The Effectiveness of Teaching Life Skills to Street Children for Improving Their Life Skills and Its Quality

Abstract

So far, the living conditions of street children have been studied in some researches, but there are few studies on the effect of education on the living conditions of these children. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of teaching life skills to street children for improving their life skills and its quality. This is a quasi-experimental study that was conducted with a pre-test-post-test research design with a control group. The statistical population of the present study included all 8-12-year-old street boys living in one of the centers affiliated with the Welfare Organization. The number of samples studied in this study was 30 people who were randomly assigned in experimental and control groups. In order to collect data, a quality of life inventory and a life skills questionnaire were used. Then, 10 sessions of 3-hour life skills training were held weekly for the experimental group. The obtained data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance. Data analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the post-test mean of the experimental group and the control group. In a way, the life skills training had an effect on improving the life skills and quality of life of the street children. The findings of the present study indicate the effectiveness of life skills training of the street children on improving their life skills and its quality. Therefore, providing life skills training programs can be used as a valid, effective and efficient strategy.