Document Type : Research Article
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Rahbordshomal Institute of Higher Education, Rasht, Iran
Abstract
Increasing the happiness of teenagers can provide a proper upbringing for the future generation of the country, and one of the ways to achieve this goal is to teach them life skills. This research was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of the life skills training on the personal and social happiness of adolescents. This research is a quasi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. 40 students from the second secondary level of Zanjan city were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental (n = 20) and control groups (n = 20), and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and the Social Happiness Questionnaire (SHQ) were administered to them as a pre-test and post-test. The life skills training course were conducted for eight sessions (180 minutes each session) on the experimental group, but no intervention was done on the control group during this period. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis and SPSS-23 software. The finding showed that the life skills training course has led to an increase in the personal and social happiness of adolescents (P<0.001). According to these findings, it can be concluded that life skills training as one of the important trainings can be effective in increasing the happiness of teenagers and determine the dynamics of the future generation of the country.
Keywords
Main Subjects
Arain, M., Haque, M., Johal, L., Mathur, P., Nel, W., Rais, A., ... & Sharma, S. (2013). Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 449-461. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S39776
Argyle, M., Martin, M., & Crossland, J. (1989). Happiness as a function of personality and social encounters. Recent advances in social psychology: An international perspective, 189-203. https://www.scirp.org/reference/ReferencesPapers?ReferenceID=1343179
Baghaei-Moghadam, G. (2012). The effectiveness of life skills training on anxiety, happiness and anger control of adolescence with physical-motor disability. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 5(4), 305-310. https://www.behavsci.ir/article_67747.html
Blasco-Belled, A., Rogoza, R., Torrelles-Nadal, C., & Alsinet, C. (2022). Differentiating optimists from pessimists in the prediction of emotional intelligence, happiness, and life satisfaction: a latent profile analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(5), 2371-2387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00507-4
Bostani, S., Rambod, M., Irani, P. S., & Torabizadeh, C. (2020). Comparing the effect of progressive muscle relaxation exercise and support group therapy on the happiness of nursing students: A randomized clinical trial study. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 13, 100218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2020.100218
Botvin, G. J., & Griffin, K. W. (2004). Life skills training: Empirical findings and future directions. Journal of primary prevention, 25, 211-232. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOPP.0000042391.58573.5b
Büyükçolpan, H., & Ozdemir, N. K. (2023). The influences on happiness and life satisfaction of young people during COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for positive youth development. Current Psychology, 42(27), 24003-24012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03548-3
Camiré, M. (2023). The two continua model for life skills teaching. Sport, Education and Society, 28(8), 915-928. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2022.2073438
De Lise, F., Luyckx, K., & Crocetti, E. (2023). Identity matters for well-being: the longitudinal associations between identity processes and well-being in adolescents with different cultural backgrounds. Journal of youth and adolescence, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01901-8
Gilbert, P., & Irons, C. (2009). Shame, self-criticism, and self-compassion in adolescence. Adolescent emotional development and the emergence of depressive disorders, 1, 195-214. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511551963.011
Guo, M., Wang, L., Zhang, L., Hou, Q., Yang, J., & Chang, S. (2023). Placing Adolescents on a Trajectory to Happiness: The Role of Family Assets and Intentional Self-Regulation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00626-6
Handa, S., Pereira, A., & Holmqvist, G. (2023). The Rapid Decline of Happiness: Exploring Life Satisfaction among Young People across the World. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-023-10153-4
Javadi, M., Sepahvand, M. J., & Mahmudi, H. (2013). The effect of life skills training on quality of life in nurses of Khorramabad Hospitals. Avicenna Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Care, 21(1), 32-42. http://nmj.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-1128-en.html
Jenaabadi, H., Nejad, B. A., Mostafapour, R., & Haghi, R. (2015). The effect of life skills training on the mental health and level of resilience among teachers of normal students and teachers of exceptional students in Zahedan. Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 4(02), 17. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojmp.2015.42002
Kazemi, R., Momeni, S., & Abolghasemi, A. (2014). The effectiveness of life skill training on self-esteem and communication skills of students with dyscalculia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 114, 863-866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.798
Kennes, A., Lataster, J., Janssens, M., Simons, M., Reijnders, J., Jacobs, N., & Peeters, S. (2023). Efficacy of a School-Based Mental Health Intervention Based on Mindfulness and Character Strengths Use Among Adolescents: a Pilot Study of Think Happy-Be Happy Intervention. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(2), 677-697. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00611-5
Kerr, M. A., & Schneider, B. H. (2008). Anger expression in children and adolescents: A review of the empirical literature. Clinical psychology review, 28(4), 559-577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2007.08.001
Li, W., Zhang, L., Li, C., Zhu, N., Zhao, J., & Kong, F. (2022). Pursuing pleasure or meaning: A cross-lagged analysis of happiness motives and well-being in adolescents. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(8), 3981-3999. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00576-5
Mohamed, B. E. S., & Shehata, H. S. E. (2023). Effect of Social Skills Training Program on Emotional Intelligence, Happiness, and Self-esteem among Adolescent Girls. Zagazig Nursing Journal, 19(2), 366-384. https://doi.org/10.21608/znj.2023.336855
Mahmoodi, M., Zahrakar, K., & Shabani, H. (2013). The effectiveness of life skills training on the improvement of students' life quality. Journal of Developmental Psychology, 10(37), 7179. https://jip.stb.iau.ir/?_action=article&au=516941&_au=Maryam++Mahmoodi&lang=en
Mirzaee, A., Nia, H. S., Dowran, B., Pasandideh, A., & Salimi, S. H. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the oxford happiness questionnaire in a sample of the Iranian Military. Journal of Military Medicine, 23(3), 246-254. https://doi.org/10.30491/JMM.23.3.246
Poursalman, S., & Farid, A. A. (2020). The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training on Anger Management and Resilience in Adolescents. Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ), 1(2), 105-124. https://doi.org/20.1001.1.27172430.1399.1.2.6.2
Poursalman, S., & Farid, A. A. (2020). The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training on Anger Management and Resilience in Adolescents. Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ), 1(2), 105-124. http://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/view/242
Rezayat, F., & Nayeri, N. D. (2013). Self-efficacy after life skills training: a case-control study. Nursing and midwifery studies, 2(4), 83. https://doi.org/10.5812/nms.11691
Sadati, S. Z., Mirzaian, B., & Dousti, Y. (2018). The Effect of Life Skills Training on Marital Satisfaction and Happiness of Married Students. Community Health (SALĀMAT-I IJTIMĀĪ), 5(3), 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.22037/ch.v5i4.21981
Safaralizadeh, H., Azarsa, T., Zeinali, E., & Sharafkhani, R. (2022). Life skills training, hope, and health: An interventional study in the North West of Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health in Practice, 3, 100275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2022.100275
Shorey, S., Ng, E. D., & Wong, C. H. (2022). Global prevalence of depression and elevated depressive symptoms among adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(2), 287-305. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12333
Sodani, M., Mehregan, S. B., & Honarmand, M. M. (2019). An investigation into the effectiveness of group life skills training on life expectancy and psychological well-being of female students. Prensa méd. argent, 710-719. https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/fr/biblio-1026043
Tabassum, A., Roopesh, B. N., & Madgaonkar, J. S. (2020). Effect of Life Skills Intervention on Self-Concept and Optimism of Students who are Slow Learners. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47(1), 18-28. https://ijcp.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IJCP_March2020_Issue-1.pdf#page=22
Talebi Amrei, M., & Farahani, A. (2016). The effectiveness of training life skills on happiness of students. World Scientific News, (46), 276-286. https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/1192699.pdf
Tamizifar, R., & Azizimehr, K. (2017). The Relationship between Leisure and Social Happiness in the City of Isfahan. Juornal of A Research Journal on Social Work, 2(6), 207-232. https://doi.org/10.22054/rjsw.2017.7898
Torales, J., Barrios, I., Melgarejo, O., Ruiz Díaz, N., O’Higgins, M., Navarro, R., ... & Ventriglio, A. (2023). Hope, resilience and subjective happiness among general population of Paraguay in the post COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 00207640231216342. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640231216342
Voelker, D. K., Reel, J. J., & Greenleaf, C. (2015). Weight status and body image perceptions in adolescents: current perspectives. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 149-158. https://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S68344
Yankey, T., & Biswas, U. N. (2012). Life skills training as an effective intervention strategy to reduce stress among Tibetan refugee adolescents. Journal of Refugee Studies, 25(4), 514-536. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fer056
Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2007). Emotional and cognitive changes during adolescence. Current opinion in neurobiology, 17(2), 251-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2007.03.009
Wheeler, S. D., Lane, S. J., & McMahon, B. T. (2007). Community participation and life satisfaction following intensive, community-based rehabilitation using a life skills training approach. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 27(1), 13-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492070270010
Zuhri, M. N. (2023). Cognitive Psychology Development In The Early Adolescence. Journal of Education on Social Issues, 2(1), 44-51. https://doi.org/10.26623/jesi.v2i1.40
)