A Comparative study of half-orphan and double-orphan adolescents to explore the psychological well-being in orphanage of district Srinagar, Kashmir

Abstract

Introduction: The impact of orphanhood on the mental health of adolescents is an inevitable phenomenon. This impact is raised when an adolescent loses both of his/her parents. Hence, the present study was aimed to compare the level of psychological well-being (PWB) and its dimensions (autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others, purpose in life, personal growth, and self-acceptance) between half-orphans and double-orphans. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted from June 2015 to June 2016 in selected orphanages of district Srinagar, Kashmir. The sample size consists of 115 adolescent orphans, and among those, 70 (61%) were half-orphans and 45 (39%) were double-orphans. Level of PWB was assessed using standardized scale - Ryff's PWB scale. t-test was used to compare the PWB and its dimensions between half-orphans and double-orphans. Results: Using t-test, it was found that there is significant difference between half-orphans and double-orphans only in case of positive relations with others (t = 2.034,P < 0.05) and self-acceptance (t = 2.325,P < 0.05) dimensions of PWB, while there is insignificant difference of autonomy (t = 0.126), environmental mastery (t = 1.013), personal growth (t = 0.377), purpose in life (t = 0.355) dimensions of PWB, and overall PWB (t = 1.788). Conclusion: Mean difference was found between half-orphans and double-orphans in every dimension while there was statistically significant difference between the two groups in only two dimensions (positive relationship with others and self-acceptance dimension of PWB) where half-orphans dominate. It is therefore recommended that the orphanages may have to consider the possibility of recruiting qualified counselors, psychiatric nurses, or child psychologists.