Impact Of Flood Exposure On Self-Esteem Among Female Adolescents In Kerala: A Comparative And Covariate Analysis

Abstract

Background: Floods are recurring natural disasters that significantly affect psychosocial well-being, particularly among vulnerable groups such as female adolescents. In Kerala, repeated flood events have disrupted developmental environments, potentially influencing adolescents’ self-esteem. However, limited research has examined the role of socio-demographic factors alongside disaster exposure.

Methods: The study adopted a quantitative comparative design with a sample of 780 female adolescents from flood-affected (n = 375) and non-affected (n = 405) regions of Kerala. Data were collected using a socio-demographic information sheet and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Statistical techniques included independent samples t-test, linear regression, and ANCOVA.

Results: A statistically significant difference in self-esteem was observed between flood-affected and non-affected groups (p < .05), although the effect size was small (Cohen’s d = .141). Age did not significantly predict self-esteem (p > .05), whereas annual family income showed a weak but significant negative association (p < .05; R² = .006). However, after controlling for age and income, flood exposure did not have a significant effect on self-esteem (p > .05), indicating the influence of underlying contextual factors.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that flood exposure alone does not substantially determine self-esteem among female adolescents. Instead, socio-demographic and contextual factors play a more critical role. The study highlights the need for gender-sensitive and context-specific psychosocial interventions in disaster-prone regions.