Page 39 - IJPS-8-1

International Journal of
Population Studies School dropouts and mental health among Indian adolescents

early childbearing on mental health status at later ages parents and other family members arranged the marriage
(23–28 years). Our findings on the effect of educational of teen girls makes them vulnerable to mental health
attainment in adolescence (baseline at age 15–19) and in problems as they do not have the freedom to speak or share
early adulthood (follow-up at age 23–28) on mental health in the broader aspect which results in a psychotic disorder
status in early adulthood (23–28 years) are consistent with such as immobility, lack of confidence, and nervousness
prior research that found significant association between (Ahmed, Khan, Alia, et al., 2013). It is found in this study
dropout rate and mental health problems in China (Wang, that women who marry in their teenage have poor mental
Yang, He, et al., 2015). School attendance in adolescence and health as they are hit by early termination of education, due
also in early adulthood affects mental health status in early to low level of education, they may not be able to find work
adulthood. From these findings, it is visible that continued in the formal sector, face social and physical vulnerability,
schooling in adolescence and getting higher education early childbearing which affect the life of a female in
until young adulthood is positively associated with good various dimensions (Jacubowski, 2008), that is, directly
mental health status in early adulthood. Issues such as responsible for the poor mental health status of women
poverty, low academic achievement, lack of motivation, at her later ages (Roest, 2016). People who get married at
high rates of early marriage and pregnancy, unsupportive older ages have a higher level of maturity and emotional
family, and domestic violence have also been found to be behavioral skills, use more effective strategies to cope and
the main causes of school dropouts (Jensen and Thornton, conflicts and problems, and, therefore, are expected to have
2003; Velez and Saenz, 2001), and these factors may also greater marital satisfaction means better mental health
have negative consequences on mental health even for status (Ghosh, Lahiri, and Datta, 2017; Hajihasani and Sim,
longer period as evident in the present study. Dropping out 2019). Therefore, the present finding on the negative effect
of school affects a person’s life in different ways. Inability of late marriage on their poor mental health status in early
to complete high school education can lead to negative adulthood is well supported by prior studies. This finding is
outcomes such as unemployment, underemployment, also supporting the recent ongoing discussion on increase
and poverty which results in poor mental health in early of legal age at marriage from 18 to 21 years in India. In
adulthood as also seen in this study. this direction, Government of India has introduced the
Life-course events such as marriage and childbearing Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment), Act, 2021
have a huge impact on the life of an individual especially to increase the legal age at marriage from 18 to 21 years
psychologically both positively and negatively. The present (Government of India, 2021).
findings show that women who are ever married have better In the present research, it is found that young married
mental health as compared to their unmarried counterparts women who have children after the age of 20 or who did
at their young adulthood. Studies have shown that not have any child had a poorer mental health status. The
marriage enhances psychological well-being (Strohschein, pressure to have children among young married women
McDonough, Monette, et al., 2005; Waite, 1995) and who do not have children and the pressure to cope up
improves social support, and it also connects people to other with the rearing and caring of a child are both situations
individuals, social groups, and social institutions which are in India that can have a lot of mental pressure on women
themselves a source of benefits (Stolzenberg, Blair-Loy, (Marphatia, Ambale, and Reid, 2017). Fertility pressures
and Waite, 1995). Another study by Haarasilta et al. (2004) from the family particularly from in-laws’ are common
found that unmarried or not-cohabiting young adults especially among adolescent girls and in the states such as
showed higher odds of having major depressive episodes. like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (Dixit, Bhan, Benmarhnia,
The present results did not find any significant effect of et al., 2021). Women who had child after age 20 may have
marital status on mental health status in young adulthood. younger children at the current age (22 – 29) when mental
The proportion of women who experienced separation, health status being assessed, and, therefore, having young
divorce, or widowhood was lower in Bihar, India; hence, kids have the feeling of responsibility and caregiving due
mental health was status that was not analyzed separately to which they have some kind of mental pressure (Hank,
for these groups. Mental illness among the widows is 2010; Aitken, Hewitt, Keogh, et al., 2016).
generally associated with the financial condition whereas A higher proportion of young women from SCs/
the separated or divorced women can have stress or strain STs experiencing poor mental health was found in the
due to financial difficulties as well as childcare commitments present study, which is similar to the finding in most
and diminished social support (Wade and Pevalin, 2004). of the studies (Das, Do, Friedman, et al., 2009; Gaur,

There are many studies in developing countries Vohra, Subash, et al., 2003; Kohrt, 2009; Mohindra,
showing a high incidence of early marriage. In addition, Haddad, and Narayana, 2006). Findings on the effect

Volume 8 Issue 1 (2022) 33 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v8i1.1280