Study of Self-concept among Adolescents in Relation to Maternal Employment

Page: 487-490
Rani, R. and Singh, B. (Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana)

The sense of self-concept is made up of self-evaluation or self-perception and focuses on an individual ‘s thoughts about his or her own characteristics. Self-concept describes the state in which an individual evaluates or thinks about himself or herself in the important aspects of life. A person with positive self-concept has a feeling of worthiness while on the other hand, an individual with negative self-concept considers him/her as valueless. The present study was planned to study the effect of maternal employment on self-concept of Adolescents. For the fulfillment of the purpose of the study 100 adolescents (50 adolescents of working mothers & 50 adolescents of non-working mothers) age range of 16-18 years were selected. “Self-concept questionnaire (SCQ)” by Saraswat applied to determine self-concept. The questionnaire covers six dimensions of self-concept. Results of the study revealed that on all dimensions as well as on the total score of self-concept the mean scores of non-working mothers’ adolescents were higher than the mean score of adolescents of working mothers. However, the difference between the two groups on some dimensions, i.e., social, temperamental and moral was found to be statistically not significant. Even though the present study suggests that mothers are required to be made aware about of the needs of their wards. A positive approach to motherhood can be helpful in positive development of self-concept of their adolescents. Working mothers irrespective of their professional engagements should give full time to their wards.