Examining the Impact of Life Skills Education on the Development of Individual and Social Competencies among Secondary School Students in Ardabil Province

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of life skills training on the development of personal and social competencies of male secondary school students in Ardabil Province. This research is applied in terms of purpose and quasi-experimental in terms of method with a pre-test-post-test control group design. The statistical population consisted of all male secondary school students in Ardabil Province during the academic year 2024-2025. Using multi-stage cluster sampling, 50 students (25 experimental group and 25 control group) were selected. Data collection instruments included standardized questionnaires on personal competency and social competency. The validity of the instruments was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis, and their reliability was verified using Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.912 and 0.908, respectively. The experimental group underwent 14 sessions of life skills training (based on the World Health Organization program), while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings revealed that life skills training had a significant effect on the development of personal and social competencies of students (p < 0.05). Based on the findings, life skills training can be employed as an effective method for enhancing personal and social competencies of secondary school students in Ardabil Province.