Self-Esteem and Depression of the Tribal and Non-Tribal Students: It's Role on Academic Achievement Need

The present study was conducted to compare the level of self-esteem, academic achievement need and depression of the tribal and non-tribal Higher Secondary school students of Tripura. This study further examined the relationship between self esteem, academic achievement need and depression. The sample comprised of 120 higher secondary school students aged from 16-18 years. Among them 60 were tribal students (Boys:30; Girls: 30) and 60 were non-tribal students (Boys:30; Girls:30). Self-esteem scale by Singh and Srivastava; Academic Achievement Need Scale by Tanwar and Amalnerkar and Beck depression Inventory by Beck were used to collect the data in the present study. The Sample was randomly selected from 6 government higher secondary schools of sub-urban areas. The data were analyzed with t-test and correlation. Findings revealed significant differences between the tribal and non-tribal students on the level of self esteem, academic achievement need and depression. Tribal students possess low self-esteem, low academic achievement need and more depression in comparison to the non-tribal students. Significant relationships are found between the variables of the study. The findings confirm the research hypotheses. The result of the present study can be used retrospectively for ensuring psychological intervention to improve the self-esteem and academic achievement need of the tribal students otherwise the motto of the government about tribes' upliftment would be a distant possibility.