A Study on Life Skills among Adolescents Attending Government Schools

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Adolescence is a phase of transition marked by several biological, psychological, and social changes. A vast majority of students attend government schools in India. There seems to be a paucity of studies assessing the level of life skills. Materials and Methods: The present study aimed to assess life skills among adolescents attending government schools. Life skills of government school-going adolescents belonging to the age groups of 14 (n = 47), 15 (n = 51), and 16 (n = 22) years were assessed cross-sectionally through the Life Skills Assessment Scale. Voluntary assent of the participants and written informed consent from the school and the guardians were obtained. Collected data were analyzed using the software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS, 25.0 version) using the statistical methods of mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage. To see the variation in life skills across the sociodemographic factors, independent sample t-tests (religion, residence, types of family, and socioeconomic status) and ANOVA (age levels, birth order, mother’s education, and father’s education) were used. Effect sizes were computed as partial eta-squared. The level of significance was kept at 0.05, and post hoc Bonferroni corrections were made for multiple comparisons. The study had the approval of Scientific Advisory and Institute Ethics Committees. Results: Students aged 14 years were significantly lower in life skills compared to the other two groups. Parental education also had a significant effect on life skills development. Children belonging to lower socioeconomic group were poorer in life skills compared to middle socioeconomic status. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for the inclusion of life skills-based curriculum in government schools.