The impact of social work practice with groups on adolescents’ delinquent behaviors at school: An experimental study from Turkey

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to determine the impact of social work with groups on adolescents’ tendency to delinquent behaviors at school. MethodInitially, participants randomly assigned to the study were divided into two equal groups in terms of delinquent behaviors, forming the experimental and control groups of the research. The experimental group exclusively participated in a 10-session social work program with groups over a five-week period. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered to both groups. Data collection was conducted using a Personal Information Form and the Delinquent Behaviour Scale (DBS). Attendance forms, as well as pre, mid, and post-assessment forms, were also utilized for the experimental group. T-tests were employed to analyze the differences within and between the groups. The relationships among continuous variables were examined using correlation and linear regression analyses, while associations between categorical variables were tested using the Chi-Square test. SPSS was used as the tool for these analyses. Qualitative data from the pre, mid, and post-assessment forms were thematically analyzed using MAXQDA. ResultsThe statistical analysis conducted at the end of the study revealed a significant decrease in delinquent behavior tendencies among the experimental group. In the experimental group, increasing levels of participation in sessions were associated with decreasing levels of tendency to delinquent behaviors. In the last assessment, the experimental group reported attainments that supported their behavioral change. No statistically significant difference was found in the tendency of the control group’s delinquent behavior. Although the level of the experimental group’s tendency to delinquent behavior was lower than the control group at the end of the study, this difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionThe findings derived from this investigation hold promise regarding the delinquent behaviors exhibited by adolescents in school settings. Conversely, due to the small sample size, this study should be considered a pilot. The effectiveness of the intervention needs to be tested in a more comprehensive study to obtain valid results applicable to a broader population.