining the mental health of married women during the pandemic. A sample of 250 married Pakistani women, between 20 to 55 years, with at least one child and minimum matric qualification, were included in the study. Participants were administered a self-constructed questionnaire. Regression analysis showed that quantitative home demands and husband’s employment status were significant negative predictors of anxiety and depression in women, whereas emotional home demands and mental home demands were significant positive predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress in married women. The results of this study help to highlight the work pressure women are facing during the pandemic and to support reform in balanced gender role expectations in society. This study also has implications for mental health practitioners, feminists, social workers, psychologists, and policymakers.

Effects of Vitamin D3 Supplement on Bone and Muscle Health of Weightlifters and Powerlifters in Pakistan

The objective of the study was to compare serum calcidiol level of selected weightlifters and powerlifters in anticipation of the experimentation by ingesting Cholecalciferol 50000 IU (D-ZAK50) and comparing their bone and muscle health with lifting best total by pre test - post test research design. In this study, sample of two hundred (n=200) elite class weightlifters (n=100) and powerlifters (n=100) were selected from prominent clubs of four major cities of Punjab province viz Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot because players from these cities have contributed at national and international level in weightlifting and powerlifting sport. Willingness was obtained from selected players through consent proformas was followed by pre test of their lifting best total and serum calcidiol level (Avg. 19.66 ng/ml). After obtaining pre test results all players were categorized into three groups (A, B and C) on the basis of their vitamin D3 level. Players in these groups were given D-ZAK50 once per week upto two months. A post test (mid term) was conducted after two months in which increase in players’ lifting best total with Avg. %age 3.94 (r2=.99), 3.99 (r2=.99) and 3.91 (r2=.99) of weightlifting Groups A, B and C respectively where as in powerlifting 2.39 (r2=.99), 2.36 (r2=1.00) and 2.22 (r2=.99) of Groups A, B and C respectively. There was an increase in players’ Serum calcidiol level (Avg. %age 54.88 (r2=.86), 25.10 (r2=.95) and 19.19 (r2=.11) of weightlifting Group A, B and C respectively where as in powerlifting 51.78 (r2=.86), 24.49 (r2=.94) and 17.47 (r2=.06) of Group A, B and C respectively after post test (mid term). There after they were once again treated with D-ZAK50 (Cholecalciferol 50000 IU) under the supervision of certified physicians and pharmacists by further segregating each group into two as A1 & A2, B1 & B2, and C1 & C2 where the participants of group A1, B1 and C1 were orally given D-ZAK50 and A2, B2 and C2 were treated as placebo once per week upto two months. After two months readings of vitamin D3 level and lifting best total of the players were recorded as post test (final term) results. The paired sample t-test showed that there was a significant increase in serum calcidiol level of all players treated with D-ZAK50 in post test (mid term) and post test (final term) with an improvement in lifting best total for both sports weightlifting and powerlifting at both levels in comparison to players treated with placebo. In post test (final term) of weightlifting, there was momentous increase (%age) in serum calcidiol level of 26.95 (r2=.98), 25.58 (r2=.91) and 15.13 (r2=.98) in Groups A1, B1 and C1 with a meaningful improvement in lifting best total of 1.94% (r2=1.00), 1.88% (r2=1.00) and 1.76% (r2=1.00) respectively treated with D-ZAK50. However, on the other hand, minor decrease (%age) was noted in serum calcidiol level of 0.10 (r2=.97), 0.8 (r2=.99) and 1.71 (r2=1.00) in Groups A2, B2 and C2 with a minor decrease in lifting best total of 0.07% (r2=.99), 0.23% (r2=.99) and 0.76% (r2=.99) in Groups A2, B2 and C2 respectively treated with placebo. In post test (final term) of powerlifting, there was noteworthy increase (%age) in serum calcidiol level of 26.73 (r2=.99), 26.10 (r2=.88) and 13.50 in Groups A1, B1 and C1 respectively with an increase (%) in lifting best total of 1.20 (r2=.99), 1.21 (r2=.99) and 0.79 in Groups A1, B1 and C1 respectively to players given with D-ZAK50 but on the other hand, there was minor decrease (%age) in serum calcidiol level of 0.31% (r2=.99), 0.23% (r2=.99) and 2.13% (r2=1.00) in Groups A2, B2 and C2 respectively with a slight decline in lifting best total of 0.07% (r2=.99), 0.07% (r2=.99) and 0.79% (r2=.99) in Groups A2, B2 and C2 respectively treated with placebo. In Groups A, B and C, changing pattern in serum calcidiol level (ng/ml) and lifting best total (kg) showed that deficient sample population (serum calcidiol level less than 20 ng/ml) improved more significantly than insufficient (serum calcidiol level between 20-32 ng/ml) and sufficient (serum calcidiol level more than 32 ng/ml). It was recommended that the study should be extended to wider sample with different exercise protocols. It was also recommended that the study should also be extended to young and female participants.