Effectiveness of the life skills educational program 2 years after implementation Download PDF

Background: The current survey was implemented to evaluate the effect of the life skills education on improving social empowerment and also decreasing depression, anxiety and stress two years after program. Materials and methods: A case- control cross sectional study was done among 600 students of Isfahan province. Sampling process was implemented using multi-stage sampling in the case group, and matched with cases in the control group. Data were collected using questionnaires including knowledge and performance regarding life skills, psychosocial empowerment, and short- form of symptoms of the depression, anxiety and stress. In final, to analyze, logistic regression was used. Results: The most of the students in the both groups had normal levels of depression, anxiety and stress. In the case group 23.6 and 14.5 percent of the students had moderate and mild depression, respectively; while, in the control group 21.5 and 19.3% had moderate and severe depression, respectivelyThe odds ratio of social participation for men in the case group was 1.26 (p=0.003, CI: 1.08-1.46) times in the control group. The case and control groups were not significantly different due to comparing odds ratio of other psychological factors and depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Conclusion: The current findings reported that life skills education program are not likely beneficial and sustainable to improve mental health of students 2 years after the program.Abstract