Youth focused life skills training and counselling services program–An inter-sectoral initiative in India: Program development and preliminary analysis of factors affecting life skills

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the methodology of developing and implementation of a youth focused life skills training and counselling services programme (LSTCP) and assessment of factors associated with life skills of participants pre-training. DESIGN: Development of all aspects of LSTCP (modules, methods and evaluation) was through a consultative process. Experiential learning based facilitation was decided as the approach for training participants. A quasi-experimental design with pre, post and follow-up assessment post-training was finalised. Data collection was done using specifically developed semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression with life skills as outcome and various exposure variables was performed. About 2/3(rd) of participants had high level of life skills (68%). Increased score of extraversion (AOR = 1.57,95% CI = 1.32–1.85), agreeableness (AOR = 1.42,95% CI = 1.16–1.73), conscientiousness (AOR = 1.9,95% CI = 1.55–2.33), physical (AOR = 1.03,95% CI = 1.01–1.04), environmental (AOR = 1.02,95% CI = 1.004–1.03) and social quality of life (AOR = 1.01,95% CI = 1.006–1.02) were associated with high life skills score. Higher score of neuroticism (AOR = 0.66,95% CI = 0.53–0.79) was associated with low life skills score. CONCLUSION: The results presented provide an opportunity to understand the evolution of factors affecting life skills during the follow-up of this study. This study throws light on development of LSTCP for apparently healthy population in a setting like India and its states.