Anxiety and Suicide Risk: Comparison Between Married Working and Non Working Women of Tripura

Today most of the women are maintaining dual roles of an employee and housewives with economic support to their family. The study examines the degree of anxiety and suicide risk among married women. It aims to investigate whether there are any differences between working and non working women on anxiety and suicide risk. Further it explores the relationship between anxiety and suicide risk. The sample comprises of 70 married women (working women-35; nonworking women-35). The mode values of the age of working and non working women were 39 and 41 years respectively. Suicide Probability Scale by J. Cull and W. Gill and Bengali version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) adapted by Nikhil B. Mallik and Prabal K. Chattopadhyay were used as instruments for this research. Besides descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersions; t-test were applied for verification of the hypotheses. Findings reveal insignificant difference between the two groups on trait anxiety. But significant difference exists between them on state anxiety. Study reveals that a notable number of women possess suicide risk. Further significant differences are found between them on hopelessness, negative self evaluation and suicidal ideation. But, the difference is insignificant on hostility. Further significant relationships are established between the different sub scales of suicide risk and anxiety. The results of the present study may be used retrospectively to create responsiveness among people about suicide risk of the women and ensure societal change and psychological intervention to lessen suicide risk and improve the mental health of the women. It can be used as a revelation for both the employees and employers who need to see this issue as grave and take corrective measures. However, closer look at the scenario makes us comprehend that working women face lot of problems involving both job and family.