Delineating the Level of Depression among Juvenile Offenders across Various Observation Homes in Haryana

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Page: 503-506

Renu Joshi and C.K. Singh (Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana)

Over recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the prevalence of mental health challenges among juvenile offenders. Nevertheless, there is a significant scarcity of research studies that specifically concentrate on the prevalence of depression among juvenile delinquents residing in correctional settings within India. The authors designed the present study with the aim of investigating the prevalence of depression among juvenile delinquents residing in different observation homes. Additionally, the study sought to conduct a comparative analysis of depression levels, taking into consideration gender as a key variable. The study gathered data from a sample of 240 juvenile delinquent boys and girls residing in various observation homes across the Indian state of Haryana, India. Specifically, data was collected from 180 boys hailing from Hisar, Faridabad, and Ambala observation homes, in addition to 60 girls from the Karnal observation home. The participants in the study fell within the age range of 15 to 18 years. The study employed the Beck Depression Inventory to assess and measure the symptoms of depression. The findings revealed that a considerable portion of the juvenile offenders grappled with mild mood disturbances. Furthermore, a noteworthy percentage of them reported experiencing borderline depression and moderate depression. Additionally, a challenging 6.66 percent of juvenile offenders were wrestling with the formidable burden of severe depression. The results of this study further underscore a significant disparity in depression levels among juvenile offenders when considering gender as a key factor. These findings underscore the substantial impact of delinquency on mental health and emphasize the need for targeted interventions and support for this population.