Mental Health in Relation to Locus of Control among the Youth in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India

By : Osunam Pertin, Swati Patra

Page No: 119-130

Abstract:
Mental health among youth assumes significance in view of psychosocial problems and increased risk of mental disorders in particular sociocultural context. Sagar (2020) reports that according to the Global Burden of Disease, the prevalence of conduct disorder and ADHD was highest among the youth in Arunachal Pradesh. Hence it is important to study mental health in youth and the present study examines mental health in relationship to locus of control among the youth of Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh in India. The sample included 300 youth (150 females and 150 males) aged 15 to 23 years from educational institutions in Itanagar. They were classified into three age groups (15-17, 18- 20, and 21-23 years), having 100 participants in each. Mental Health Continuum Short Form (Keyes, 2005) and Rotter’s Locus of Control scale (Rotter, 1966) were administered. Findings indicated increase in flourishing and decrease in languishing state of mental health of youth with an increase in the age group. A majority of youth was found to have good mental health with moderate (52%) to flourishing (30%) state of mental health, whereas 18% of youth reported languishing or a poor state of mental health. There was a significant gender difference in mental health. Although both the genders have almost similar distribution in moderate category of mental health; males have higher level in flourishing (males – 17%, females – 13%), and females have higher level in languishing (females – 11.67%, males – 6.33%) state of mental health. Data also indicated higher percentage of males (38.6%) in internal locus of control; whereas there are a higher percentage of females (13.35%) in external locus of control as compared to males. This may explain the poor mental health of females as internal locus of control is associated with better mental health. Thus the study has implications for youth mental health.

Authors :
Osunam Pertin
PhD Scholar – Discipline of Psychology, SOSS, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068.

Swati Patra
Professor of Psychology – SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi–110068.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2022.17.01.11