Impact of socio-demographic factors on socio-emotional problems of rural school children

The present study was conducted in Dharwad Taluk of Karnataka state to determine the impact of socio-demographic factors on socio-emotional problems of rural school children. The sample comprised of 206 school children of the age range of 12-14 years. The results revealed that majority (65%) of adolescents were seen under normal level followed by notably elevated level (32.5%) and very few (2.4%) were in significantly elevated level of overall pathology. Similar trend was observed in all the components of socio-emotional problems also except thought disorder wherein higher percentage of children had notably elevated (49.5%) and significantly elevated (26.7%) level of thought disorder. Age, gender and ordinal position of children had significant impact on socio-emotional problems of rural school children. Significant difference was noticed between gender and socio-emotional problems such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem and also in overall pathology wherein boys had greater socio-emotional problems compared to girls. Age of the children was significantly correlated with thought disorder, anxiety and overall pathology while ordinal position had positive and significant relation with low self-esteem.