PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF ADOLESCENTS OF BROKEN AND INTACT FAMILIES IN GILGIT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: Psychological effects on adolescents of broken families are an important topic in literature of the family. This research was conducted to compare the psychological problems of adolescents from broken families with adolescents from intact families.

Research Design: A comparative study

Place and Duration of study: Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, during January to December 2013.

Sample and Method: A total of 54 adolescents; 27 from broken family backgrounds and 27 with intact family backgrounds have participated in this study. Depression, anxiety, and stress scale was used to measure adolescents’ psychological problems.

Results: According to the findings adolescents with broken family background have higher level of stress as compared to adolescents with intact family background. There were no differences in depression and anxiety in adolescents between intact and broken family background. Additionally, gender differences in psychological problems were also analyzed, but results are insignificant.

Conclusion: It is evident that adolescents with broken family background experienced higher level of stress as compared to adolescent with intact family background regardless of their gender, although, there were no differences in depression and anxiety between comparison groups.