Efficacy of Basic Life Skills Training Program to Enhance Social Emotional Competence among Adolescent Students in Pakistan

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period of development characterized by rapid psychological, emotional, and social changes. During this stage, individuals are highly susceptible to external influences, which can shape their self-concept, interpersonal relationships, and coping mechanisms. In Pakistan, adolescents often face various socio-emotional challenges, including academic pressures, peer influences, and limited access to structured psychological interventions. This study seeks to fill that gap by evaluating the efficacy of the UNICEF Basic Life Skills Training Program in fostering self-esteem, empathy, and resilience among adolescent students in Pakistan. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant improvement in self-esteem, empathy and resilience in experimental groups after the 16 sessions of BLS Training program. The sample of the present study consisted of 66 participants who were further divided into two groups: Experimental (n=33) and control (n=33). The age range of the participants in both groups was 12 to 19 years. The experimental groups received training according to the manual of UNICEF basic life skills training during 16 sessions in 8 weeks. Pre- and post-assessments were conducted to determine the efficacy of the basic life skills training program. Demographics, Adolescent Measure of Empathy & Sympathy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and The Adolescent Resilience Scale were used. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were applied to analyze and interpret the data in statistical terminology. Results indicate significant mean difference between experimental and control group on study variables. The finding has implications for non-clinical interventions and suggests avenues for future research.