Family Relationship Pattern and Mental Helath in Adolescents

The study aims to investigate the correlations that exist among family relationships and mental health status among adolescents. This study was carried out on 100 randomly sampled adolescents of Dibrugarh, Assam. The sample comprised of a mixed group of students from high and low socio-economic status. It was hypothesized that 1) mental health status in adolescents is positively related to parental acceptance 2) there is a relationship between the category of adolescents’ mental health and their socio-economic status 3) that the parental attitudes for mother and father differs towards girls and boys. Mental Health Check-List was used as a measure of mental health. The pattern of family relationship was measured using Dr.G.P.Sherry and Dr.J.C.Sinha’s Family Relationship Inventory. It enabled the study of the dimensions of Parental Acceptance, Concentration and Avoidance. Data were analyzed through Multivariate Analysis, Pearson’s Correlation method and t-tests to test the significance of the differences. Results indicate that adolescents whose parents were viewed as accepting, especially the mother, had a better mental health status. Above average to average level of parental acceptance was found for adolescents belonging to high socio-economic status whereas average to below-average level of parental acceptance accounted for those belonging to low socio-economic status. Parental acceptance also differed significantly for boys and girls. High to above-average level of parental avoidance was seen among adolescents from high-socio economic background. Variance in paternal avoidance was indicated for boys and girls. The level of parental concentration was average for both groups. However there is a difference in Mothers’ concentration towards boys and girls.