DELINQUENCY PRONENESS, METACOGNITION, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE AMONG SOCIALLY CHALLENGED ADOLESCENT STUDENTS

Abstract

Background Socially challenged adolescents are a sensitive group of disturbed children whose opportunity for healthy personal development and full unfolding of their potentialities are hampered due to certain elements in his /her social environment. A problematic social environment can directly or indirectly affect the emotional, social, cognitive and behavioural development of an adolescent. As a repercussion the adolescents are facing mental health issues leading to suicidal attempts, major and minor crimes and substance abuse making them at risk. Statistical reports show that in adolescent's major and minor crimes, suicidal attempts and misconduct have risen by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Objective The aim of the study is to identify the relationship among Delinquency proneness, Metacognition, Social competence and Emotional competence in socially challenged adolescent students. Methods By using purposive sampling technique seventy five socially challenged adolescent students of age 14-16 were identified through the schools in Kerala with the help of Socially challenged Adolescent Scale (SCAS),a standardised tool developed by the researcher and Dr.R.Nithya . After the screening procedure with the help of the Socially challenged Adolescent Scale (SCAS) personal sheet and other four standardised tools including Delinquency Proneness Scale, Meta-Cognitive Skills Scale, Adolescents Social Competence Scale and Emotional Competence Scale were administered among Socially Challenged Adolescent students. Results Based on research objectives and hypotheses statistical technique such as correlation was used to find out if there is any significant relationship between the variables among Socially Challenged Adolescent students. The results showed that there exist a significant relationship between Deliquency proneness, Metacognition, Social competence and Emotional competence among the samples. Conclusion This study throws light on the emerging issues faced by adolescents thus giving insight to the society to give immediate, friendly and accessible supporting hand for the young generation.