Effect of Academic-related Factors on Adjustment Problems in Adolescents
Abstract
Background: Adolescence is the period of stressful transition from childhood to adults which provides opportunity to a lot of adjustment problems. This study is intended to assess the mental health in adolescents and their adjustment, using standardised questionnaires.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 175 school students of both genders and of age ranging from 14 to 17. After getting clearance from Institutional ethics committee and consent from the parents, the students were administered a socio-demographic proforma, General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and Adjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS) by one-to-one interview method. The scores were analysed statistically with Student’s independent t test using SPSS 20.0. Results and
Discussion: There was significant increase in social dysfunction (p = 0.03) and poor adjustment in all categories (p <0.05) as age advanced. Government school students showed more somatic symptoms (p = 0.03) than the private schools, while private school students showed poor educational adjustment (p = 0.01). Students from English medium had significant social dysfunction when compared to those from Tamil medium (p = 0.03). Day scholars showed poor social dysfunction, while hostellers showed poorer social and overall adjustment. There was correlation between mental health and adjustment with poor mental health leading to poor adjustment.
Conclusion: Factors like increasing age, type of school, medium of instruction and type of accommodation is significantly affecting the coping nature of the adjustment related problems.
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