An empirical study on socialization counseling needs of adolescents in Indian schools

Adolescence is a turbulent time and vulnerable phase of curious experiences. Socialization is a process wherein, there is also a need to develop social relations which is intensified during adolescence and continues to be essential all through life. Hence, the immense human potential at this stage may be well optimized or undermined. Counseling is an interactive process which may enhance social behavior, discrimination, well-being and adaptation. Present study is an attempt to understand the socialization counseling needs of adolescents studying in different schools of India. A random sample of adolescents (N=300) studying in three different schools, government, private and missionary are chosen with respect to class, gender and socio-economic status (SES) for study on need for socialization counseling. The results indicated that adolescent students from government school displayed higher need for socialization counseling when compared to students belonging to private and missionary schools. The results for gender differences indicated that there was no significant difference for the need of socialization counseling, whereas the interaction of gender with class was significant. Further, the effects of gender with class and school were not significant. Moreover, results for adolescents belonging to middle and higher SES group showed greater need for socialization counseling in comparison to low SES group. Hence, this study emphasizes a possibility to strengthen the adolescent’s psychological orientation through socialization counseling in academic environment.