Competence and Family Support of Vulnerable and Invulnerable Adolescents Representing Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in India

Abstract

This study examined family strengths of disadvantaged adolescents that may serve as buffers against the adversities of everyday life in rural India. Two-hundred adolescents and their families belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) groups in Orissa State were selected as participants. Within these families, 100 adolescents were identified as invulnerable (i.e., disadvantaged-competent), and another 100 as vulnerable (disadvantaged-incompetent) on the basis of peer and teacher nominations. Demographically, families of the vulnerable and invulnerable adolescents were similar with respect to their racial, ethnic, socioeconomic status, caste composition, and family structure (predominantly two parents, siblings, and other family members living together in one residence). However, there were a number of significant differences between the vulnerable and invulnerable adolescents with regard to their perceptions of their families and general living environment, as well as their own social and academic competencies. The findings shed light on a variety of risk factors inherent to the disadvantaged-incompetent group. The results also highlight the importance of particular family and community protective factors that may promote successful development in adolescents reared in extremely resource-limited rural families in India.