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Mental Health among Adolescent Students in Relation to Gender and Locale

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Sartaj Ahmad Bhat Kounsar Jan

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 International Journal of Advanced Education and Research
www.multidisciplinaryjournals.net
ISSN: 2455-5746
Received: 03-04-2023, Accepted: 18-04-2023, Published: 03-05-2023
Volume 8, Issue 2, 2023, Page No. 3-6

Mental health among adolescent students in relation to gender and locale

Sartaj Ahmad Bhat1, Dr. Kounsar Jan2
1
Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Education, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir, India
2
Sr. Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir, India

Abstract
Good health enables peoples to enjoy life and to have the opportunity to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Mental
health is a fundamental aspect that influences both physical health and social effectiveness. Today, there are various problems
around human societies. So, it is a challenge for humans to be mentally healthy. The purpose of the present study was to study
the mental health of adolescent students across gender and locale. The study was conducted on a sample of 580 Govt.
secondary school students in Budgam district (J&K) through randomization. Survey method was used for data collection. The
data for the present research was personally collected while using the Mental Health Battery by Singh & Gupta (2005). The
results revealed from the study showed that there is significant difference between male and female adolescent students in
relation to their mental health. Thus, female adolescent students have better mental health than male adolescents. The results
also showed that no significant difference was found between rural and urban adolescent students in relation to their mental
health, both are equal.

Keywords: mental health, adolescent students, gender, locale

Introduction experiences. A psychologically healthy person constantly

Adolescents are no longer children, yet they are not adults. lives in the present, does not dwell on the past, and focuses
They are at an in-between stage. Adolescence is a suitable on achieving his future goals.
time period for concentration since it is a phase of human According to Thornicroft and Strathdee (1991), medical
growth and development that lasts between the ages of 11 disciplines have mainly disregarded earlier-generation
and 21 and is full of storms, stress, strains, confusion, health challenges. Since the publishing of the World Health
challenges, and problems (Santrock, 2004) [17]. Nnodum Organization's flagship report in 2001, mental health has
(2001) [13] defined adolescence as the period between attracted the majority of emphasis in public health and
childhood and adulthood. It is a time of rapid learning and policies. The idea of mental health is not new, but educators
knowledge explosion, a period of critical conscience, and and psychologists have begun to emphasize it recently,
above all, a period of inquiry. As a result, this time is according to Poonia and Berwal (2013) [15].
characterised by a wide range of aberrant behaviours that Mental health is a significant element of one's health and
are societal problems, such as drug use and interacts with physical health and ability to perform in
abuse, sexual assaults, and alcoholism, among many others. school, at work, and in society in a complicated way.
According to Hahn and Payne (2001) [10], adolescents go Individuals must have good mental health in order to
through strong emotional, social (interpersonal), cognitive perform properly (WHO). According to Punia and Berwal
(intellectual), personal, and moral growth in addition to their (2015), a mentally ill individual devotes all of his resources
physical and sexual maturation. These processes are to overcoming imagined threats and worries. Mental health
characterised as a period of storm and stress, tensions and is described by the World Health Organisation (2011) as "a
adjustment problems, and a moment of separation from state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or
adult society. her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life,
Adolescent Students are the greatest asset to society as they can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to
can be molded and developed into the most capable future contribute to her or his community." It is the mental
citizens. One must be physically and psychologically fit in condition in which an individual may work productively,
order to take the nation forward for long-term. A mentally enjoy the life happily while facing all the challenges ahead.
healthy person can grow emotionally, creatively,
intellectually, and spiritually, according to the previous Need and significance of the study
observations. The best possible level of health for the In today’s era of modernization, where the buzz of tension,
individual encourages dynamism, tenacity, productivity, and stress, depression inculcates even in adolescents. It affects
self-confidence to move forward. Because health is a basic the studies of students. Different factors affect the
requisite of existence, the phrase "Health is Wealth" is true. achievement of the child, such as family environment,
The three pillars of good health are mental, physical, and mental health, emotional maturity, social economic status.
social that are intertwined and fundamentally Adolescent’s period is surrounded by a number of stressful
interdependent. Individuals, societies, and countries all situations. Any human being, whether a child or an
benefit from good mental health. Every person encounters adolescent possesses a unique mental health which is
problems with life as a whole but the mentally healthy reflected in all his action toward life. The role of good
person seeks solutions and learns from his or her mental health in any human life is amply important for

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International Journal of Advanced Education and Research www.multidisciplinaryjournals.net

efficient learning and all round development of adolescent. 145 male and 145 female students belong to rural area
This is so because the adolescent is a “period of stress and school. The description of the total sample is given in the
strain” and this period faces a number of problems which figure below:
affects their mental health. A student plays an important role
towards the national development. Only outstanding Description of the Total Sample
academic achievements will not qualify him for a significant
role as a nation builder unless he fulfils his responsibilities
with care and devotion. As a result, greater attention will be
placed on the students overall development. This is feasible
if everyone wants to protect students' mental health,
including parents, teachers, and society. The level of
adjustment to one's own self, people, and environment is a
key indicator of one's wholesome personality and balanced
behavior.
Neglecting one's mental health has major implications and
renders a person unable to meet the demands of life and
one's future job. Students with mental illnesses, in
particular, socially separate themselves while developing
anxiety disorders including concentration problems. A good Research tool used
mental health ensures all-around academic experiences that ▪ Mental health battery of Arun Kumar Singh and Alpana
improve social and intellectual skills, resulting in self- Sen Gupta (2005) was used to collect the data for the
confidence and high academic success. A person who is present vestigation. This scale consists of total 130
mentally healthy makes a sound contribution towards the items with six dimensions- I. Emotional stability, II.
functioning of human relationships. Therefore, this study is Overall adjustment, III. Autonomy, IV. Security-
an attempt to study thoroughly the mental health of Insecurity, V. Self-concept and VI. Intelligence.
adolescent students in relation to gender and locale of
district Budgam, (J&K), India. The findings and educational Statistical techniques used
implications of this study will have a significant impact on In this proposed study, the following statistical tools were
parents, teachers, teacher educators, researchers, educational used: Mean, Standard Deviation, and t-test.
administrators, policy makers, counselors, psychologists,
and medical experts. Analysis of Data and Interpretation
A. Mental health of Male and Female adolescent
students
Objectives of the study
The mental health scores of male and female adolescent
Following are the major objectives of the study:
students were compared. Table-1 shows the mean and
1. To study the mental health of adolescent students.
standard deviation of male and female adolescents, as well
2. To study the differences between male and female as the t-value evaluating significance of mean difference.
adolescent students on their mental health.
3. To study the differences between rural and urban Hypothesis 1: There exists no significant difference
adolescent students on their mental health. between male and female adolescent students on their
mental health.
Hypotheses of the study
HO1: There exists no significant difference between male Table 1: Comparison of male and female adolescent students on
and female adolescent students on their mental health. mental health
Group N Mean S.D. t-value
HO2: There exists no significant difference between rural
Male 290 75 10.41
and urban adolescent students on their mental health. Female 290 77 10.12
2.33*
* Significant at 0.05 level
Research Methodology and Procedure
Research Design The table-1 (A) shows that the mean score of male group is
The descriptive research design will be used for the study as 75 and female group is 77 wherein the standard deviation is
this method is concerned with surveying, describing, and 10.41 and 10.12 respectively. It is also found that t-value is
investigating the existing phenomenon or issues, conditions, 2.33 which are significant at 0.05 level of confidence.
and relationships that exist. Finding of the study revealed that female adolescents have
better mental health than male adolescents. Hence,
Population Hypothesis 1 stating “There exists no significant difference
The population of this study consists of all the adolescent between male and female adolescent students on their
students of Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, India mental health” partially rejected.

Sample B. Mental health of Urban and Rural adolescent

Data were collected from 580 adolescent students from 10 students
Govt. secondary schools of Budgam district of J&K Union The mental health scores of urban and rural adolescent
Territory. Further, 290 male and 290 female from 10 Govt. students were compared. Table 2 shows the mean and
secondary schools were selected. 145 male students and 145 standard deviation of urban and rural adolescent students, as
female students belong to schools in the urban area whereas well as the t-value.

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International Journal of Advanced Education and Research www.multidisciplinaryjournals.net

Hypothesis 2: There exists no significant difference adolescent student’s mental health have been collected.
between rural and urban adolescent students on their mental Following are the educational implications of the present
health study:
▪ Teachers should know the areas where the students lack
Table 2: Comparison of urban and rural adolescent students on mental health and try to give better conditions for
mental health proper development in every sphere of life.
▪ Parents should be aware of school environment before
Group N Mean S.D. t-value
Rural 290 75.91 11.26
getting their wards admitted to schools.
Urban 290 76.15 9.27 .294* ▪ Parents should be aware about family environment in
*Not Significant at 0.01 and 0.05 levels. support in their children.

The table-2 (B) shows that the mean score of rural group is Suggestions for further study
75.91 and urban group is 76.15 and the standard deviation is There is no meaning of research if it does not provide cause
11.26 and is 9.27 respectively. It is also found that t-value is for the further investigation. In fact by universal opinion and
.294 which is not significant at either level. Hence, experience, the solution of one problem tends to indicate
Hypothesis 2 stating “There exists no significant difference many other unsolved problems, waiting for scientific
probing. Every investigator after accomplishing his/her own
between rural and urban adolescent students on their Mental
piece of research may feel inspired to do more research
Health” stands accepted.
through his/her own efforts, and may also feel greatly
motivated to indicate new areas of research for others.
Discussion Some suggestions for further research are put forth as
In the present study significant differences were found in the follows:
mental health of male and female adolescents. The results of ▪ The study as confined only to Budgam district of J&K.
the present study go in line with the findings of Gulwinder The present study, therefore, cannot claim to have
(2015), Kavita (2014) and Agarwal et al. (2010) [1]. Findings comprehensiveness. Conclusions may not be
of the study revealed that female adolescents have better universally valid. It is, therefore, suggested that study
mental health in comforts on to male ones. Above may be conducted on other districts of union territory,
mentioned studies are supporting findings of present study to establish the results fairly.
that female adolescents have better mental health than male ▪ The samples of only 580 adolescent students were
adolescents. considered. A study may be conducted on large
As Srivastava, Rai & Rai (1987) [19], Taak (1999), Sharma population to search at very definite conclusions
(2006) [18], Akhtar (2014) [3], Deoli and Dimri (2014), Dhillo regarding mental health in relation to other constructs.
and Sharma (2014), More (2019) found that there is no ▪ Instead of taking preset variable other important
significant difference between male and female adolescent. variables such as personality, aptitude, achievement,
As females are more prone than males to suffer from mood school environment, motivation, emotional maturity
and anxiety disorders such generalized anxiety disorder and and family environment may explored in relation to
depression. Additionally, some types of trauma, including mental health.
sexual assault, which can have a long-term impact on ▪ The study may be replicated on a large sample to find
mental health, may put females at higher risk. the reliability and validity of the present study.
According to the present study, no significant difference
was found in mental health of urban and rural adolescents. References
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