Anxiety, Depression and Counselling: a Comparative Study on Tribal and Non-tribal Students of Tripura

Present study aimed at investigating and comparing anxiety and depression of the students (all boys) of tribal and non-tribal community. The present study also aimed to assess the role of counselling as an effective technique for reducing anxiety and depression. The sample comprised of 80 students (40 non-tribals and 40 tribals). Their age ranged from 15-18 years. The sample was randomly selected from the four different schools of South Tripura district. Beck depression inventory and Bengali version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) adapted by Mallik and Chattopadyay were used to collect the data. Findings showed that there was significant difference between the tribal and non-tribal students on trait and state anxiety (t=2.45, t=3.16 respectively) and depression (t=3.84). In all respect, the non-tribals possessed severe amount of depression and anxiety. Results revealed that there was positive correlation between the anxiety and depression of the students.. However, no significant relation was found between state anxiety and depression of the tribal students. Counselling proved to be a very effective technique for reducing anxiety and depression of the students.