Vladimir Е. Kamaev

The problem of social and psychological maladjustment in adolescents is relevant and significant in modern pedagogy and educational psychology. Adolescence is characterized by intense physiological, psychological, and social changes that influence the formation of personality and the establishment of a system of relationships with the surrounding world. The timely identification of adolescents with signs of maladjustment creates the basis for the development of effective programs for psychological and pedagogical support for behavioral disorders. The aim of the study was to identify adolescents with social and psychological maladjustment, to study the relationship between maladjustment and value orientations and self-esteem, and to develop and test a psychological and pedagogical support program. The study involved 40 adolescents aged 12–14. Methods of pedagogical observation (D. Stott's chart), psychodiagnostic techniques for studying value orientations (I.D. Egoricheva, L.N. Silantyeva, M. Rokich) and self-esteem (Dembo-Rubinstein) were used. The experimental study included a diagnostic stage and a formative stage with the implementation of a correctional program and final diagnostics. Spearman's r-test, regression analysis, and Mann-Whitney's U-test were used for statistical processing. Results. Statistically significant correlations were found between maladjustment and value orientations (self-confidence, sensitivity, level of aspirations). Regression analysis showed that 61.2% of the variance in maladjustment is explained by the influence of the values of social recognition, sensitivity, self-confidence, and pleasure. The program developed included seven 1.5-2 hour sessions aimed at developing self-awareness, communication skills, and emotional regulation. In the experimental group, the maladjustment coefficient decreased by 34.2% (from 28.4 to 18.7 points), while in the control group the changes were insignificant. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the groups (U=98.5; p<0.01). The program can be used in the psychological and pedagogical support system of educational organizations and in the training of educational psychologists to work with maladjusted adolescents.