Self-Efficacy and Life Satisfaction among Scheduled Caste Working and Non-Working Women: A Comparative Study

Authors

  • Anis Ahmad
  • Sanjula Kumari

Keywords:

Self-efficacy, Life Satisfaction, Scheduled Caste Working and Non-working Women

Abstract

The present study was conducted with an aim to examine and compare the self-efficacy and life satisfaction of working and non-working women of scheduled caste. The study also attempted to clarify the correlation between self-efficacy and life satisfaction of the respondents. The investigation was carried out using the descriptive survey method. The population in this study were those working and non-working women of Scheduled Caste from Darbhanga district of Bihar. Simple random sampling technique was used for a total sample of 300 women which includes 150 working SC women and 150 non-working SC women. The Life Satisfaction Scale, constructed by Pramod Kumar and Jayshree Dhyani (2006) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, constructed by Ralf Schwarzer and Jayshree Dhyani Jerusalem (1995) were used to collect data. Appropriate statistical methods of descriptive and inferential were used to analyse the collected data. The results indicated the self-efficacy of Scheduled Caste working women was higher than the non-working women. Similarly, working women showed higher life satisfaction on mental, job, social, marital, family and overall life satisfaction. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. The findings also indicated that the more positive the self-efficacy, the more positive the evaluation of life. The results reveal that work can have a positive impact on the confidence, economic independence, social participation, personal achievement and psychological empowerment of SC women. The study finds that improving self-efficacy and providing greater avenues to meaningful education, training and employment could help improve life satisfaction and well-being of Scheduled Caste women. It also highlights the importance of supportive interventions for women that do not work that would enable them to increase their autonomy, social participation and their overall quality of life.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman.

[2] Caprara, G. V., & Steca, P. (2005). Self-efficacy beliefs as determinants of prosocial behavior conducive to life satisfaction across ages. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(2), 191–217. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.24.2.191.62271

[3] Datta, A., Endow, T., & Mehta, B. S. (2020). Education, caste and women’s work in India. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 63(2), 387–406. doi:10.1007/s41027-020-00219-4

[4] Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276–302. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276

[5] Firdos, S., & Amanullah, M. (2017). Mental health and emotional maturity of Dalit working and non-working women. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(3), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.25215/0403.057

[6] Gao, Y., Hoshi, T., Nakayama, N., & Nakamura, T. (2009). Comparison of factors correlating life satisfaction between full-time working women and housewives in an urban city using covariance structural analysis. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi, 56(3), 155–162. https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.56.3_155

[7] Gosavi, R. R., & Mohite, S. H. (2025). A study of self-efficacy and life satisfaction among urban and rural working women. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 13(2), 2652–2656.

[8] Jiloha, R. C. (2010). Deprivation, discrimination, human rights violation, and mental health of the deprived. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(3), 207–212. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.70972

[9] Johri, A., & Anand, P. V. (2022). Life satisfaction and well-being at the intersections of caste and gender in India. Psychological Studies, 67(3), 317–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00667-6

[10] Kabeer, N. (2012). Women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth: Labour markets and enterprise development (CDPR Discussion Paper No. 29/12). Centre for Development Policy and Research, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

[11] Kang, Y.-H. (2013). Health promoting lifestyle, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction of middle-aged women. Journal of the Korean Data Analysis Society, 15(2), 937–948.

[12] Kim, Y. (2024). Longitudinal relationships between self-efficacy and life satisfaction in women with physical disabilities. Journal of Educational Community Research and Practice, 6(3), 1–17.

[13] Lal, D. S., & Pavithra, M. (2022). A study on the relationship between personality, self-efficacy and life satisfaction. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 10(3).

[14] Luszczynska, A., Gutiérrez-Doña, B., & Schwarzer, R. (2005). General self-efficacy in various domains of human functioning: Evidence from five countries. International Journal of Psychology, 40(2), 80–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207590444000041

[15] Mal, P., & Saikia, N. (2024). Disparity by caste and tribe: Understanding women’s empowerment and health outcomes in India. Social Science & Medicine, 354, 117074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117074

[16] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. (2023). Annual report, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), 2022–23. Government of India.

[17] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. (2024). Annual report, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), 2023–24. Government of India.

[18] Monika, Chand, P., & Negi, S. K. (2025). Bridging structural gaps: Determinants of economic and psychological empowerment among Dalit women in Himachal Pradesh. Contemporary Voice of Dalit. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/2455328X251381962

[19] Nathawat, S. S., & Mathur, A. (1993). Marital adjustment and subjective well-being in Indian-educated housewives and working women. The Journal of Psychology, 127(3), 353–358. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1993.9915570

[20] Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. (2011). Primary census abstract data for Scheduled Castes, India and States/UTs: Census of India 2011. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

[21] Panwar, N., & Srivastava, S. (2019). Job v/s. home demands: A comparative study between life satisfaction, physical and mental stress in Indian housewives and employed women. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, 13(3), 68–73. https://doi.org/10.5958/0973-5674.2019.00094.7

[22] Poorbaferani, Z., Mazaheri, M. A., & Hasanzadeh, A. (2018). Life satisfaction, general self-efficacy, self-esteem, and communication skills in married women. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 7, 173. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_108_18

[23] Singh, S. K. (2014). Life satisfaction and stress level among

Downloads

Published

2026-08-29

How to Cite

1.
Ahmad A, Kumari S. Self-Efficacy and Life Satisfaction among Scheduled Caste Working and Non-Working Women: A Comparative Study. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 29 [cited 2026 Sep. 12];14(33S):1495-504. Available from: https://jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/10556