The Need For Gender and Age Specific Life Skill Groups

Abstract

Adolescent life skill groups can strengthen self-esteem, develop appropriate body image, and improve peer and adult relationships while providing a sense of unity and support for its members. By separating boys and girls, adolescent life skill groups encourage the easeful gender specific discussions. This research investigated the effectiveness of adolescent girls’ life skill groups on increasing self-esteem, developing appropriate body image, and improving both peer and romantic relationships. This research evaluated the results of a pre-test and post-test administered to 174 participants in a life skill group ran by Big Sisters of Rhode Island. This study found that the average pre-test was score was 74% and post-test score was 82%. This research also evaluated if, when asked, “What is the most important thing you learned”, the participants answered something that was a positive self-attribute such as, “believing in myself”, “not letting a boy tell me what to do”, “to have positive self-esteem.” Out of 269 participants, over a third responded to the question declaring a positive self-attribute.