Effectiveness and Factors Associated with Improved Life Skill Levels of Participants of a Large-Scale Youth-Focused Life Skills Training and Counselling Services Program (LSTCP): Evidence from India

Abstract

(1) Background: To empower and facilitate mental health promotion for nearly 18 million youth, a pioneering state-wide Life Skills Training and Counselling Services Program (LSTCP) was implemented in Karnataka, India. This study assesses the changes in life skills scores, level of life skills and factors associated with increased life skills among participants of the LSTCP. (2) Method: This pre–post study design was conducted on 2669 participants who underwent a six-day structured LSTCP. Changes in mean life skills scores and level of life skill categories pre- and post-LSTCP were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the factors associated with increases in life skills. (3) Results: The LSTCP resulted in significant changes in life skill scores and level of life skills, indicating the effectiveness of the training. All life skill domains, except empathy and self-awareness, increased post-training. There was a positive shift in the level of life skills. Age (AOR = 1.34, CI = 1.11–1.62), gender (AOR = 1.39, CI = 1.15–1.68), education (AOR = 1.44, CI = 1.05–1.97) and physical (AOR = 1.02, CI = 1.01–1.03) and psychological (AOR = 1.02, CI = 1.01–1.03) quality of life was associated with an increase in life skills among participants. (4) Conclusions: The LSTCP is effective in improving the life skills of participants. The LSTCP modules and processes can be used to further train youth and contribute to mental health promotion in the state.

Effect of a school-linked life skills intervention on adolescents' sexual and reproductive health skills in Guji zone, Ethiopia (CRT)—A generalized linear model

“…In Ethiopia, these findings are also similar to Baird et al ( 14 ) which showed significant progress in the knowledge of menstrual hygiene skills and reproductive health issues ( 16 ). Moreover, in India, the outcome also aligns with the findings of Sukumar et al ( 39 ), which showed significantly improved life skill scores ( 39 ).…”

“…This result implied that school-linked SRH life skills intervention was significantly correlated with appropriate SRH life skills development. This suggestion was communicated with proposals and school-linked life skills intervention trial studies ( 8 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 39 – 41 ). This demonstrated that adolescents exposed to the life skill training had appropriate SRH life skills.…”

A Life Skills Intervention for Enhancing Psychological Well-Being of Secondary School Students

“…It indicates that only interventions such as life skills training will not improve suburban women's hope and health. In another recent study, Sukumar et al (2022) found life skills training and counselling services program to be effective in developing life skills of young participants. Further, they suggested that these modules and processes can be used to train youth and contribute to mental health promotion in the state.…”

Smoked tobacco dependence and its correlates among participants attending life skills training and counselling services programme across Karnataka (2017–2022)

“…Life skills training and counselling services (LSTCSP) programme is complementary to programme YuvaSpandana, a youth mental health promotion programme in the state of Karnataka. [ 8 , 9 ] This programme provides an opportunity to test the influence of these factors on smoked tobacco dependence. By utilising the pretraining data of participants attending this state-wide programme (LSTCSP), this study aims to estimate the prevalence and identify the factors influencing dependence on smoked tobacco products among those who had ever used smoked tobacco.…”