The effect of structured education on self-esteem and the suicide probability of male adolescents living in orphanages.

AIM: This study aims to observe the effect of structured education provided to improve self-esteem and hope on the self-esteem and the suicide probability of male adolescents living in orphanages.

METHOD: The study was conducted as an intervention study with pretest-posttest follow-up design. The study sample consisted of 30 adolescents living in the Ağrı Orphanage for Boys. Sessions of group education were conducted twice a week for 8 weeks, giving a total of 16 sessions; each session lasted for 60 to 90 minutes. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS). A repeated measures analysis of variance was used for data analysis. Three measurements were performed: the first at the pretest stage; the second at the posttest stage, and the third six weeks after the completion of the program.

FINDINGS: The SPS total scores and subscale scores of the study group were found to be statistically significantly lower in the second and the third measurements than in the first measurement. The RSES scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the second and the third measurements than in the first measurement.

DISCUSSION: Because this group of adolescents is deemed at risk, it was suggested that the self-esteem and the suicide probability of the adolescents living in orphanages should be analyzed in more detail, and that preventive approaches should be considered.