A Group Counseling Practice for Improving Middle-School Students’ Self-Esteem

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 7 Sayı: 14, 426 - 435, 31.07.2023

Özlem Çakmak Tolan

https://doi.org/10.31458/iejes.1287290

Öz

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a self-esteem development program on middle-school students in the seventh grade. The study included 21 students with low self-esteem, of which 11 were in the experimental group and 10 in the control group. After identifying the participants, the researcher implemented an eight-session program, each session lasting 90 minutes on average, for the students in the experimental group. Non-parametric Mann Whitney-U test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test score averages of the experimental and control groups. Non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to determine whether there was a significant within-group difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental and control groups. The results indicate that the self-esteem scores of the students in the experimental group, who participated in group activities, increased. There was no change in the self-esteem scores of the students in the control group. The results of the study were discussed and interpreted in light of the relevant literature.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Self-esteem, group counseling, middle school, students

A Group Counseling Practice for Improving Middle-School Students’ Self-Esteem

Öz

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a self-esteem development program on middle-school students in the seventh grade. The study included 21 students with low self-esteem, of which 11 were in the experimental group and 10 were in the control group. After identifying the participants, the researcher implemented an eight-session program, each session lasting 90 minutes on average, for the students in the experimental group. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test score averages of the experimental and control groups. Non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to determine whether there was a significant within-group difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental and control groups. The results indicate that the self-esteem scores of the students in the experimental group, who participated in group activities, increased. There was no change in the self-esteem scores of the students in the control group. The results of the study were discussed and interpreted in light of the relevant literature.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Self-esteem, group counseling, middle school, students

Kaynakça

• Ahn, S., & Fedewa, A. L. (2011). A meta-analysis of the relationship between children’s physical activity and mental health. J. Pediatric Psychol. 36, 385–397.
• Akbari, B., Mohamadi, J., & Sadeghi, S. (2012). Effect of assertiveness training methods on self-esteem and general self-efficacy female students of Islamic Azad University, Anzali Branch. Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 2(3), 2265-2269.
• Barrera, U., Montoya-Castilla, I., Pérez-Albéniz, A., Lucas-Molina, B., & Fonseca-Pedrero, E. (2020). Mental health difficulties related to suicidal behavior in adolescents: The moderating role of self-esteem. Arch. Suicide Res.1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2020.1823918
• Baumeister, R. F., Campbell, J. D., Krueger, J. I., & Vohs, K. D. (2003). Does high self-esteem cause better performance, interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4(1), 1-44.
• Bozanoğlu, İ. (2005). Bilişsel-davranışçı yaklaşıma dayalı grup rehberliğinin güdülenme, benlik saygısı, başarı ve sınav kaygısı düzeylerine etkisi [The effect of group guidance based on cognitive-behavioral approach on motivation, self-esteem, achievement and test anxiety levels] Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 38(1), 17-42.
• Branden, N. (2001). The psychology of self-esteem: a revolutionary approach to self-understanding that launched a new era in modern psychology. Jossey-Bass.
• Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç-Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö., Karadeniz, Ş., & Demirel, F. (2008). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri [Scientific research methods] Ankara: Pegem A Yayıncılık.
• Cantin, S., & Boivin, M. (2004). Change and stability in children’s social network and self-perceptions during transition from elementary to junior high school. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 28(6), 561-570.
• Corey, G. (1990). Theory and practice of group counseling. California: Brooks/Cole Publication. Çuhadaroğlu, F. (1986). Adolesanlarda benlik saygısı [Self-esteem in adolescents].Yayınlanmamış Uzmanlık Tezi, Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Ankara.
• Doğru, N., & Peker, R. (2004). The effect of “A self-esteem enrichment program” on the self esteem level of ninth grade high school students. Journal of Uludağ Universty Faculty of Education, 17(2), 315-328.
• Harter, S. (1990). Processes underlying adolescent self-concept formation. In R. Montemayor, G. R. Adams, & T. P. Gullotta (Eds.), From childhood to adolescence: A transitional period? (205-239). Sage Publications, Inc.
• Karasar, N. (2016). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi: Kavramlar ilkeler teknikler [Scientific research method: Concepts principles techniques]. Ankara: Nobel Yayın Dağıtım.
• Kaya, A. & Saçkes, M. (2004). Benlik saygısı geliştirme programının ilköğretim 8. Sınıf öğrencilerinin benlik saygısı düzeylerine etkisi [The effect of the self-esteem development program on the self-esteem levels of 8th grade primary school students]. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 3(21), 49-56.
• Khullar, S., & Tyagi, A. (2014). Role of student teacher relationship in educational adjustment and self-esteem of fifth, sixth and seventh grade students. Indian J. Health Wellbeing. 5, 1472–1476.
• Kim, J. U. (2008). The effect of a R/T group counseling program on the Internet addiction level and self-esteem of Internet addiction university students. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 27(2).
• Lázaro, L., Font, E., Moreno, E., Calvo, R., Vila, M., Andrés‐Perpiñá, S., & Castro‐Fornieles, J. (2011). Effectiveness of self‐esteem and social skills group therapy in adolescent eating disorder patients attending a day hospital treatment programme. European Eating Disorders Review, 19(5), 398-406.
• Lukens, E. P., & McFarlane, W. R. (2004). Psychoeducation as evidence-based practice: considerations for practice, research, and policy. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 4(3), 205–225. https://doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhh019
• Luo, S., Liu, Y., & Zhang, D. (2020). Psychological maltreatment and loneliness in Chinese children: The role of perceived social support and self-esteem. Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 104573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth
• McGee, R., Williams, S., & Nada-Raja, S. (2001). Low self-esteem and hopelessness in childhood and suicidal ideation in early adulthood. J. Abnorm. Child Psychol, 29, 281–291.
• McVey, G. L., Davis, R., Tweed, S., & Shaw, B. F. (2004). Evaluation of a school‐based program designed to improve body image satisfaction, global self‐esteem, and eating attitudes and behaviors: A replication study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36(1), 1-11.
• Ordu, F. (2005). Psikososyal risk yatkınlığı olan ergenlerin benlik algılarını geliştirici grup çalışması [Group work to improve the self-perception of adolescents with psychosocial risk predisposition]. Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi, Marmara Üniversitesi, İstanbul.
• Orth, U., Robins, R. W., & Roberts, B. W. (2008). Low self-esteem prospectively predicts depression in adolescence and young adulthood. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol, 95, 695–708.
• Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Arndt, J., & Schimel, J. (2004). Why do people need self-esteem? A theoretical and empirical review. Psychol. Bull., 130, 435–468.
• Rosenberg. M. (1965) Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press.
• Sert, A. G. (2003). The effect of an assertiveness training on the assertiveness and self-esteem level of 5th grade children (Master's thesis) Middle East Technical University, Ankara.
• Sır, E. (2022). Ortaokul öğrencilerine uygulanan benlik saygısı geliştirme programı'nın benlik saygısı ve akran zorbalığı mağduriyetine etkisi. Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi, Selçuk Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Konya.
• Smead, R. (1990). Skills for living group counseling activities for young adolescent. Illinois: Research Press. Steese, S., Dollette, M., Phillips, W., & Hossfeld, E. (2006). Understanding girls circle as an intervention on perceived social support, body image, self-efficacy, locus of control, and self-esteem. Adolescence, 41(161), 55.
• Striegel-Moore, R. H. (2001). Body image concerns among children. Journal of Pediatrics, 138(2), 158-160. Tabachnick, B. G. & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics. Boston: MA Pearson.
• Tanksley, M. D. (1994). Building a good self-esteem for certain fifth grade children through cooperative learning, individualized learning techniques, parental involvement, and student counseling. Nova University.
• Taylor, S. E., Peplau, L. A., & Sears, D. O. (2007). Social psychology (A. Donmez, Trans.). Imge Bookstore.
• Trumbull, L. (1987). Group counseling to reduce maladaptive behavior and enhance self-esteem in the middle school. (Master’s thesis) Nova University.
• Wells, A. E., Hunnikin, L.M., Ash, D.P., & Van Goozen, S. H. M. (2020). Low self-esteem and impairments in emotion recognition predict behavioural problems in children. J. Psychopathol. Behav. Assess., 42, 693–701.
• Yahaya, A., Yusof, B., Jamaludin, R., Jaafar, S. L., Fawziah, Y., & Amir, H. A. (2004). Psikologi sosial. Malaysia: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai Johor Darul Ta’zim.
• Yang, Q., Tian, L., Huebner, E.S, & Zhu, X. (2019). Relations among academic achievement, self-esteem, and subjective well-being in school among elementary school students: A longitudinal mediation model. Sch. Psychol, 34, 328.