Psychosocial Determinants of Psychological Well-being of Indian Youth

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19693541

Nidhi Pokhriyal¹ and Prasanta Kumar Roy² (Department of Psychology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand¹ andDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry-COE, Kolkata, West Bengal²)

Psychological well-being (PWB) in youth is shaped by a complex interplay of psychosocial factors. This cross-sectional study investigated the role of social support, adverse experiences, and socioeconomic status in predicting PWB among 300 Indian youth (150 males, 150 females) aged 16-24 years from the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), India. Participants completed a demographic survey and the Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire for the Indian Population. Mean PWB was moderately high (M = 178.34, SD = 25.11). Males reported significantly higher PWB than females (p < .001). Having more friends and a friendly relationship with parents were strongly associated with higher PWB (p < .01). Experiences of bullying, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and suicidal ideation were linked to significantly lower PWB. ANOVA indicated small but significant effects of annual income and number of friends, while regression showed parental support and number of friends as significant predictors. Findings highlight the protective role of supportive relationships and the detrimental impact of abuse on youth well-being. Interventions should prioritize strengthening family and peer support systems to promote mental health in Indian youth.