am i an adult? views of urban indian youth

225 Pages·2012·2.02 MB·English

AM I AN ADULT?
VIEWS OF URBAN INDIAN YOUTH

A Thesis
Submitted to
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
in
Partial Fulfillment of the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
(Human Development and Family Studies)

Guide Researcher
Prof. Shagufa Kapadia Priyanka Chopra

Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS),
Faculty of Family and Community Sciences
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Vadodara Gujarat

October, 2012
CERTIFICATE

In accordance with O.Ph.D.:8 this is to certify that the research title “Am I an Adult?
Views of Urban Indian Youth” has been carried out independently by Ms. Priyanka
Chopra under the guidance of Prof. Shagufa Kapadia, in partial fulfillment of the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Studies and is her original
work and bonafide work. The contents presented herein have not been submitted for the
award of any other Degree or Diploma. Further Ms. Chopra has fulfilled the requirements
regarding her attendance contained in O.Ph.D.:3(i)

Priyanka Chopra Prof. Shagufa Kapadia
Doctoral Student Professor and Research Guide
Department of Human Development Department of Human Development
and Family Studies and Family Studies
Faculty of Family and Community Faculty of Family and Community
Sciences Sciences
The M. S. University of Baroda The M. S. University of Baroda

Prof. Rajalakshmi Sriram
Head,
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Faculty of Family and Community Sciences
The M. S. University of Baroda
I owe this thesis to
my parents …
for bringing me in this beautiful
world and
making me the person I am…and to
my
mentor…Shagufa ma’am
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to expresses my indebtness and deep sense of gratitude for my doctoral
guide Prof. Shagufa Kapadia, Department of Human Development and Family
Studies, for her constant support and encouragement during my entire doctoral program.
It has been a true honor for me to work with her. She has been a wonderful mentor and
her invaluable guidance, stimulation, constructive suggestions and most importantly her
belief in me, have helped me accomplish my academic goals.
I express my gratitude to Prof Rajalakshmi Sriram, Head of Department of Human
Development and Family Studies, for her valuable suggestions during department
seminars, for her support, encouragement and appreciating my skills in relation to
academic learning and research. I acknowledge all my staff members of the Department
of Human Development and Family Studies for their critical feedback during the
seminars.
I especially want to thank Prof. Prerana Mohite, Former Dean, Faculty of Family and
Community Sciences for making me aware of the department, for advising me in the
initial phases of the program, for her concern, constant motivation and feedback during
the department seminars.
I would like to acknowledge Dr. Rashmin Sompura, Department of Psychology, for his
time, patience and guidance on all aspect of research and statistical analysis in
particular. Thanks is also extended to all the staff members of the Department of
Human Development and Family Studies for their critical feedback during the
seminars.
I am grateful to all the young individuals who have participated in this study, for
sparing their time and sharing their thoughts, ideas and experiences. Their contributions
were critical for this study as well as my personal development.
All my friends deserve special thanks, as without them I would have not reached this
stage. A special thanks to Bhargav and Rajiv for helping me introducing me to many of
the study participants in Vadodara. Jigisha for her constant push and peer reviewing
my work. Apurva for helping me solve queries related to quantitative analysis.
Priyanka, Surekha, Jigisha, Kunal, Swati, Apurva, Sujata, Asmita, Meghna and Tara
for their concerned about my research, for their peppy notes and boosting words, “you
will finish soon dear, don’t worry.” Special thanks to my hostel mates (Priyanka,
Surekha, Aditi, Megha, Minashree and Purvika) who were my family away from
family.
Sincere appreciation and thanks are due to my family members. My parents, the
ultimate source of inspiration and support. My brothers Pankaj, Anuj and Ankit and
sister- in-law Nidhi for their continuous encouragement. I feel short of words to express
my gratitude towards my in-laws for providing constant support and assistance of all
kinds. A very special credit to my sister Neha, who introduced me to many research
participants in Delhi and inspired me immensely throughout my doctoral work.
I express my deepest gratefulness to my partner Achal for being such a wonderful
friend, for his inspiration, moral support, patience and guidance provided at every stage
of the research work. Above all, I am thankful to my guru Saheb and the God almighty
for being with me all through.

Priyanka Chopra.
CONTENTS

Page
Nos.
List of Tables 2
List of Figures 3
Abstract 4
Chapter1. Introduction 5
Chapter2. Review of Literature 8
Chapter3. Methodology 46
Chapter4. Results and Interpretation 60
Chapter5. Discussion and Conclusions 163
References 185
Appendices
A. Permission letter to the Heads of Department 200
B. Tool I 202
C. Tool II 211
D. Detailed list of young individuals responding to criteria necessary 215
for adulthood
E1. Detailed list of means and standard deviations for all criteria in 217
Delhi city for age and gender
E2. Detailed list of means and standard deviations for all criteria in 219
Vadodara city for age and gender
2

List of Tables
Page
Tables
Title of table
Nos. Nos.
1. Socio-demographic profile of the young persons 61
2. Self-adult perceptions of participants across age, gender and city 65
3. Self-adult perceptions of participants by background variables 66
4. Highest preferred criteria necessary for adulthood across city, age 68
and gender
5. Least preferred criteria necessary for adulthood across city, age and 69
gender
6. Means and standard deviations for markers of adulthood subscales 71
in young persons across city, age and gender
7. Means and standard deviations for first six criteria in young persons 72
across city
8. Comparison of young persons on markers of adulthood for age 74
9. Comparison of young persons on markers of adulthood for gender 75
10. Comparison of young persons on markers of adulthood for city 76
11. Comparison of young persons on markers of adulthood for city and 77
gender
12. Comparison of young persons on markers of adulthood for gender 78
and age
13. Comparison of young persons on markers of adulthood for city and 80
age
14. Means and standard deviations for markers of adulthood subscales 82
in young persons across city, age and gender
15. Characteristics necessary for being an adult 83
16. Socio-demographic profile of the young individuals 89
17. Changes in markers of adulthood 128
18. Other significant duties defined by participants 155
3

List of Figures
Figure Page
Title of Figures
No. Nos.
1. Conceptual framework of the study 44
2. Perceptions of participants regarding self-adult status 64
3. First realization of being an adult 103
4. Ideas about marriage 134
5. Parents perceptions of an adult 139
6. Notions of independence 145
7. Notions of self-reliance 149
4

ABSTRACT
Emerging adulthood is a stage which covers the gap between adolescence and
adulthood. Researches have revealed that culture plays an important role in shaping
the conceptions of emerging adulthood. Non-western cultures are inclined to place
greater emphasis on practices that lead to an early transition to adulthood, thus there
may be a shortened period of emerging adulthood or no emerging adulthood at all.
India is a diverse country where 40% of total population constitutes youth. Presently,
the Indian society is experiencing a flux of social change, and young persons are
particularly vulnerable to the powerful global and western influences. Factors such as
increasing access to higher education, increased age for marriage and enhanced career
aspirations are bringing about changes in life goals. These social and economic
changes along with strong cultural beliefs and practices will influence young people.
With this scenario, variations in the criteria of adulthood are expected. The study
focused on Indian college students’ in the age range of 18-25 years from Delhi and
Vadodara cities in the northern and western regions of India respectively to find out
whether the phase of emerging adulthood exists in the present day Indian context and
the perspectives of young people regarding adulthood. The study is conducted in two
phases. Phase I employed a quantitative approach using a survey questionnaire which
was administered to 600 college students. Phase II adopted a qualitative approach
wherein interviews were conducted with 30 college students. In both phases, the
participants were equally divided by city, age and gender. Results revealed that half of
the participants felt that they have not achieved adulthood and are in-between. Family
focused categories were given most importance for being adult, nevertheless self-
focused categories along with norm compliance were also emphasised. Overall the
study enhances the understanding of how “emerging adults” in urban Indian society
interpret this phase of their lives and how this may be influenced by socio-cultural
orientations.
5

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The researcher felt ambiguous about her own self-adult status when she considered
the subject of her research. At the time of the study, she was over 25 years in age but
was not earning nor thinking of marriage, instead she was busy focusing on her
doctoral research. The researcher belongs to an upper middle class family in India and
her parents had received higher education. At the age of 18 years she left her parental
home for further studies, which made her responsible for her well-being and for
taking day-to-day decisions. Yet, she needed constant parental guidance, not only in
her professional life, but also personal life. She was not ready to take up any social
responsibilities especially of marriage. However, she felt competent in her work,
dealing with her friends and younger siblings. Based on her own experiences, she felt
curious to know how peers of her age felt about such a transition. Whether peers like
her need their parents’ support or can they manage things on their own? Were they
capable of taking responsibilities and understanding people and society at large or did
they also feel less competent for the same? What were their experiences and feelings?
Did they consider themselves adult or did they too feel confused about themselves?
The researcher’s own perception is that the impact of globalisation is driving rapid
social changes in the Indian society and such changes are significantly impacting
youth’s perceptions. Young people are more focused on new opportunities offered by
the global world and in turn are challenging certain paradigms of the traditional
system. According to Arnett (2000a) the increasing globalisation, will drive the
spread of the phase of emerging adulthood across the world. Also Verma and