SEX DIFFERENCES ON ADJUSTMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM OF ADOLESCENTS OF CONVICTED AND NON-CONVICTED PARENTS

*Ganesh Amgain, Khem Raj Bhatta, Kapil Amgain and Raja Ram Dhungana

ABSTRACT

Background: Adjustment and self-esteem is found to be associated with psychological well being of an individual. Adjustment is an adaptive process, which includes relation to a variety of demands or pressures upon an individual. Self-esteem is the way one feels about oneself, including the degree to which one possess self respect and self acceptance. Of all the phases in the developmental trajectory, adolescence bridges the mutual relationship between parents and others like peers or the closest partners. The present study was conducted to study the sex differences on adjustment and self-esteem among the adolescents of convicted and non-convicted parents of Kathmandu, Nepal. The sample of the study consisted of 240 adolescents comprising 120 males and 120 females. Among 120 males, 60 belonged to the convicted parents and rest 60 belonged to non-convicted parents and same was the ratio in case of females as well. Instrument used for the data collection was The Adjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS), Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) and Self report questionnaire.The sex differences in the adjustment and self-esteem showed that females were well adjusted (M = 23.12, SD = 6.23) than males (M = 21.42, SD = 6.87) which was statistically significant t (238) = 2.02, P (0.04) < 0.05 and males had higher self-esteem (M =18.58, SD = 3.72) than that of females (M = 17.07, SD = 3.72) that was statistically significant t (238) = -0.36, P (0.02) < 0.05. Also, negative relationship was found between the adjustment and self-esteem and value of Pearson's correlation was found to be -.36.

Keywords: Adjustment, Self-esteem, Adolescents, Conviction.