In this study, we focused on how to improve students' skill in developing human relationships through physical education programs in universities. We examined how a program meant to promote communication and improve social skills affected the social skills and self-efficacy of students who had been divided into two groups : program and general. We measured social skills and self-efficacy using Kikuchi's Social Skill Scale (KiSS-18) and the General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES). The results were as follows :
1) For boys, KiSS-18 scores improved significantly in the program group (p <0.01), but not in the general group.
2) For girls, KiSS-18 scores improved significantly in the general group (p <0.05), but no significant difference was found in the program group.
3) Regarding the GSES, scores improved significantly in the program group (p <0.01), indicating that the program aimed to improve social skills had a positive effect on GSES scores.
4) In students who initially scored low at the pretest KiSS-18 and GSES assessments, scores showed a greater increase from the pretest to the posttest assessments than in students who had initially scored higher. The same was true for boys in the program group. However, scores tended to decrease for girls in the control group. Thus, the social skills building program might be especially effective for students who have less social skills to begin with.