An Experimental Study towards Young Adults: Communication Skills Education

Abstract

Problem Statement: Located in each discipline, communication also bears a
huge importance in the health sector. Communication with patients and
relatives require more moderate and friendly because of their sensitive
situation. Developing communication skills of students in health sciences
will be able to communicate effectively with patients. In addition, this
study is believed to students’ relations will be strengthened with both
team members in business life and other individuals in social life. For this
reason, it has been considered that an andragogy-based communication
skills education that will be organized for young adults would be useful as
a guide for further studies.
Purpose of the Study: In this research, it has been examined if the
communication skills education to be given to university students will
have effect on the level of their ability of expressing their emotions and
empathetic tendencies that have important role in communication skills of
young adults.
Method: Experimental method has been utilized in this research. Pretestposttest
single-group pattern of this method constitutes of the model of
research. The research has been carried out with 199 first-grader students
from a university in autumn semester of 2012-2013 educational year.
Empathetic tendency and emotional expression scales have been applied
to the students, then an andragogy-based planned communication skills
education constituting of 12 sessions has been given to them after a week, 

and then the same scales have been re-applied to them after 15 days from the completion of those sessions.
Findings: Both of empathetic tendencies and the levels of expressing the emotions of women and ones being able to establish efficient communication within the family have been found to be higher. A positive, medium-level and significant relationship has been observed between students’ empathetic tendencies and levels of expressing their emotions. After the educations, both of the students’ mean empathetic tendency scale scores and mean scores of emotional expression scale have shown statistically significant increase.
Conclusion and Recommendations: In this research, it has been concluded that the communication skill educations given to the students in order for them to be able to successfully adapt to the necessities and obligations of the life and to cope up with them efficiently have improved the functional communicational skills of young adults. In parallel with this result, in order to ensure healthier and stronger beginnings of work life after university, communication skills educations can be prepared for students in universities for personal development.
Keywords: Adult education, communication, empathetic tendency, emotional expression, university students