The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training on Emotion Regulation and Psychological Hardiness in Anxious Adolescents

Abstract

Anxiety during adolescence is one of the most common psychological problems that can negatively affect emotion regulation, social adjustment, and mental health. Life skills training, particularly self-awareness and effective communication skills, plays an important role in improving adolescents’ psychological and social competencies and may enhance emotion regulation and psychological hardiness. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of life skills training on emotion regulation and psychological hardiness in anxious adolescents. This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of anxious adolescents referring to counseling centers in Tehran during the second half of 2024. A total of 30 participants were selected using convenience sampling and were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups (15 participants in each group). Data collection instruments included the Gross and John Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Ahvaz Psychological Hardiness Inventory, and the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. The experimental group received life skills training focusing on self-awareness and effective communication in 12 sessions of 60 minutes each, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance. The results of multivariate covariance analysis demonstrated that life skills training had a significant effect on emotion regulation among anxious adolescents. Significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in both cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression after the intervention (P<0.001). In addition, life skills training significantly increased psychological hardiness in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.001). The obtained effect sizes also indicated a strong impact of the intervention on the study variables. The findings suggest that life skills training, particularly self-awareness and communication skills training, is an effective approach for improving emotion regulation and enhancing psychological hardiness in anxious adolescents. Such training programs can strengthen emotional management abilities, improve coping skills, and increase adolescents’ sense of control in stressful situations. Therefore, implementing life skills training programs in schools and counseling centers is strongly recommended.