Study of Relationship between Family Environment and Self Esteem of Delinquents and Non Delinquents

The study aims to explore the relationship between family environment and self esteem of delinquents and non delinquents. The sample comprised of 50 delinquents within the age range of 14 to 16 years. Data was gathered by using Self esteem Inventory (Prasad&Thakur 1977) and Family Environment Scale (Moos&Moos 1986). For delinquents, findings indicated a negative and significant correlation between desirable aspect of self esteem and cohesion in family environment. For non delinquents, a positive and significant correlation between desirable aspect of self esteem and cohesion in family environment was observed. Non delinquents from highly cohesive family were higher on desirable aspect of self esteem and reverse was true for delinquents. Results revealed that not only delinquents and non delinquents differ significantly from each other on the two dimensions of self esteem (i.e., desirable and undesirable) with non delinquent reporting higher self esteem as compared to their delinquent counterparts. Cohesion in family environment played a differential role towards their self esteem.