Assessment of life skills among early adolescents: A descriptive study

Background: Life skills are the abilities that enable to maintain life in adaptive way and help to deal with the challenges of life. Adolescence is a very crucial stage where various changes take place and during this phase needs special attention. Life skills play a significant role in adolescence and help to cope with the stress and frustration of their life. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the life skills of among early adolescents. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey with descriptive research design was used. The study was conducted in a selected school of Sonitpur, Assam. A total of 122 students from Class VI to VIII were selected using total enumeration technique. Sociodemographic pro forma and translated version of life skills assessment scale were used to collect data after ethical clearance and written permission from concerned authorities. Results: The findings showed that 72% of the participants had average of life skills. There was a statistically significant association between gender (χ2 = 5.40, P = 0.02) and father's education (χ2 = 4.49, P = 0.03) with the global score of life skills of the participants. Creative thinking of early adolescents was found to be significantly associated with religion (χ2 = 5.20, P = 0.03) and critical thinking was found to be significantly associated with mother's education (χ2 = 7.99, P = 0.01). Decision-making of early adolescents was found to be significantly associated with gender (χ2 = 5.11, P = 0.02) and mother's occupation (χ2 = 4.16, P = 0.04). Coping with emotion of early adolescents was found to be significantly associated with gender (χ2 = 3.86, P = 0.04). Coping with stress of early adolescents was found to be significantly associated with gender (χ2 = 4.54, P = 0.03) and mother's occupation (χ2 = 7.07, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Comparative study can be conducted between the students of government and private schools or rural and urban schools. Life skill training could enhance the life skills.