title: Life-skills as a predictor of academic success: an exploratory study.
abstract: Traditional predictors of academic performance in college, such as measures of verbal and mathematical abilities [i.e., Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)] and academic achievement (i.e., high school GPA), often account for less than 25% of the variance in college performance, thus leaving a considerable amount of variance unexplained. The primary goal of this study was to examine developmental variables that may account for academic achievement beyond the traditional indices mentioned. Specifically, the relationships among four categories of life-skills and cumulative GPA were examined. A hierarchical multiple-regression analysis revealed that the four life-skills categories predicted an additional 9.4% of the variance in cumulative GPA beyond high school GPA and SAT scores. Of the four categories, physical fitness/health maintenance skills made a statistically significant, unique contribution to predicting cumulative GPA. Because of the exploratory nature of the current study, suggestions are made for conducting future research in light of the study's limitations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Academic Enhancement, 243 Milledge Hall, 103 Hooper Street, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1554, USA.
authors.forename: Lacy K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Pisarik
authors.forename: Earl J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ginter
authors.forename: Ann Shanks
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Glauser
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Julian C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude; D001077:Aptitude Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012951:Socialization; D055815:Young Adult