Women's Participation in Panchayati Raj and Empowerment: A Social Psychology Study in Patna

The present study, Women’s Participation in Panchayati Raj and Empowerment: A Social Psychology Study in Patna, explores the extent of women’s engagement in Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) and the psychological correlates of their empowerment. The primary objectives were to examine demographic and social profiles of participants, assess empowerment and participation indices, evaluate psychological distress and coping strategies, and analyze gender-based differences. A mixed-method design was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 112 participants (73 females, 39 males). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, particularly independent samples t-tests, to identify differences between male and female respondents. Findings revealed that women participants reported higher participation (M = 63.2) and empowerment (M = 68.1) compared to men, reflecting the impact of reservation policies and growing female leadership. However, the t-test showed that women experienced significantly higher psychological distress (M = 25.7) than men (M = 23.3), t(104.3) = 2.03, p = 0.045. Coping patterns indicated greater reliance on problem-focused strategies among women, but stigma and role conflict contributed to elevated stress. The study concludes that while policy-driven representation empowers women structurally, psychosocial challenges remain pressing. Implications extend to clinical psychology practice, emphasizing stress management and resilience training, and to public health initiatives like TB management programs, where stigma and mental health must be addressed alongside structural support.