Assessment and Intervention on Coping Strategies of School Dropouts: A Case Study of Distt. U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand India

Abstract

Stress is an inevitable part of human life. Every individual encounters different level of stress and has a tendency to develop unique style to respond and cope with it. Dropping out of school is one such stressful event. Despite universalisation of elementary education in India, there are still a significant number of school dropouts in the country. Hence, the research team of Child Development Unit of All India Coordinated Research Project, Pantnagar conducted a study to study the coping strategies used by school dropouts. It also implemented group interventions for the promotion of effective coping strategies. The study included a sample of 52 school dropout adolescents from four purposively selected villages of Distt. Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. Standardized scales were used for identifying their coping strategies. School dropouts were seen to usually avoid the stressor to reduce its impact. Rarely did they go for understanding the problem and working for more converting it into a challenge to accept and win over. Post intervention there was significant shift in their coping strategies. It led to significant increase in practice of coping styles like logical analysis, positive appraisal, seek guidance & support, problem solving and significant decline in the use of coping strategies like cognitive avoidance, acceptance, seek alternative rewards, emotional discharge post intervention.