Mental Health Status among Orphan Adolescents Reared in Orphanages at Tiruchirappalli District.

R.Anitha; Dr. J.O.Jeryda Gnanajane Eljo

Volume : II, Issue : XII, December - 2013

Mental Health Status among Orphan Adolescents Reared in Orphanages at Tiruchirappalli District.

R. Anitha, Dr. J. O. Jeryda Gnanajane Eljo

Abstract :

Adolescence covers the period of life between 10 and 20 years of age. An adolescent may become an orphan because of the death or disappearance, abandonment or desertion, separation or loss of both parents. An orphanage is an institution committed to the care and upinging of children who have lost their either a parent or both parents. Orphans reared at the institution for long period may have a detrimental effect on mental health. The present study aims to describe the mental health status of orphan adolescent nurtured in the orphanages in Tiruchirappalli district. The researcher used a standardized inventory to measure the level of mental health status. Census method was adopted and the data was collected from the 360 respondents between the ages 13-17 years in 6 government aided orphanages. More than one-third of the respondents (39.4%) have medium level of overall mental health. There is a significant association between educational qualification of the respondents and their mental health. There is a significant difference between respondents area of domicile before joining the institution with regard to their mental health.