The Efficiency of a Group Counselling Program Based on a Problem-Solving Strategy in Reducing Psychological Stress Among Adolescent Girls of Divorced Families

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the effect of a group counseling program based on a problem-solving strategy in reducing psychological stress among adolescent girls from divorced families. The study sample consisted of (30) students from children of divorced families, in the age group (13-16) years, enrolled in one of the public schools in Zarqa in the second semester 2018/2019. To achieve the objectives of the study, a quasi-experimental design was adopted, in which the sample was divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 15), that was exposed to the counseling program, and a control group (n = 15) for whom the program was not presented. Both groups underwent a total of two sessions per week, in which the session duration ranged between (45-60) minutes. The results of the current study indicated that there were statistically significant differences between the average performance of the members of the experimental and control groups on the psychological stress test in its psychological, cognitive, and physiological dimensions in favor of the experimental group. This indicates the program’s efficiency in reducing psychological stresses. The study recommended developing more group counseling programs to address psychological, personal, social, and behavioral issues among adolescent girls and boys from divorced families.

Received: 5 July 2021 / Accepted: 2 September 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021