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Unemployment, Family Pressure, and Mental Health: A Study of Educated Youth in Rural and Urban Settings of Ghaziabad

Author(s) Prof. Dr. ANJU CHAUDHARY
Country India
Abstract Unemployment among educated youth has emerged as a critical socio-economic and psychological issue in contemporary India. While education is traditionally seen as a pathway to upward mobility, an increasing number of graduates and postgraduates are finding themselves without appropriate job opportunities, particularly in transitional districts like Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This research paper explores the interlinked relationship between unemployment, family pressure, and mental health among educated youth in rural and urban settings of Ghaziabad. The district presents a unique setting due to its position within the National Capital Region (NCR), juxtaposing modern urban growth with deep-rooted rural socio-cultural structures.
The study is primary data-based and descriptive in design, employing a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative data collection with qualitative insights. A total of 200 unemployed educated youth (100 from rural areas and 100 from urban areas) were selected using stratified random sampling. Tools such as a structured questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used to assess socio-demographic characteristics, levels of unemployment, perceived family pressure, and mental health status. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted to capture subjective experiences, emotional challenges, and coping mechanisms.
The findings reveal several critical patterns. Urban youth, despite having higher educational qualifications, reported longer durations of unemployment and more intense psychological distress. Contributing factors included heightened lifestyle expectations, peer comparison through social media, and economic insecurity. In contrast, rural youth reported significant community-level stigma, pressure to accept traditional gender or caste-based roles, and limited access to career counseling or mental health resources. However, both groups were equally affected by family pressure, which emerged as a key stressor. This pressure manifested as emotional coercion, disappointment, passive criticism, and in some cases, withdrawal of emotional or financial support from parents.
The mental health status of the respondents, as measured by GHQ-12, indicated symptoms of anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and in some cases, suicidal ideation. Gender-based differences were also evident—female youth faced a dual burden of career aspirations and expectations to conform to marriage and domestic roles, while male youth experienced internalized stress due to their role as expected earners. A significant number of respondents (over 75%) were unaware of existing mental health support systems or employment-related government schemes.
This research emphasizes the need to view youth unemployment not just as an economic challenge, but as a multifaceted social problem with serious implications for the mental well-being and future of India’s working-age population. It recommends policy-level integration of employment generation, mental health counseling, and family sensitization programs, especially in semi-urban districts like Ghaziabad where the rural-urban divide sharply influences youth experiences. The study contributes to the existing sociological literature by highlighting how structural factors, familial relationships, and emotional expectations shape the lives of unemployed educated youth.
Keywords Unemployment, Family Pressure, Mental Health, Educated Youth, Rural-Urban Divide
Field Sociology > Education
Published In Volume 16, Issue 4, October-December 2025
Published On 2025-10-30
DOI https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v16.i4.7605
Short DOI https://doi.org/g98ndq
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