Social Competence Model for Adolescents: Reflections from an Intervention Study

This study was performed as part of pre-testing the Social Competence Model for enhancing social competence of adolescents through Life Skills, developed as part of the UGC Major Project. The Social Competence Model focuses on five domains of social competence viz. self concept, pro-social behaviour, goal orientation, resilience, and rational thinking. The intervention was conducted among 37 students selected from a government school of which 34 students completed the 18 hours intervention programme. Paired sample t- test of pre and post test scores revealed significant changes in all domains of the social competence model viz. self concept, goal orientation, pro-social behaviour, resilience and rational thinking. Significant changes were observed in all the sub domains of pro-social behaviour viz. empathy, communication, assertiveness and cooperation (p<0.05). Correlation revealed consistent positive change among all the participants in the domains of self concept, communication skills and problem solving skills. The study thus confirmed the efficacy of the Social Competence Model for enhancing the social competence of adolescents