Mental health of post-graduate students: Role of stream and gender

Pages: 513-518
Namita Mohanty and Mausumi Mishra (Department of Psychology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha)

The present study examined the role of educational streams and gender on n-achievement, stress and mental health of young adults. It was based on a 2 (Gender) x 3 (Streams) factorial design. The sample consisted of 180 subjects (90 males & 90 females) pursuing Master degree programme at Utkal University, Odisha in science, arts and commerce streams. Results revealed that females had higher n-achievement than males, and students in science stream had better mental health compared to their counterparts in arts and commerce streams. Stream x Gender interaction had significant effects on all the three dependent variables. Females of arts streams had the highest n-achievement whereas maximum stress was experienced by the female students in science stream. But in case of mental health, male students of science stream were better compared to all other groups of subjects. Results were interpreted on the basis of socio-cultural practices relating to gender role stereotypes, need for higher education, economic, social independence and emancipation of women as well as variation in opportunities available for employment of post graduate students in different streams.