Description
Introduction and aims: In order to contribute to the students’ global and harmonious
development seems vital to promote various personal and social skills. In this way, the aims
of this study are to evaluate the personal and social skills of students in higher education and
determine if the age and gender are predictive of the personal and social skills.
Methodology: This correlational study was carried out on a sample of 284 students, 79.0%
(226) are female and 18.9% (54) males with a mean age of 21.8 (SD = 4.3) and mostly single
(93.7%). During 2009, they were administered a questionnaire comprising four instruments:
Demographic data, Global Self-Esteem Evaluation Scale, Cooperation Assessment and I
Resilient Evaluation (Jardim & Pereira, 2006). For the collection of data it was requested the
authorization to the higher schools’ chairman and the respondents’ informed consent.
Results: The results evidence that students on average have a good self-esteem (mean = 30.3,
SD = 4.2) desire to work cooperatively (mean = 35.4, SD = 4.0) and good ability to develop
knowledge, attitudes and skills to prevent, minimize or overcome the harmful effects of crises
and adversity (mean = 58.3, SD = 5.2). There were no statistically significant differences
between the various skills and the students’ age and gender.
; Custódio, Susana Margarida Rodrigues 
