Psychological issues in adolescent females : Role of Body Mass Index and Group Couseling

Neha Singh Shrivastava; Shiv Ram Krishna Dubey; Maya Chansoria

Volume : V, Issue : X, October - 2016

Psychological issues in adolescent females : Role of Body Mass Index and Group Couseling

Neha Singh Shrivastava, Shiv Ram Krishna Dubey, Maya Chansoria

Abstract :

Background : Adolescence is a stormy period of life as an adolescent is exposed to a variety of stress on account of intense competitive environment, rapidly changing lifestyle, peer pressure, that have a major impact as regards adjustment and academic performance of the child. Counseling is one of the many strategies adopted to address psychological problems in adolescents. Objective : To study and compare the level of various psychological issues (Anger, Frustration and optimism-pessimism) between BMI groups (Underweight/ Healthyweight/ Overweight) in adolescent girls and Impact of group counseling on the above parameters. Method : A random sample of 450 adolescent girls (aged between 14-18 years) was drawn from 3 schools with entirely different ambience: one private English medium school, one Government hindi medium and one Government central school, reflecting students from all socioeconomic strata of society. Pre counseling assessment in form of exact age, height, weight was taken and BMI calculated using standard formula. The girls were then categorized into three BMI groups i.e Underweight (UW), Healthyweight (HW) and Overweight (OW) as per WHO classification. They were asked to fill respective questionnaires with objective type questions (pre counseling and after 12 weeks, following a counseling session). Results : Post counseling questionnaire data shows highly significant decrease in anxiety level in all three BMI groups, positive results on frustration scale and significant improvement in optimism (development of pessimism) in UW and OW adolescent girls. These results were confirmed statistically significant. Conclusion : Group counseling is an excellent way to tackle psychological issues in adolescent females and should be included in the school curriculum at regular intervals.