Competence and Family Support of Vulnerable and Invulnerable Adolescents Representing Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in India

As the 215 century unfolds it is becoming increasingly apparent that the future of any society depends on the ability of its citizens to help children and youth develop their full potential and have the opportunity to lead productive and meaningful lives. The family no doubt plays a critical role in this endeavor. In contemporary India there are millions of young people who are failing to acquire the competence and skills needed for success in adult life. The adolescent segment of India's population has been exploding since the early 1950's, and individuals between 10 and 21 years of age make up more than half (57%) of India's population (Shukla, 1994). The number of rural adolescents is rising at unprecedented rates and now constitutes approximately 73% of the total youth population. Given that the majority of rural families are poor, India is an ideal place to examine factors associated with adolescent competence in disadvantaged (resource-limited) families (Carson, Chowdhury, Perry, & Pati, 1999; Nanda & Dash, 1996). Included in India's rural population are the poorest of the poor, such as those families represented by Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC)` . Indian society consists of many diverse sociocultural and economic groups. Almost two-thirds of Indian children and adolescents are economically, socially and educationally disadvantaged in some way (Dash & Hariharan, 1988; Shukla, 1994). Various social barriers, including religion, caste, and tribal affiliation often put children and adolescents at risk. ST's and SC's are multiply disadvantaged because of rampant poverty, illiteracy, cultural and linguistic differences, social ostracism, and geographical distance from the mainstream. Although in recent years some positive changes have occurred among these groups which have enabled a small percentage of youth to excel both personally and academically, SC and ST families remain on the extreme ends of underdevelopment. In reality, Indian society has generally been unsuccessful in providing the necessary assistance and guidance to today's children and youth, particularly among lower caste rural dwellers. These families are encountering ever-increasing burdens and difficulties that are placing all members at risk. Some common behavioral difficulties exhibited by adolescents include disobedience and even violence toward parents, school dropout, smoking, alcoholism and other drug use, petty crime, and various other manifestations of juvenile delinquency (Chowdhury & Choudhury, 1993; Shukla, 1994; Simhadri, 1989). Despite increasing risks, however, some youngsters are finding a way to resist negative choices and face the challenges confronting them. Elsewhere these individuals have been referred to as resilient (Garmezy, 1983; Rutter, 1987) or invulnerable (Anthony, 1987). In an Indian context they are like "lotus in the mud" (Chowdhury & Choudhury, 1993). Inspite of being reared in resource-limited and often stressful environments (familial, social, cultural, economic), invulnerable youth, while undergoing all of the typical developmental changes and transitions, generally cope well with stress and tend to be socially, as well as academically, competent. Yet, little is known about factors that enable disadvantaged rural adolescents in India develop along normal developmental pathways. Understanding the processes that contribute to their adaptation, particularly family dynamics and relationships and key environmental variables, will provide crucial clues for improving education, prevention, and intervention efforts. These efforts may include family counseling and family life education programs implemented through a variety of modes and services (Carson & Chowdhury, 2000). Invulnerable children and adolescents, by definition, turn their disadvantages into advantages and emerge as successful and competent individuals in society2. While constitutionally based individual characteristics and abilities certainly play a role in resiliency or invulnerability (e. …