A relationship study between socio economic status and growth status of school students

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between socio economic status and growth status of adolescent school students. Methods: Total four hundred and fifty (n=450) adolescent male school students were selected as subjects from Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly and Howrah district of West Bengal. Socio economic status and anthropometric measurements were considered as variables. Socio economic status was measured through questionnaire developed by Sunil Kumar Upadhyay and AlkaSaxena. Anthropometrical profile was assessed by standard anthropometric instruments. Descriptive statistics viz. mean, standard deviation, standard error of mean and further correlation coefficient were also used for generalizing the statistical significant relationship between socio economic status and growth status. Results: Present result shows that positive relationship exists between socio economic status and growth patterns in respect of high average, average and below average socio economic groups. Whereas negative relationship is found in anthropometric measurements with respect of high and low socio economic groups. Conclusions: The high average, average and below average socio economic statuses help to promote the physical growth of an individual or a society. Whereas high and low socio economic statuses do not support positively the adolescent growth pattern and it may create some kind of health hazards.