Influence of Academic Performance and Place of Residence: A Comparitive Study of Self-Concept of Adolescents

Present study was undertaken to assess and compare the academic performance and self-concept of adolescents studying at Government Inter Colleges of Uttarakhand. District Udham Singh Nagar and District Pithoragarh were purposively selected as representative of most advanced and underdeveloped districts of Uttarakhand. Sample for the study was drawn from 21 Government schools located in developed areas of District Udham Singh Nagar and remote areas of District Pithoragarh. The criteria used for determining developed and remote areas was the availability of health care, education, communication facilities and connectivity to big cities. Sample of the study comprised of 319 randomly selected adolescents of IX standard. Self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic characteristics and self-concept of respondents was assessed through Sharashwat's Self-concept Scale. Uttarakhand Board's criteria was applied to determine academic performance of respondents. Findings highlighted that academic performance of students of Government Inter Collages was not good because only 11.59% students scored I Division marks in half yearly examination. Adolescents who got I Division had significantly high social and educational self-concept than others who got II or III Division or who got failed in half yearly examination. The overall self-concept of students who got I division was also significantly higher than others. Comparison of self-concept of adolescents of different academic performance categories across their place of residence showed that adolescents of developed areas who got I Division marks had significantly high physical and overall self-concept than adolescents of remote areas who got I Division marks. No significant differences were found in the self-concept of adolescents who got II or III Division or who got failed.