Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

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The Impact of Self-esteem on Sexual and Reproductive Behaviour of Indian Rural Female Adolescents


Affiliations
1 Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana First Floor, No.13 (Side Gate Entry), Jain's House, Palam Marg, Vasant Vihar, India
2 Centre for Social and Behaviour Change Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
3 Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City Sonipat, Haryana, India
4 Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
5 Centre for Social and Behaviour Change Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat Haryana, India
     

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This study aimed to determine self-esteem's (SE) impact on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of female adolescents aged 14 to 21 years in different schools and Anganwadi centers of Sewapuri block of Varanasi district (U.P). The study followed a long-term pre and post-intervention research design. The research instruments were the Hindi version of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory and a self-prepared regionally sensitive SRH survey. The pre-intervention survey was conducted for 510 participants. The average score on the SE scale and SRH was 54.07 (out of 96) and 79.17 (out of 105), respectively. Regression analysis showed that SE scores significantly predicted the participants' SRH scores. Age showed an inverse relationship with SE and SRH. SE and SRH were higher for unmarried and enrolled participants. A practice-based intervention consisting of 10 self-esteem modules was delivered to 70 female adolescents in phase I. The surveys were taken immediately after the intervention. The SRH score increased significantly, while the increase in the SE score was not significant. Self-esteem as an attitude takes time and specific practices to develop. Academic performance might have also impacted adolescents' self-esteem since the surveys were taken immediately after exams. Therefore, the surveys were conducted again after two months for 36 participants ( ~ 50% of the intervention group). The results showed a significant increase in the SE and SRH scores of the 36 participants. Psychological care and behaviour change communication should be provided through self-esteem-enhancing programs for adolescents to enhance their sexual and reproductive health.

Keywords

self-esteem (SE), sexual and reproductive health (SRH), female adolescents.
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  • The Impact of Self-esteem on Sexual and Reproductive Behaviour of Indian Rural Female Adolescents

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Authors

Neeraj Agarwal
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana First Floor, No.13 (Side Gate Entry), Jain's House, Palam Marg, Vasant Vihar, India
Muskan Jain
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Akhilesh Singh Butola
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City Sonipat, Haryana, India
Sakshi Yadav
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Sonika Singh
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Shreya Singh
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Vaibhav Kumar Gupta
Centre for Social and Behaviour Change Ashoka University (CSBC), Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat Haryana, India

Abstract


This study aimed to determine self-esteem's (SE) impact on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of female adolescents aged 14 to 21 years in different schools and Anganwadi centers of Sewapuri block of Varanasi district (U.P). The study followed a long-term pre and post-intervention research design. The research instruments were the Hindi version of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory and a self-prepared regionally sensitive SRH survey. The pre-intervention survey was conducted for 510 participants. The average score on the SE scale and SRH was 54.07 (out of 96) and 79.17 (out of 105), respectively. Regression analysis showed that SE scores significantly predicted the participants' SRH scores. Age showed an inverse relationship with SE and SRH. SE and SRH were higher for unmarried and enrolled participants. A practice-based intervention consisting of 10 self-esteem modules was delivered to 70 female adolescents in phase I. The surveys were taken immediately after the intervention. The SRH score increased significantly, while the increase in the SE score was not significant. Self-esteem as an attitude takes time and specific practices to develop. Academic performance might have also impacted adolescents' self-esteem since the surveys were taken immediately after exams. Therefore, the surveys were conducted again after two months for 36 participants ( ~ 50% of the intervention group). The results showed a significant increase in the SE and SRH scores of the 36 participants. Psychological care and behaviour change communication should be provided through self-esteem-enhancing programs for adolescents to enhance their sexual and reproductive health.

Keywords


self-esteem (SE), sexual and reproductive health (SRH), female adolescents.

References