Life skills among school-going adolescents in South India: A gender comparison

The stress faced by adolescents in the current situation is enormous. Research studies show that various psychosocial factors and life skills deficits are the mediating factors resulting in behavioral, psychological, and health-related problems among adolescents. The present study aims to study and compare the life skills among 8^th- and 9^th-grade male and female students attending the schools of Udupi, Karnataka, India.

A descriptive research design was considered for the present study. The study was conducted in two settings, ^that is, rural and urban areas of Udupi District, of Karnataka. In the study, 8^th- and 9^th-grade students attending two urban schools and eight rural schools of Udupi District were considered as the study population for the current study. A total sample of 594 students equally representing two schools in urban and eight schools in rural based on male and female ratio and medium of instruction were drawn from the study population. The schools were selected based on the willingness of the school administration. The schools were selected based on the medium of instruction with equal representation of gender. A stratified random sampling technique was adopted to draw the sample, giving equal representation to domicile, gender, and medium of instruction. A semi structured data sheet and Life Skills Scale were administered. Written informed consent was taken from all participants and parents. Participants were assured of confidentiality and anonymity. Participants were informed that they had the option of withdrawing from the study at any point in time.

The present results reveal that 48% of the adolescents had a moderate level of life skills; 29% of them had a high level of life skills, and the remaining 23% of them had a low level of life skills. Female students had better overall life skills, social skills, and emotional skills compared to male students, whereas male students had better thinking skills than females had. Female students tend to cope with stress better than males [p=<.001]. Male students had better interpersonal relationships and critical thinking life skills compared to female students (P = .001).

Female students tend to cope with stress better than male students. Strengthening life skills among school students can be a popular approach for prevention and health promotion in schools. Identification of life skills at an early stage can be effective in providing life skills training for the promotion of mental health among school children. Schools should incorporate life skills in their course and curriculum to support and promote mental health.