Comparative study on psychological well-being of undergraduates and post graduates scholars in relation to their family system in Peshawar

Published on November 13, 2016

Abstract 

The present investigation examined associations between psychological well-being, gender, socioeconomic status, education level and family system of individuals. The sample included 104 participants and their age ranged from 17 to 28, out of which 52 were males and 52 were females and then the sample was further divided into undergraduate students and postgraduate scholars keeping in view their family systems and socioeconomic status. The results suggest that (1) males exhibit higher psychological well-being as compare to females.(2) reported PWB declined as we moved from undergraduates to postgraduate scholars(3) participants living in joint family system has higher PWB as compare to those living in nuclear family systems. The results were consistent with the previous studies.

INTRODUCTION:

At the most basic level, psychological well-being (PWB) is quite similar to other terms that refer to positive mental states, such as happiness or satisfaction, and in many ways it is not necessary, or helpful to worry about fine distinctions between such terms. If I say that I’m happy, or very satisfied with my life you can be pretty sure that my psychological well-being is quite high!

Actually, PWB has two important facets. The first of these refers to the extent to which people experience positive emotions and feelings of happiness. Sometimes this aspect of PWB is referred to as subjective well-being (Diener, 2000). Subjective well-being is a necessary part of overall PWB but on its own it is not enough the two important ingredients in PWB are the subjective happy feelings brought on by something we enjoy AND the feeling that what we are doing with our lives has some meaning and purpose. The term “Hedonic” well-being is normally used to refer to the subjective feelings of happiness and, the less well-known term, “Eudemonic” well-being is used to refer to the purposeful aspect of PWB.

PWB stands for psychological well-being, which is a model of well-being widely advocated by a psychology professor, Carol Ryff. Ryff analyzed many various approaches to happiness in different sub-fields of psychology and came to the conclusion that well-being should be seen as consisting of six components.

  • Positive Relations with Others
  • Self-Acceptance
  • Autonomy
  • Environmental Mastery
  • Personal Growth
  • Purpose in Life

PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 104 participants participated in this study. Participant’s ages ranged from 17 to 28. Out of 104 participants 52 were males and 52 were females in which 26 were undergraduates and 26 were postgraduate scholars in these undergraduates and post graduates further divisions were made 13 were taken from joint family system and other 13 from nuclear family system. All the participants were taken from middle class.

MATERIAL AND PROCEDURE:

To assess the PWB of the participants Ryff scale of psychological well being was used. It is a theoretically grounded instrument that specifically focuses on measuring multiple facets of psychological well-being. The Ryff inventory consists of either 84 questions (long form) or 54 questions (medium form). There is also a short form, but it is statistically unreliable and therefore should not be used for assessment. Both the long and medium forms consist of a series of statements reflecting the six areas of psychological well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, and purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Respondents rate statements on a scale of 1 to 6, with 1 indicating strong disagreement and 6 indicating strong agreement. Responses are totaled for each of the six categories (about half of the responses are reverse scored, which is indicated on the master copy of the test). For each category, a high score indicates that the respondent has a mastery of that area in his or her life. Conversely, a low score shows that the respondent struggles to feel comfortable with that particular concept.

RESULTS:

Do males score high at PWB scale as compared to females? We compared Ryff psychological well-being score of males and females participants. Males reported significantly higher average PWB scores as compared to females. The results are consistent with the previous studies. ( Table 1: shows descriptive statistics of gender differences in PWB).

DISCUSSION:

The results showed that males have high PWB as compared to females; one reason for this is that women exhibit less social support in  our society as compare to males and also because women’s status and life oppurtunities remain low that leads them to lower psychological well-being. Women’s has lower psychological well-being in our society because they have higher risk of being widowed, having more health problems and needing care ; all these factors leads to poor PWB.

Another reason that could be the cause of lower PWB is their negative self concept. Women’s are deprived of their legal rights, they have family responsibilities and if they are working outdoor then they have to perform dual roles. They cope with these situations effectively physiologically but fail to cope it psychologically, it effects their mental health.

Secondly it was found that undergraduate students have high psychological well-being as compare to postgraduate scholars; reason for this is that at undergraduate level students are in their struggling stage they look for perfect but learn to be ok with good enough. But in case of postgraduates, they don’t get satisfied with good enough they always try to have perfect. This thing decreases their satisfaction level of life. 


Category(s):Mental Health in Asia

Written by:

Dr. Hayat Ali Yousefzai

Clinical Psychologist and Researcher with over 8 years experience in diagnosing and evaluating mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulating and administering programs of treatment.