The Impact of Hostel Life on Girls Self-Reliance, Problem Solving Skills and Sense of Responsibility

Abstract

Hostel life is often associated to different challenges, yet it is important environment for promoting independence among young women. Although the current research recognizes the developmental effects of residential settings, there is a clear gap in understanding how the hostel's life, especially influences self-reliance, problem-solving skills, and the sense of responsibility in the women's population, especially with limited focus on working professionals. This study examined the impact of hostel life on the, self-reliance, ability to solve the problem and a sense of responsibility among young women in Pakistan. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 200 female university students and working professionals (aged 18+ years, minimum one year hostel stay) residing in hostels in Lahore, Pakistan. The data was collected using the self-report questionnaires and was analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, independent sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The results indicated that the increased duration of stay in the hostel significantly predicted more sense of responsibility (β = 0.27, p = .012). The important thing is that working professionals exhibited significantly higher levels in all three skills than students. Age also had a positive impact on self-reliance (η²=0.25, P <.001).These findings, interpreted through social cognitive theory, highlight the development of skills in the residential environment, with implications for youth development programs and hostel management in non-Western contexts.