Mental Health and Educational Psychology of B.Ed. Interns in Trichy District: A Correlational Study

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between mental health and educational psychology among B.Ed. interns in Trichy District and explored differences across selected demographic variables. A sample of 295 B.Ed. interns from teacher education institutions in Trichy was selected using simple random sampling. Standardized tools were used to assess mental health and educational psychology. Data were analysed using means, standard deviations, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s product–moment correlation. Results indicated no significant differences in educational psychology scores across gender, locality (rural/urban), or educational qualification. Type of institution showed a significant effect only on technology-related aspects of educational psychology. A very high positive correlation (r = .935, p < .01) emerged between mental health and educational psychology, indicating that better mental health is strongly associated with stronger educational psychology among B.Ed. interns. The findings underscore the need for integrating mental health promotion and educational psychology enrichment in teacher education programmes to foster competent, emotionally healthy future teachers.