Self-Empowerment Program (SEP) to Reduce the Externalizing Behaviors of Adolescents Exposed to Interparental Conflict in India

John Joseph, Rodel P. Canlas

University of Santo Tomas, Manila

Adolescents frequently experience stress from interparental conflict, and their perception of it has a significant role in the problem behaviors that they exhibit. The study aimed to develop and examine the efficacy of the Self-Empowerment Program (SEP) with nine modules in reducing the externalizing behaviors of adolescents exposed to interparental conflict. Conklin's three-phase program development model planning, design and implementation, and assessment and program validation were used in this study. Adolescents (N=385, 11–18 years old) from Assam, India, comprised the participants. They were randomly split into the experimental group (n = 21) and the control group (n = 21), using a randomization process to ensure unbiased group assignment. Focus group discussions, interviews, and the Youth Self-Report Scale evaluated the severity of the issue. The post-test results between the experimental and control groups made a noteworthy distinction. This distinction was seen for example, in the experimental group: Externalizing Behavior: M=26.61, SD=2.65,Social Problem: M=5.95, SD=1.49; Rule breaking, M=3.38, SD=.864; Aggressive behavior, M=6.57, SD=1.32; and in the control group, Externalizing behavior: M=25.23, SD=2.64, Social Problem=8.42, SD=1.07; Rule breaking: M=6.76, SD=1.22; Aggressive behavior: M=10.04, SD=1.71. The Pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group (Pre-test: Experimental group: M=26.61, SD=2.65, Social Problem: M=8.76, SD=1.22; Rule breaking: M=7.0, SD=1.26; Aggressive behavior: M=10.8, SD=1.71; Post-test: Externalizing behavior: M=15.90, SD=2.27, Social Problem: M=5.95, SD=1.49; Rule breaking: M=3.38, SD=.864; Aggressive behavior=6.57, SD=1.32) indicated that the nine modular program of SEP has proved and helped to reduce the externalizing behaviors in adolescents exposed to IPC.

Article link: https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/JSParchives/self-empowerment-program-(sep)-to-reduce-the-externalizing-behaviors-of-adolescents-exposed-to-interparental-conflict-in-india