INVESTIGATION THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM (SFP) EDUCATION ON USING APPROPRIATE COPING STRATEGIES AND REDUCING READINESS OF ADDICTION IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND BOYS

Background and Aim : The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of Strengthening Families Program (SFP) education on using appropriate coping strategies and reducing readiness of addiction in adolescent girls and boys.Methods : This research in terms of purpose is applied one and method is quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and unequal control group. The statistical population included all 14 year old high school students in Borujerd city. Method was available non-random sampling and it was according to the SFP instruction. A total of 48 participants (24 experimental groups including 12 girls and 12 boys and 24 control group including 12 girls and 12 boys) were selected as sample group. The experimental group was trained for 7 continuous weekly sessions with parents in the Strengthening Families Program sessions in a 2-hour session which was held every week, the first hour adolescents and parents in a separate meeting and the second hour, along with parents by the group leaders. The control group did not receive any training. To measure variables, a questionnaire including two coping strategies scales (Endler and Parker, 1990) and the Zargar’s addiction potential Iranian scale (2006) was used. And all participants were given a pre-test and post-test. In order to analyze data from a univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used by SPSS21 software. Results : The findings of this study showed that the training of Strengthening Families Program on reducing the readiness of addiction and using appropriate coping strategies for adolescents was effective and increased the use of problem-oriented coping strategy and reduction of the use of the avoidance and emotion-focused coping strategies in the test group. Also, the effectiveness of the training of Strengthening Families Program on reducing readiness of addiction and coping strategies among boys and girls (in terms of the interactive effect of gender and group) was different.Conclusion : Strengthening Families Program is a suitable method for preventing addiction and improving family relationship and stress management in adolescents. Therefore, its use in adolescents educational programs has a positive effect.

Keywords:

Strengthening Families Program (SFP) , Coping Strategies , Readiness for Addiction , Adolescents