Solution-Focused Therapy for Self-Handicapping Behaviors Among Turkish High School Students

Cakir S., OĞUZ DURAN N.

RESEARCH ON SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/10497315251407253
  • Dergi Adı: RESEARCH ON SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, Education Abstracts, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Violence & Abuse Abstracts, Social Sciences Abstracts
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial examined solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) effectiveness for reducing self-handicapping behaviors among Turkish high school students during the 2018-2019 academic year. Methods: Forty-five students (aged 14-16) scoring above 1 SD on the Self-Handicapping Scale were randomly assigned to SFBT intervention (n = 15), placebo control (n = 15), or waiting list groups (n = 15). The experimental group received 6 weekly 60-min SFBT sessions. Assessments occurred at pretest, posttest, and 6-week follow-up. Results: No significant between-group differences emerged at posttest (chi(2) = 3.588, p > .05). However, significant differences favoring experimental group appeared at follow-up (chi(2 )= 6.212, p < .05), particularly versus placebo (U = 34.50, p = .016, r = .46). Within-group analyses showed significant reductions for experimental group from pretest to follow-up (Z = -2.555, p < .05, r = .74). Discussion: SFBT effectively reduced self-handicapping with delayed benefits, supporting strength-based school approaches for at-risk adolescents.