Date on Paper

8-2019

Document Type

Doctoral Paper

Degree Name

D.N.P.

Department

Nursing

Committee Chair

Mary-Beth Coty

Committee Member

Ruth Staten

Author's Keywords

: adolescents, girls, self-esteem, group therapy, group intervention, evidence-based interventions, risky behaviors, mental health, prevention education

Abstract

Background: Low self-esteem in adolescent girls has been found to be associated with risky behaviors including illicit drug use, early sexual intercourse, and delinquent behaviors. In addition, mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction have also been found to be associated with low self-esteem. Group-based interventions for increasing self-esteem and general well-being have been found to decrease risky behaviors and the symptoms associated with varying mental health problems.

Aims: To implement Girls Only! group-based intervention to improve self-esteem in at-risk adolescent girls living in a residential home.

Methods: A pretest posttest design was used to implement Girls Only!, a group-based intervention on self-esteem, risky behaviors, and mental health well-being. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, Pearson product correlations and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the outcome variables of self-esteem, risky behaviors, and mental health well-being.

Findings: A significant increase (p=.037) in self-esteem was found. Self-esteem was negatively correlated with scores on the Strength and Difficulties questionnaire. As self-esteem increased report of emotional and behavioral difficulties on the Strength and Difficulties questionnaire decreased.

Conclusion: The results give support for the use of group-based interventions for enhancing self-esteem in at-risk adolescent girls in residential settings.

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