This paper examines the essential skill components involved in interpersonal competence and the relationship between a deficit of such skills and loneliness. The various sections of the paper discuss the nature of loneliness, the nature of interpersonal competence, the causes of competence and incompetence, and the relationship between the…

Grade 12 students participated in a 1-semester cooperative education program and were monitored using the Personal Skills Map by Nelson & Law. Results indicate greater improvement in scores for the scales related to Interpersonal skills than for those in the areas of Career and Life-effectiveness skills. (LKS)