The Effect of Training Life Skills on the Mental Health and Self-Esteem of Female Students in the Fifth Grade of Primary School

The main goal of this study is the effect of life skill training on mental health and self-esteem of female students in the fifth grade of primary school. The Design of the study was quasi -experimental design with pretest - post test control group. The research population included all fifth grade female students of primary school in Roshtkhar during academic year of 2009-2010.   The 60 students were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups (each group 30). Research instruments included the Mental Health Koldberg test, Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem and practical guide to teaching life skills. Analysis of Covariance and independent Sample t Test indicated that teaching life skills to the students improves their mental health and self-esteem. Also, teaching life skills affects the physical symptoms of anxiety and insomnia but has no significant effect on productivity and depression. The effect of teaching general life skills on self-esteem, social self-esteem, and academic self-esteem has been proved significant. That was not significant for family self-esteem.