Aim: To assess the adjustment level of an individual using
Introduction
Adjustment refers to the psychological and behavioral process through
which individuals maintain a harmonious relationship with their
environment by adapting to changes and challenges. American
Psychological Association (APA, 2023) defines adjustment as "the
behavioral process of balancing conflicting needs or adapting to
environmental pressures to achieve psychological well-being." J.W.
Dunlap (1938) describes adjustment as "a continuous process in which
an individual modifies their behavior to achieve harmony with the
demands of the environment and self." Shaffer (1961) states that
"adjustment is the process by which an individual varies their behavior to
produce a more harmonious relationship between themselves and their
environment."
Theories of Adjustment
Adjustment is a dynamic and ongoing process influenced by multiple
internal and external factors. Psychological theories offer different
perspectives on how individuals adapt to their environment, some of
them are:
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory – Sigmund Freud viewed
adjustment as the successful resolution of internal conflicts
between the id, ego, and superego. Maladjustment, according to
Freud, results in anxiety and psychological disorders.
Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory – Erik Erikson
suggested that adjustment is a lifelong process in which individuals
resolve different psychosocial crises at each stage of
development. Successful resolution leads to positive adjustment,
while failure results in maladjustment.
Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory – Jean Piaget
emphasized the role of adaptation through assimilation (fitting new
experiences into existing schemas) and accommodation
(modifying schemas for new experiences) in achieving
psychological adjustment.
Behavioral Theory (Skinner & Pavlov) – B.F. Skinner and Ivan
Pavlov highlighted the role of conditioning and reinforcement in
behavioral adjustment, where individuals learn to adapt through
rewards and punishments.
Humanistic Theory (Maslow & Rogers) – Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs suggests that adjustment is achieved when basic and
psychological needs are met, leading to self-actualization. Carl
Rogers emphasized that unconditional positive regard and self-
concept play a crucial role in psychological adjustment.
Factors Affecting Adjustment
Several factors influence an individual's ability to adjust effectively:
1. Biological Factors – Genetics, physical health, and
neurobiological functioning play a crucial role in one’s ability to
adapt to changes.
2. Psychological Factors – Personality traits, self-esteem,
emotional intelligence, and cognitive flexibility determine how well
an individual adjusts.
3. Social Factors – Family support, peer relationships, and cultural
background influence social adjustment.
4. Environmental Factors – Socioeconomic status, living conditions,
work environment, and life experiences impact an individual’s
adjustment process.
5. Stress and Coping Strategies – The presence of stressors and
the ability to employ effective coping mechanisms affect
adjustment levels.
Dimensions of Adjustment
Bell's Adjustment Inventory assesses adjustment across multiple
dimensions:
1. Home Adjustment – The ability to maintain a stable and
harmonious relationship with family members and cope with
family-related stress.
2. Health Adjustment – A person’s ability to adapt to physical health
challenges and maintain overall well-being.
3. Social Adjustment – The capacity to form and maintain
interpersonal relationships, navigate social norms, and integrate
into society.
4. Emotional Adjustment – The ability to manage emotions
effectively, cope with stress, and maintain psychological well-
being.
Review of Literature:
Khasareh, H., (2023) A study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of schema
therapy on resilience and social adjustment among adolescents in Kerman. The sample
consisted of 30 female students aged 16 to 18, selected through voluntary sampling and
randomly assigned into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The experimental
group underwent a ten-session schema therapy protocol, while both groups completed the
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (2003) and Bell Adjustment Inventory (1961) in the pre-
test and post-test stages. The results indicated that schema therapy had a significant
positive effect on the resilience and social adjustment of female students. The findings
suggested that resilience and social adjustment in adolescents can be enhanced through
structured therapeutic interventions.
Farsijani, N., (2022) A study was conducted to predict social adjustment based on
attachment styles and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The sample consisted of 337
female high school students, selected through the available sampling method. Participants
completed the Bell Adjustment Scale (Bell, 1934), the Adult Attachment Scale (Hazen &
Shaver, 1987), and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006). The
results indicated that higher scores in adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and
secure attachment style were associated with better social adjustment, while maladaptive
cognitive emotion regulation strategies, ambiguous attachment style, and avoidant
attachment style negatively impacted social adjustment. The study concluded that
attachment styles and cognitive emotion regulation strategies play a crucial role in shaping
social adjustment.
Kirtania, P., et. Al., (2021) A study was conducted to compare the emotional adjustment
among higher secondary students in the Coochbehar district of West Bengal, considering
age, gender, type of family, and father’s education. The sample consisted of 400 purposively
selected students from four higher secondary schools. Bell’s Adjustment Inventory (BAI-o)
was used for data collection. The findings indicated a significant difference in emotional
adjustment based on age and gender, whereas no significant difference was observed
concerning the type of family and father’s education.
