An Investigation of Family Therapy-Based Training on an Adolescent's Self-Harm and Character Strengths
Authors
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Maryam Barati Sedeh
Department of Psychology, Nain Branch, Islamic Azad University, Nain, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9271-3133
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Laya Molalo
2. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7781-0365
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Fereshte Korang Beheshti
Department of Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8999-0375
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Roya Jafarzadeh Khademlou
Department of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0280-4083
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Ashraf Rayati Rad
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8145-1799
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22100/ijhs.v9i3.1027Keywords:
Family therapy, Adolescent, Self-Harm, Character StrengthsAbstract
Background: The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury has increased in adolescents. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of family therapy compared with treatment as usual in improving character strengths and reducing self-harm repetition in adolescents.
Methods: The research was designed as semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and control group. The statistical population was all students of Tehran's middle schools with self-injury from October to September 2022. 53 eligible adolescents were selected purposefully. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: a family therapy counseling (n=27 people) and a control group (n=26 people). The experimental group received sixteen 75-min counseling sessions held weekly, while the control group underwent no interventions. Both groups received post-test evaluations following these sessions. Then, the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory and Values in Action Inventory of Strengths scale (VIA-Youth) pre- and post-intervention were implemented. SPSS 24 used a multivariate analysis of the covariance (MANCOVA) version.
Results: The effect of family therapy on the self-injury variable was significant (F=32.61; Pvalue<0.001). Also, the effect of family therapy on character strengths (F=24.81; Pvalue<0.001) was confirmed. In addition, it related the largest effect size to the self-injury variable (0.648), which shows that 64% of the total variances of the experimental and control groups result from a family therapy approach.
Conclusions: The results showed that family therapy could effectively improve character strengths and reduce self-injurious behaviors in adolescents aged 13-16.
Keywords: Family therapy, Adolescent, Self-harm, Character strengths.
References
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