Self-Liking: A Comparative Study among Instit...

Self-Liking: A Comparative Study among Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Children in Idukki District of Kerala State

Author Name : Preema A J, Dr. S Esther Rani

ABSTRACT

Background of the study:Liking oneself is much more important in every human, especially children who are caring in both institutionalized and non-institutionalized. Thus, high self-liking is marked by positive affect, self-acceptance, and comfort in social settings (Rogers, 1961). On the other hand, low self-liking is marked by negative affect, self-derogation, and social dysfunction (Blatt &Zuroff, 1992; Watson & Clark, 1984)( Tafarodi, R. W., & Swann Jr, W. B. (1995) as cited in the article of Self-linking and self-competence as dimensions of global self-esteem: Initial validation of a measure).

Aim: The main aim of the study is to examine the self-liking among institutionalized and non-institutionalized children in Idukki District of Kerala State.

Methods and Materials:The descriptive research design has adopted. The universe of the study comprises of above 1600 inmates of 56 childcare institutions and children who living with parents in Idukki district of Kerala, out of which, 100 institutionalized and 100 non-institutionalized children was selected as samples by adopting stratified disproportionate random sampling techniques. Self-liking and self-competence scale was standardized by Tafarodi, R. W., & Swann Jr, W. B. (1995) and was used. Questionnaire method was adopted. Data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.

Results:More than half (51.0 percent) of the institutionalized children are having average level of self-liking, less than one-third (29.0 percent) of them are having low level of self-liking and remaining (20.0 percent) of the institutionalized children are having high level of self-liking. Whereas, less than half (46.0 percent) of the non-institutionalized children are having average level of self-liking, more than one-third (34.0 percent) of them are having low level of self-linking and remaining (20.0 percent) of the non-institutionalized children are having high level of self-liking. There is a high level of statistically significant difference between [t₁₉₈=12.727,p<0.01] type of respondents(Institutionalized and non-institutionalized children) and self-liking. It has been inferred that non-institutionalized children have reported a higher self-liking.

Conclusion: children who are being under the care of parents (non-institutionalized) are having higher level of self-liking when compared to children who are being under the care of institution. The stakeholders of institutionalized children should be taken remedial measure to enhance self-liking of the children.