Examining the Predictive Validity of Family Contact on Life Skills Outcomes among Institutionalized Indian Adolescents: A Regression Analysis

While previous research has established correlational relationships between family contact and life skills development among institutionalized adolescents, the predictive capacity of family contact for life skills outcomes remains underexplored. Understanding predictive relationships is crucial for developing evidence-based interventions and resource allocation in shelter home settings.

This study examined the predictive power of family contact status on life skills development among adolescents residing in shelter homes, utilizing regression modeling to establish causative relationships and predictive validity.

A longitudinal regression analysis was conducted with 120 adolescents (aged 12-17 years) from four shelter homes in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Simple linear regression models were employed to examine family contact as a predictor of overall life skills scores at pre-intervention and post-intervention phases. The Comprehensive Inventory for Life-Skills in Adolescents (CILSA) served as the outcome measure.

Pre-intervention regression analysis revealed that family contact explained only 2.1% of variance in life skills scores (R² = .021, F(1,118) = 2.576, p = .111). The regression equation: Overall Score = 108.888 - 6.425(Contact with Family) showed non-significant predictive capacity. Post-intervention analysis (n=60) demonstrated even weaker predictive power (R² = .001, F(1,58) = 0.058, p = .811), with the equation: Post-Intervention Score = 110.241 - 1.458(Contact with Family). Spearman's correlation confirmed negligible association (rho = 0.005, p = .970).

Family contact status demonstrates limited predictive utility for life skills outcomes among shelter home adolescents. These findings suggest that while family contact may have associational benefits, its predictive capacity for intervention planning and outcome forecasting is minimal. Alternative predictive models incorporating multiple environmental, individual, and institutional factors may be more appropriate for evidence-based practice in shelter home settings.