Authors

1 Professor, PhD in Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

2 PhD Candidate in Health Education and Health Promotion, International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

3 MSc in Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

4 Professor, PhD in Health Education and Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

5 Assistant Professor, PhD in Psychology, Faculty of Para Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

Abstract

Background
Life skills are the strategies that enable people to live a successful life in different environments. Life skills training promotes self-esteem. Self-esteem, as one of the most fundamental factors in the optimal growth of personality in teenagers, is a crucial factor. Considering the role of life skills in gaining self-esteem, we aimed to study the status of life skills and self-esteem as well as the association between life skills and self-esteem among Iranian teenage girls.
Materials and Methods
This correlational cross-sectional study was conducted on 364 teenage girls in the age range of 12-14 years in Birjand city, 2018. The data were collected using a three-part questionnaire; baseline characteristics, Life Skills questionnaire, and Rosenberg Self-esteem Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0.
Results
The highest mean score of life skills was related to the "interpersonal relationships" dimension (15.07 ± 2.99); whereas, the lowest mean score was related to the "problem-solving" dimension (12.09 ± 3.53). The total mean score of life skills was 138.23 ± 26.80 and the mean score of self-esteem was 4.98 ± 4.41. There was a significant association between life skills and self-esteem (p<0.05).
Conclusion
According to the significant association between life skills and self-esteem, we can improve adolescents' self-esteem by conducting appropriate educational courses about life skills.

Keywords