title: Role models and occupational ambitions of in-school male adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A role model is perceived as worthy of imitation, their selection can indicate significant elements of psychosocial health and self-projection in adolescents. Patterns of behavior and lifestyle choices established during adolescence can have immediate and lasting effects on health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study was undertaken in the schools of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. The sample frame was 2347, out of which a sample of 390 students was studied. Data collected were entered and analyzed by SPSS for Windows version 10%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority (62.7%) of adolescents revealed that their role models were Film Star (34.8%) and their Teachers (27.9%), Parents (14.3%), Sportsman (12.0%). Politicians as the role models were opted by least proportion (1.2%). Desire of future occupation was Businessmen (27.9%), Doctor (18.6), and Engineer (14.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly all adolescents had a role model. There is greater impact of cinema on the minds of adolescents, which resulted in choosing film actors as their role model. Aspiration of future occupation was not related to the characteristics of the role model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Suhail Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Azmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anees
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Najam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khalique
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Zulfia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: Ambitions; adolescents; occupational ambitions; role models; school