The Relationship of Positive Psychological Variables with the Age of Destitute Women in Psychosocial Adaptation

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the importance of positive psychological variables like self-efficacy, optimism, hope, resilience, and well-being in the context of psychosocial adaptation of destitute women staying in rescue homes/short-stay homes in the coastal districts of Odisha, India and their relationship with their age and the implications for old age. The participants were individually administered measures of self-efficacy, optimism, resilience, hope, and well-being. Destitute and non-destitute women were compared on each of these measures. The sample consisted of 300 women (150 destitute women and 150 non-destitute women). The destitute women were randomly sampled from the short-stay homes/rescue homes in the coastal districts of Odisha. Though the age range was from 18 to 45 years (as that is the age they normally have the courage to raise a voice against injustice done to them), there are implications for their later life; if proper intervention programs are done to increase their positive psychological capital, better well-being can be ensured for their old age. The analysis of data involved Product Moment Correlation Coefficient between age and other dimensions. The major implications of the study were formulated and directions for future research were also outlined.