Testing a community-based non-familial intergeneration life skill education model-impact on the mental health of adolescents and the senior educators in India: protocol of quasi-experimental study

Intergenerational learning provides both an opportunity to learn new skills and gives a sense of purpose to both adolescents and the senior educators. In India, many schools have not yet implemented life skill education (LSE), this model will help them implement LSE without any significant financial burden. There is no research that examines the mutually beneficial impact of LSE delivered by the senior educators on the mental health of adolescents and the senior educators. The study aims to (1) To assess the impact of life skill education on mental health indicators of adolescents and senior educators. (2) To assess the acceptability of the model by the senior educators and adolescents. This quasi experimental, multicentric study will involve 9th & 10th grade students and senior educators (≥ 60 years) from Punjab and Chandigarh. In the experimental arm students will get LSE from the trained senior educators and in the control arm students will get LSE as per school guidelines. A total of 864 students shall be recruited from 12 schools of both sites. LSE will be given to classes 9th and 10th by twelve trained senior educators. Assessment of the students and senior educators will be done using validated scales before and after the intervention and through focus group discussion. This innovative study will develop and assess a practical, acceptable and mutually beneficial LSE model, delivered by senior educators to school going adolescents. The findings of this study may considerably improve the mental health of both adolescents and senior educators. CTRI/2025/03/082196 dated 12/03/2025.