Int. j. econ. manag. soc. sci., Vol(3), No (12), December, 2014. pp.

902-904

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences

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ISSN:
2306-7276

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The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training Classes on Increasing

Happiness and Self-esteem in Spouses of War Veterans with
Severity of Disability of 25-75% of Minoodasht City
Fatemeh Salmaniyan
Department sciences Research, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran.

Kambiz Esphbodi Pardkolai*

Faculty member Agricultural Research Centre, Sari, Iran.

Mansour Jamali
Department of Persian Literature, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran.
*Corresponding author: mojtabarezaeirad@yahoo.com

Keywords

Abstract

Life skills
Happiness
Self-esteem
Veterans

Present study by quasi-experimental method, was performed to assess the effectiveness of life skills training
classes on happiness and self-esteem in spouses of war veterans with severity of disability of 25-75%.
Statistical populations were consisted of all spouses of veterans with 25-75% disability from Minoodasht city
in year 2012 in which by means of simple random sampling method, 30 persons were selected in experiment
(15 persons) and control (15persons) groups. Measurement tools were Oxford happiness survey (1989) and
Cooper Smith self-esteem inventory (1967). Covariance analysis test was used to test study hypothesis. Results
showed that holding life skills training classes improved happiness and self-esteem in veterans wives.

1.

Introduction

War as mental stress or factor imposes widespread consequences on various individual and social fields of society. Physical and mental
problems of veterans which play important role in family and its indirect impacts on their family consider as most unpleasant consequences of
this phenomenon. Half of veterans due to their inability make stress on their family environment [3]. Nursing and take care of someone who
suffers from chronic diseases usually perform by family members. Very limited studies were performed about the life quality and the level of
health of those who take care of war veterans. Emphasize on the side effects of taking care of disabled or those who suffer from chronic disease
in caregivers of patients is very important, because physical and mental health of caregivers can affect on patients' health, wellbeing and
successful rehabilitation [2]. Nowadays, training communication skill as one of several life skills is very important. Communication is the
essence of every relationship. Personality development and mental and physical health is related to their ability to communicate and an
insufficient relationship can affect person's physical and mental health [5]. The results of previous studies show the impact of training
communicative skill, decision making, and manage stress and anxiety on decreasing drug using. Also, studies show that life skills training affect
on person mental health and stress coping strategies [8]. Life skills training enable person to transform knowledge, values and attitudes into
potential capabilities. Life skills enable person to have healthy motivation and behavior and also provide the chance and ground to express such
behaviors. Psychologists of recent decades, in their studies to determine behavioral disorders and social deviances found that most of disorders
and harms stem from incapability to correct and suitable self-analyze and the situation, lack of sense of control and personal adequacy to face
difficult situation and unpreparedness to solve life problems and difficulties in a suitable way. Therefore, due to developmental changes and
complexities in society and social relations development, it seems difficult to prepare individuals, especially youth, to encounter with difficult
situations. Therefore, psychologists by the support of national and international organizations begin life skills training all over the world to
prevent mental illnesses and social abnormalities [7]. Various studies showed that self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-confidence are main
indexes of human strengths and weaknesses. These 3 features enable individuals to seize their life opportunities and, get ready to face with
probable risks, think about their family and social and be concern about available problems and make decisions. Life skills as mediators to
improve above mentioned features in human can help individual and society to achieve above objectives [9]. There is positive relationship
between life skills training with self-expression, self-esteem and responsibility and it leads to attract social support and others attention which
reduces mental stress. Individuals who have wider social bonds live longer and less suffer from stress induced illnesses. These people are
resistant against mental stress and consider stressful conditions as kind of fight and a chance for improvement [4] Therefore, studies were
performed to assess the importance and role of life skills training. Latifi et al (2011) in their study about the impact of life skills on self-esteem
found that mental health improvement and self esteem increase in women can be achieved by training life skills. Life skills training lead to gain
experience, problem solving and effective communication in women which prevent expressing negative behaviors by woman at home and
therefore increase self-confidence and decrease violence [6]. Bahari et al (2010) have performed a survey titled by the impact of wives
communication skills training on decreasing marital conflicts of conflicting divorcing couples. Results showed that communication training
program for couples has decreased emotional reactions, children advocacy attraction by each couple, communicate with relatives and friends
during conflicts, and generally has decreased the level of conflict in conflicting divorcing couples [2]. Sepah Mansoor (2006) performed survey
titled by the impact of life skills training on achievement motivation, self respect and social adjustment". Results showed that life skills training
affect on improving the amount of achievement motivation, self respect and adjustment in students. Campbell abed boxter (2006) performed a
survey about the effect of life skills training on students achievement. Results showed that life skills training make significant and positive
effect on successful transferring of students from university to job environment. Also, the impact of life skill training on improving level of self
esteem, social adjustment, inter-personal relationship, increasing problem solving skill and coping strategies and increasing mental health level
was approved. Regarding mentioned issues, in this survey, researcher is trying to answer this question: whether holding life skills training
classes affects on increasing happiness and self-esteem in spouses of war veterans with severity of disability of 25-75% of Minoodasht city?

903

The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training Classes on Increasing Happiness and Self-esteem in Spouses of War Veterans with Severity of Disability of 25...
International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences Vol(3), No (12), December, 2014.

2.

Method

Present quasi-experimental study with control and experimental groups was performed by pre-test and post-test design. Statistical populations
were consisted of all 77 spouses of veterans with 25-75% disability from Minoodasht city in year 2012, according to census of foundation of
martyrs in city. Researcher placed half of subjects in experimental group (15persons) and the other half in control group(15 persons) in order to
form groups by random sampling method. Study measurement tools were:
a) Happiness questionnaire
Among various happiness questionnaires, the Oxford happiness questionnaire has special place and was used in several surveys. This
questionnaire was provided by Argyle and lu (1989). Because Beck inventory was one of most successful depression inventory, Argyle after
consultation with Beck, decided to reverse Beck depression inventory statements. For example, first item of Beck inventory after reversion was"
I feel happy, partly I feel happy, I am very happy, I am extraordinary happy". Therefore, 21 items were prepared. Then, 11 items were added to
include other aspects of happiness. Therefore, this 32 items scale was performed on 8 students and they were asked to arrange choices and also
judge about items face validity. This process has led to change in some test items and omission of another 3 items. So, final form of
questionnaire includes 29 items (NoorBala 1998). Hills and Argyle (1998) in their factor analysis have achieved following 5 factors: life
satisfaction, efficiency, sociality, positive cognition and self-esteem. These factors explained 56.3 % total variance. Furenham and Borowing
(1990) in another survey have emphasized on 3 factors of personal development, joy and amusement in life and healthiness. In studies of
AliPoor and NoorBala, 5 factors explain 57.1% hc total variance. All items are included in five factors and 2 items (number 8, 14) each placed in
2 factors. Examining the item combination of each factor showed cultural differences in results of this test. By some disregard, we can name five
factors as satisfaction, positive creation, healthiness (well-being), efficiency and self-esteem, respectively. These factors totally explained 57.1%
of whole variance which is acceptable result in comparison with Argyle study. Regarding the reliability of Oxford happiness questionnaire in the
study was performed by NoorBala (1998) on 25 students, the Cronbach alpha was calculated 0.93 which was higher than other researches.
Argyle in 1990 ,Furenham Borrowing in 1990, and Francis et al in 1998 calculated alpha 0.90,0.87,0.89,0.90,respectively (quoted by NoorBala
1998).
b) Self-esteem questionnaire
Cooper Smith self-esteem inventory (1967) includes 4 topics: perform educational assignments, social relations (especially adults), Family and
self. This test includes 58 items and the range of responses is yes and no in which every person selects one of choices according to his/her
condition. In some items, score 1 is allocated to answer yes and 0 is allocated to no and in other items inversely, 0 is for yes and 1 is for no.
Therefore, in items (2,4,5,10,11,14,18,19,21,23,24,28,30,29,32,36,45,47,57) 1 is allocated to yes and 0 is allocated to no, and in other items 1 is
allocated to no. According to total scores, level of self-esteem is determined. Higher score shows individual's higher self esteem. Cooper Smith
(1967) in addition to approve validity, reported the questionnaire reliability 0.83 and Poor Shafei (1991) reported reliability
0.85.also,Ebrahimi(1990) has examined the reliability of this questionnaire results among Iranian students and university students and has
reported reliability coefficient 0.80 in student samples and 0.85 in university student samples.
Collected data by SPSS 19 software were described by descriptive statistics indexes (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics
indexes (covariance analysis or ANCOVA) was used to test study hypothesis and to generalize available data to statistical population.

3.

Results

a)

Test for normal distribution of data (Kolmogorov-Smirnov)

Table 1. K-S test to assess study variables normalization
Variables
Happiness
Self esteem

tests
Pre-test
Post-test
Pre-test
Post-test

n
15
15
15
15

experimental group
K-S
Sig
0.536
0.936
0.755
0.618
0.816
0.519
1.284
0.074

n
15
15
15
15

control group
K-S
Sig
0.439
0.990
0.443
0.990
0.859
0.452
0.645
0.799

Since in covariance analysis, dependent variable (post test scores) would have normal distribution, the results of data analysis in table 1 shows
that at the confidence level of 95%( =0.05), study variables i.e. happiness and self-esteem in pre-test and post-test of experimental and control
groups have normal distribution, because the value of significance level (Sig.) is more than =0.05. Therefore, study variables have normal
distribution and one of conditions to use test of covariance analysis is confirmed.
b)

Studying the homogeneity of variances

Table 2. Leven's test to study equality of variances in experimental and control groups
Variables
Happiness
Self esteem

groups
Control
Experimental
Control
Experimental

number
15
15
15
15

Sig.

0.010

0.921

1.646

0.210

Since in covariance analysis, the variance of groups must be homogeneous, the results of data analysis in table 2 shows that at significance level
of 95%(=0.05), hypothesis of variance homogeneity in experimental and control groups are supported by data, because the value achieved for
level of significance(Sig.) is higher than =0.05. Therefore, the equality of variances in studied groups shows that subjects are divided
uniformly in 2 groups and the conditions to use test of covariance analysis is confirmed.

Fatemeh Salmaniyan, Kambiz Esphbodi Pardkolai *, Mansour Jamali

904

International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences Vol(3), No (12), December, 2014.

Hypothesis1: Holding life skills training classes affects on increasing happiness in veterans wives.
Table 3. covariance analysis test to study the effect of life skills training on happiness
Source of changes
Tests
groups
Error
Total

sum of squares
3.578
3.236
4.364
10.494

degree of freedom
1
1
27
29

mean square
3.578
3.236
0.162
-

F
22.138
20.020
-

Sig.
0.0001
0.0001
-

Results of data analysis in table3 shows that regarding the effect of life skills training on increasing happiness in veterans wives, the difference
between mean scores in pre-test and post-test is significant at 99% level, because the value of significance level is less than allowed error(0.01).
Therefore, null hypothesis is rejected by confidence level of 99%. Also, the difference between mean scores of the impact of holding life skills
training classes on increasing happiness in veterans wives in control and experimental groups is significant at 99% level, because the value of
significance level is less than allowed error (0.01). Therefore, null hypothesis is rejected by confidence level of 99%.
Hypothesis2: Holding life skills training classes affects on increasing self esteem in veterans wives.
Table 4. Covariance analysis test to study the effect of life skills training on self esteem
Source of changes
Tests
groups
Error
Total

sum of squares
0.573
0.510
0.858
2.019

degree of freedom
1
1
27
29

mean square
0.573
0.510
0.032
-

F
18.045
16.068
-

Sig.
0.0001
0.0001
-

Results of data analysis in table 4 shows that regarding the effect of life skills training on increasing self esteem in veterans wives, the
difference between mean scores in pre-test and post-test is significant at 99% level, because the value of significance level is less than allowed
error(0.01). Therefore, null hypothesis is rejected by confidence level of 99%. Also, the difference between mean scores for the effect of
holding life skills training classes on increasing self esteem in veterans wives in control and experimental groups is significant at 99% level,
because the value of significance level is less than allowed error(0.01). Therefore, null hypothesis is rejected by confidence level of 99%.

4.

conclusion

In this study it is tried to answer this question: can life skills training increase self esteem and happiness?
Data analysis results showed that there is significant difference between scores of happiness, in pre-test and post-test and in control and
experimental groups, so that mean scores of happiness for subjects in pre-test and experimental group significantly increased in comparison
with control group, therefore, since subjects were divided uniformly in control and experimental groups, resulted difference was due to the
impact of life skills training. Also, data analysis results showed that there is significant difference between scores of self esteem, in pre-test and
post-test and in control and experimental groups, so that mean scores of self esteem for subjects in post-test and experimental group
significantly increased in comparison with control group, therefore, since subjects were divided uniformly in control and experimental groups,
resulted difference was due to the impact of life skills training.
In other words, life skills training increases marital adjustment in experimental group in comparison with control group.
A result of present study is align with the results of studies performed by SepahMansoor (2006), Latifi (2011), Bahari et al (2010), Campbell
and Boxter (2006). Results show that regarding human scientific developments and their effects on life styles, still most people have not required
and basic capabilities and skills to enjoy happy life. Such issue makes them vulnerable against conflicts and problems of daily life. It seems that
the most important action to face with these problems is training individual and social life skills and manners to them, especially in the age of
adolescence and youthfulness. Also, realization of happiness is available when the ground for training and applying life skills become ready.
Therefore, it is suggested that life skills training classes should be hold to increase happiness in spouses of war veterans and methods such as
life skills training should be used to build and strengthen happiness and joy in society specially among particular social groups who suffers from
shortages and deficiencies in their personal, family and social life.

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