Attitude towards School, Conflict, Violence and Mental Health Status among School Going Adolescents: A Gender Comparison

In Manipur violence is very common in different forms. Its impact is significant. During the time of conflict and violence, Adolescents are restless and actively involved in such psycho-social conflict, which leads to disruptive in mental health and education. The aim of the study was to assess the gender difference in attitude towards school, conflict, violent and mental health status among the school going adolescents. The present study was a survey on school going adolescents aged 13-17 years, from class VIII to XII in Imphal, Manipur, India. For the study two private schools and two hundred students, both boys & girls were selected using simple random sampling technique. Semi Structured Socio demographic data sheet, Attitude towards School scale, Attitude towards Conflict scale, Attitude towards Violence scale and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire were administered to the students.  The result shows that there was no gender difference on attitude towards school and conflict. On attitude towards violence significant difference was found between boys and girls  (t=2.84,p≤0.05). In mental health status,  9% of boys and 11% girls were having  emotional symptoms; 33% of boys and 28% girls were having Conduct Problem, 16% of boys and 5 % of girl students were having hyperactivity. Further, attitude towards schools was positively correlated with emotional (r=.096) and it has negative correlation with conduct problem (r=-.52) and hyperactivity (r=-.128). Attitude towards conflict has positive correlation with emotional symptoms (r=.164), conduct problem (r=.008), hyperactivity (r=.107) and Attitude towards violence has positive correlation with emotional symptoms (r=.014), conduct problem (r=.046), hyperactive (r=.133).. School-based mental health program are needed for adolescents who are at high risk for exposure to community violence is required.