The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training for Children on Improving the Parent-Child Relationship and the Self-Esteem of Female Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Ashkezar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ashkezar, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

10.22091/jrim.2025.11994.1189

Abstract

Objective: Life skills refer to a set of abilities and attributes that enable individuals to effectively and positively cope with everyday life challenges. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of life skills training on the parent-child relationship and self-esteem among female students in the upper primary grades in the city of Yazd.
Method: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest format and a control group. The statistical population consisted of female students in the upper primary grades of Yazd city. A sample of 30 students aged 9 to 11 was selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (1967) and the Parent-Child Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire by Fine et al. (1983). The experimental group received the life skills training. At the end of the intervention, both groups completed the same questionnaires as posttests.
Results: After verifying the statistical assumptions, the data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). The results indicated that life skills training had a significant effect on increasing self-esteem and improving the parent-child relationship. Specifically, a significant difference was observed between the posttest mean scores of the two groups, with approximately 47.9% of the variance attributable to the life skills training intervention. Findings showed that students in the experimental group experienced higher levels of self-esteem after the training, and the intervention also effectively enhanced the parent-child relationship.
Discussion: These results demonstrate the effectiveness of life skills-based interventions in improving psychological and interpersonal indicators among children in primary school.

Keywords

References

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Research In Instructional Methods
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 13
August 2026
Pages 112-130

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 July 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 August 2025

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