The influence of age and parents' marital status on Indian children's perceptions of self, family, teachers and school

Abstract

Abstract This study examined the perceptions of self, family, and school of Indian children and adolescents from intact, widowed and divorced families. The subjects (N = 240) were administered the Semantic Differential Scale (constructed to measure attitudes towards self, family members, teacher and school) and the Self-Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith, 1967). The results indicated that children from divorced families view their fathers statistically significantly more negatively and their teachers more positively than those from intact and widowed families. Primary school children perceived the self, family, teacher and school more positively than secondary school children. This difference was most distinct (for perceptions of family and teacher) in the intact group and least distinct in the divorced group. These results are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications.