Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Training Package for Violence Prevention in Adolescents: Its Effect on Self-control and Social Skills

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a period marked by significant changes, during which individuals face major emotional, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Violence remains a significant global concern, and factors such as self-control and social skills play a crucial role in reducing and managing adolescent violence. Objectives: This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a training package for violence prevention (TPVP) in adolescents and assess its impact on self-control and social skills among students in Isfahan. Methods: This study was conducted on sixty 13 - 15-year-old female students in Isfahan, Iran, during the 2022 - 2023 academic year. First, the TPVP was developed after reviewing relevant theories and existing training packages, then it was evaluated by a panel of faculty members from the Department of Social Medicine, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists. The students were randomly divided into two groups: (1) an intervention group, and (2) a control group, with 30 students in each group. The intervention group received the TPVP and attended five training sessions. To assess social skills and self-control, the Inderbitzen and Foster Social Skills Questionnaire and the Tangney Self-control Questionnaire were administered to both groups before and three months after the intervention. Results: Sixty female students aged 13 - 15 participated in this study. The mean self-control score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group after the intervention (46.33 ± 6.488 vs. 40.44 ± 7.307, P = 0.002). Prior to the training, there was no significant difference in social skills scores between the two groups. However, following the intervention, the mean social skills score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (118.38.726 vs. 102.913.468, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The violence prevention training package was effective in improving self-control and social skills among students. The study demonstrated that the implementation of a structured TPVP can enhance both self-control and social skills in adolescents.