EMPATHY AND CREATIVE THINKING LIFE SKILLS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER-TRAINEES IN RELATION TO SOCIAL MEDIA DYNAMICS

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Social Media Dynamics on the development of empathy and creative thinking life skills among Physical Education teacher-trainees. To accomplish this goal, a sample of 647 physical education teacher-trainees was specifically chosen for analysis. Data collection methods involved the application of the Social Media Dynamics scale, meticulously designed by Singh and Mann (2022), alongside the incorporation of life skills sub-scales developed by Prawit Erawan (2010). The outcomes derived from the MANOVA analysis provided compelling insights into the relationship between Social Media Dynamics and life skills among teacher-trainees. Notably, teacher-trainees characterized by a low level of Social Media Dynamics demonstrated a higher proficiency in empathy life skills compared to their counterparts with a high level of Social Media Dynamics. Moreover, those with a low level of Social Media Dynamics exhibited superior empathy life skills in comparison to teacher-trainees with an average level of Social Media Dynamics. Furthermore, the study uncovered that teacher-trainees with a high level of Social Media Dynamics showcased a superior aptitude for creative thinking when compared to their peers with an average level of Social Media Dynamics. This contrast also extended to teacher-trainees with low Social Media Dynamics, as those with a high level demonstrated a superior level of creative thinking. These nuanced findings underscore the intricate influence of Social Media Dynamics on the cultivation of essential life skills among Physical Education teacher-trainees.