Abstract:
Living in boarding brings many challenges for adolescents as they live away from home, in an environment with disciplinary setup. Adolescents, while going through the stressors of age related changes, when put in a situation where adjustment is required away from home, develop social, emotional and behavioural problems (Herrero, 2006). Adolescents subjectively experience and cope with this experience of boarding, which in turn determines their well-being (Skinner & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2007). It is evident from recent events related to boarding school experiences that students face problems, and at times give in to the situational circumstances (Express Tribune, 2012). Prolonged experience of stress adversely affects mental and physical well-being as well as academics of the students (Hamre & Pianta, 2001). The present correlational study is focused on exploring the problems faced by students living in boarding schools, contributing factors and their way of coping. It was hypothesized that students living in boarding face social, emotional and behavioural problems, and there is a greater level of depressive symptoms in boarders. Sample for the study (N=245) was boarders (N=157) and day scholars (N=88), taken from five major boarding schools of Abbottabad city. Three assessment measures were used along with a demographics sheet, i.e. Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), Brief Cope Inventory (Carver, 1997) and Depression Scale for Adolescents (Naz, 2010). Findings suggest that students living in boarding face social, emotional, behavioural problems and higher level of depressive symptoms as compared to day scholars. Age and coping style appear to predict social,
PROBLEMS FACED BY STUDENTS LIVING IN BOARDING SCHOOLS 15
emotional, behavioural problems and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, coping appears to mediate the relationship between living in boarding and depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the need of intervention and in depth study of students living in boarding.
