Interpersonal Relationship of Rural Adolescent Girls of Rajasthan

Adolescence is an important period in the life span and in view of its characteristics and vulnerability, various efforts by different means are needed to have sound interpersonal relationships and function well in society. The present study was focused to assess and improve the interpersonal relationship of rural adolescent girls. The sample comprised of 150 adolescent girls in the age range of 11–18 years randomly selected from five villages of Udaipur district in Rajasthan state (30 from each village). A schedule to measure interpersonal relationship which was developed by the team of scientists under All India Coordinated Research Project on Home Science was used for data collection. Data was collected through interview of girls. One pre test was conducted to know the pre interventional level of interpersonal relationship of girls and after providing interventions one post test was conducted to know the effects of interventions. Results revealed that in all the components (interpersonal relationship with parents, siblings, friends, neighbours and within group) at pretest and post test majority of respondents fall into average category of interpersonal relationship. It was also noted that in case of interpersonal relationship with parents and friends nobody fall into high category of interpersonal relationship. On the basis of their scores few respondents moved from low category at pretest to average category at post test. Though improvement in the scores was observed as a result of interventions in case of interpersonal relationship with siblings and within group but frequency distribution in different categories (low, medium and high) remained unchanged. It can be concluded that interventions which were given through lectures, role plays, games, stories and exhibitions proved effective in improving the interpersonal relationship of rural adolescent girls and there is need for more interventions to improve this essential life skill.