Family Environment as Predictors of Adjustment among Female Adolescents

Abstract

The family plays a central role in the cognitive and emotional development of each individual. In the period of adolescence, family environment play effective role in adjustment. To study the role of these variables in adjustment, the present study was planned. The objectives of the study are to examine the relationship between measures of adjustment and family environment, and to find out the predictors of adjustment among female adolescents. The sample consisted of 134 female adolescents with 15 to 17 years age group. The adolescents were assessed with, Bell’s Adjustment Inventory (Hindi Adaptation), and Family Environment Scale (Moos and Moos, 1981). The data were analyzed by using Pearson’s Product Moment method of correlation, and Stepwise Regression analysis. The results revealed that (i) adjustment was found to be significant negative relationship with Cohesion, Expressiveness, Moral Religious Emphasis, Intellectual Cultural Orientation, Active Recreational Orientation, and Organization and positive association was found between adjustment and Conflict (ii) stepwise regression analysis found four main predictors of adjustment i.e., Organization, Expressiveness, Active recreational orientation and Conflict. Family environment factors, viz. cohesion, expressiveness conflict, acceptance and caring, independence, active-recreational orientation, organization, Intellectual Cultural Orientation and control together showed significant role in overall adjustment of adolescent girls. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that families should reduce conflict and increase cohesion as this may have positive effect on the psychological adjustment of the female adolescents.