Description

INTRODUCTION Scientific innovations and technological evolution have brought forth a radical change in the modern world. People are under great stress and strain due to the fast-changing science and technology, communication media and value systems. It has also affected the culture and traditional systems of the people at large. Moreover, religious resentment, cultural conflict, communal hostility, divorce and family clashes are mounting. It brings irreversible harm to everyone, most especially to children and adolescents. Adolescents are very powerfully affected by what they see around always. It weakens their future competence in all five of society's major tasks or institutions: family, school, religion, society and government (Fagan & Churchill, 2012). India is a developing country where children below 15 years of age constitute 42 per cent of the population. It is believed that 25-30 per cent of adolescents suffer from emotional and behavioural problems which need professional help (Bhatia & Singhal, 2011). Thoughts, ideas and concepts developed during this period of life greatly influence the individual's adulthood and play a major role in character and personality formation. Adolescence is one of the most dynamic stages of human development, accompanied by dramatic physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes that present both opportunities and challenges to adolescents, families, health-professionals, educators and communities. Adolescence is a time when some childhood health problems may be resolved, new issues may emerge, and risks for some long-term adult health problems may become evident. Between the ages of 12 and 18, people go through major physiological and psychological,