A Descriptive Study on Psychological Well-Being in Relation to Demographic Variables in Adolescent Orphans of Kashmir Valley

Abstract

Background: The United Nations Children’s Fund and global partners define an orphan as a child who has lost one or both parents. Orphanages, children’s villages, or other group residential facilities generally fail to meet young people’s emotional and psychological needs. Research indicates that orphaned youth face more negative psychosocial challenges than their younger counterparts do. This study was carried out to find out the association of the psychological well-being of adolescent orphans with the selected demographic variables. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 115 adolescent orphans in orphanage of the Srinagar district between July 2020 and February 2021 using standardized psychological well-being scale given by Carol Ryff. Association of psychological well-being, with its dimensions, and selected demographic variables were assessed. Results: Group mean difference on psychological well-being revealed that double-orphan adolescents have significantly lower psychological well-being as compared to the half-orphan adolescents. The study also revealed that habitat was significantly associated with overall psychological well-being and one of the dimensions of psychological well-being, i.e., positive relations with others. Educational status was found to have a significant association with the autonomy dimension of psychological well-being only, where as the type of orphan shows a significant association with overall psychological well-being and self-acceptance dimension of psychological well-being. Time spent in orphanage also shows significant association with purpose in life and self-acceptance dimension of psychological well-being. Conclusions: There is a need for organized social support to improve the physical and psychological health of orphans.