Aparajita Chowdhury

Family Characteristics and Adolescent Competence in India: Investigation of Youth in Southern Orissa

This study examines the relationship among a host of family characteristics and indicators of adolescent competence in a sample (N = 107) of 8th- and 9th-grade students in one school located in Berhampur city in Orissa state, India. Social competence (SC) and antisocial behavior (AB) were assessed by teachers, and adolescents evaluated various areas of their own competence on a perceived competence scale. Final examination grades also were obtained as a general measure of cognitive competence. The results indicated that families of more socially competent participants tended to be verbally and emotionally expressive; democratic with regard to discipline, input, and decision making; close but not enmeshed; higher in their level of parent–adolescent communication and family ideals; and lower in external locus of control. Consequently, families of more antisocial adolescents had more conflict and enmeshment and were more external-locus-of-control oriented and either permissive or authoritarian. Finally, several personal and family demographic traits were positively associated with SC and negatively associated with AB, including gender (girls higher in SC and lower in AB than boys), age and grade (older students and those in grade 9 more competent and less problematic), education level of mothers and fathers (positively related to SC and negatively to AB), and birth order (middle children in the family lower in self-perceptions of competence than oldest or youngest children). The findings have implications for parenting and family-life education efforts in India that could have a major impact on the development of adolescent competence.

Family therapy in India : A new profession in an ancient land?

This paper examines the need for family therapy in India and its evolution as an integrated academic discipline and widespread form of clinical practice. Included is a discussion of the numerous factors placing Indian families at risk today, both common and more serious child, marital, and family difficulties, the current status of mental health services and minimal emphasis on family-based treatment, and the potential benefits of family therapy to such a radically diverse and rapidly changing society. Targets of and settings for family therapy training are highlighted, and a brief outline of a training-the-trainer approach is provided.

Employed mothers and their families in India

This paper examines the salient features of the families with employed women and young children. Focus was given to find out the reasons of working outside the family having small children, their marital relations, alternative child care facilities and above all their own health status. It was found out that majority of mothers work outside due to economic necessity, although fifty percent (50%) of mothers were against it. As for husbands attitudes towards their wifes employment, this study revealed that fifty‐five percent (55%) of the husbands approved their wives working as a full time worker. However thirty eight percent (38%) of selected employed mothers stated that, they were not happy with their work outside the home and feel guilty of neglecting their children and family. Majority, i.e., seventy four percent (74%) of the mothers expressed their dissatisfaction over lack of alternative child‐care facilities available. Re‐examining the fathers role in case of employed mothers has been stressed as a...

Empowering Boys and Men to Achieve Gender Equality in India

Promoting gender equality and improvement in the status of women are specifically stated to be central goals of development and social policy in India. However, women in the country are still far behind men in most indicators of human development. Women’s subordination status and inequalities are reflected in almost every sphere in Indian society. Hence, promoting gender equality in patriarchal social order is impossible without the consent, mindset, and involvement of male population. In order to improve the status of women in India, the efforts need to get the support, assistance, understanding, and involvement from the major partner – the “male” of the society. There is the need to empower the boys and men in terms of their understanding, information, and capacity building regarding equal opportunity for both the sexes. This article tries to justify the need for empowering boys and men to achieve gender equality in India, without which any amount of women reservation and welfare programs will not be able to enhance the status of women folk.

Effect of Selected Family Variables on Social Preference, Academic Achievement and Self‐Concept of Elementary School Children

This paper aims at studying the relative contribution of selected family variables on social preference, academic achievement and self‐concept of elementary school children. An open‐ended questionnaire based on family background information and two standardized tools: Peers Nomination Scale and Self‐Concept Inventory were used to know the social preference and self‐concept of children. The examination mark was taken to measure the pupils academic achievement. No significant association was obtained between the selected family variables and childrens social preference, academic achievement and self‐concept in the present study. However, the present study shows some positive indication towards the peers and the friends in developing the self‐concept and its influence on the academic achievement of the elementary school children.

Exploring Research Strategies for Identifying Invulnerable Children: An Indian Context.

The main aim of the present work was to find out the various research strategies to identify Invulnerable children in an Indian socio‐economic and cultural context. Competence based measures such as, peer perceived competence, pupil evaluation inventory and teacher behaviour ratings were used in the present study to identify the Invulnerable children from the normal children. Other research strategies were also discussed for further applications.

The Cultural Construct of Troubles with Boys in India

Abstract Familism in contrast to individualism is a significant reality for Indian families. Family organisation in India rests on age and sex hierarchy with the boys, men and older people being ascribed a higher status. There are usually clear demarcations ofthe roles and responsibilities between men and women within families. This is a reality that a child even in 21st century India learns and it is even expressed in various rituals, ceremonies, kin terminology and socialization practices. Hence, with this cultural construct boys develop their attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and act accordingly. The amount of restrictions, pressures and regulations are there for girls are enormous, whereas for boys, all freedom, no restrictions and oppositions at all for their behaviour, actions and thoughts in any stages of their lives. Boys are overprotected, over cared and at the same time given total independence in the family. The immediate outcome is visible through boy’s immaturity, dependency and learned helplessness owing to varied types of problems for themselves, their families and for the society in general.

Family Resourcing for Sustainable Living

Abstract It is becoming increasingly apparent that the future of any society depends on the ability of its citizens to develop their full potential and have the opportunity to lead productive and meaningful lives. The family no doubt plays a critical role in this endeavor. However, contemporary Indian families are encountering complex and disturbing problems of varied nature both internal and external having far reaching consequences. Families of today faces crises such as – marital strain and dissolution, increased parent-child conflicts, various forms of family violence, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, school drop outs or low school attainment among the lower class, and excessive pressures in many middle class families for children and adolescents to achieve academically. Given these conditions and difficulties, the future well-being of the Indian family seems to be uncertain. Family resourcing thus would benefit from having resources available at times of increased stress and strains. Assistance in resourcing can allow families facing crises or stresses to take advantage of their family and social network, as well as free or low cost social services. It encourages in identifying family strengths, building collaboration within and outside the family and highlights the interdependence of systems. Present paper discusses about the various elements and areas of family resourcing for sustainable living in contemporary Indian society. Most of the Indian families being resource-limited can well be helped through family resourcing to enable its members to lead healthy, happy and resilient family life.

Assessing Social‐support Network Among the Socio‐culturally Disadvantaged Children in India

Social support has a direct as well as an indirect effect in satisfying the childrens need. Present study aims at assessing the social support network and the satisfaction of the childrens needs belonging to high and low socio‐cultural status families. A total of 300 children of grade 8, 9 & 10 belonging to different socio‐cultural environment (advantaged & disadvantaged) were taken as samples. Present study revealed that the children from advantaged socio‐cultural environment were found to have healthy and enriching family climate. Whereas, the children from socio‐culturally disadvantaged environment were deprived of getting necessary interpersonal and intra‐family support as compared to their counterparts. Yet, these disadvantaged children were found to be getting more outside family support. Inspite of getting negative support and responsibilities from their families, the need satisfaction rate was found to be more in case of disadvantaged children. The study also found out that girls were receiving ...

Psycho‐social profile of abused children in India

Child abuse in one form or other, has manifested in almost all societies. But the recognition of child abuse as a social problem is a recent phenomenon in Inaia and therefore, research is still in its infancy. Present paper reviews the child abuses in India under the areas of different forms of child abuse, marital issues involved, parent child interactions, social and psychological characteristics trends associated with the abused children and its remedial measures. The paper concludes with an emphasis on the need for empirical data on the extent and nature of child abuse in Indian families. The effects of various forms of child abuse for developing appropriate interaction strategies for its managements and prevention have been discussed.