Perception of adjustment among institutionalized adolescent girls in selected districts of Karnataka.

Institutional care for adolescent girls can be regarded as a form of care is provided by paid caretakers in group care. It is a temporarily organized residential care for children and adolescents. An institution is a place where alternative care is provided who are in need of care, support and protection. Institutional care for adolescent girls at young age disrupts the normal development. Adolescence stage is referred as a period of stress and storm. It is a time for the occurrence of physical and sexual changes and these changes may cause psychological discomfort among adolescents. Under such circumstances getting adjusted to the institutional care in the absence of parental supervision is a very difficult one. No human being can adopt himself to his own physical environment without proper adjustment. Adjustment is a dynamic and continuous process. It demands the abilities of adolescents to face various challenges in everyday life and if they are able to cope up with the challenges, they will be well adjusted otherwise it may lead to mal adjustment. The present study aimed to determine the different dimensions of adjustment such as home, peer, school, teacher and general adjustment among adolescent girls living in institutions. The result revealed that many of them have adjustment problem while residing in the institution.