Life Skills Training (LiST) for College Study

We were one of 40 sites around the country piloting Life Skills Training, a prevention program for incoming college students, teaching skills for coping with various challenges, including the transition to college, building healthy relationships, and preventing sexual violence and substance use and abuse. The program entails online modules and in-person small-group activities, led by a Loyola staff member from Student Activities, and a graduate student from our lab.  While the national study examines effects of the intervention on behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge regarding program content, we added several variables to the Loyola sample, to examine other outcomes and moderators:

• Personality traits: extroversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness     

• Relational styles: empathy, social connectedness   

• Well-being: self-efficacy, perceived stress 

 

Graduate students coordinated the study with national partners and local staff, oversaw participant screening/eligibility and scheduling, and observed sessions to rate them for fidelity. We are examining various patterns and predictors of adjustment and positive behaviors in first-year college students.