The Effectiveness of Reality Therapy on Enhancing Psychological Capital and its Components, as well as Alleviating Loneliness in Single-Parent Adolescent Girls

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• elham amiriyan farsani ¹
• Masoud Gholamali Lavasani ²
• hossien keshavarz afshar ³

¹ MA in School Counseling, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22067/tpccp.2024.83841.1542

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of reality therapy in psychological capital and loneliness among girl adolescents within single-parent families.

Method: Employing a semi-experimental design encompassing pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments, the research focused on adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 from single-parent families in the Farsan district during the years 2021-2022. Through a availble sampling approach, one school was chosen from the district, followed by the random assignment of 20 out of 31 single-parent student participants to two groups of 10 based on predefined criteria. Data were collected using Luthans et al.'s (2007) Psychological Capital Questionnaire and Russell et al.'s (1980) Loneliness Questionnaire. These instruments were administered to adolescents in three stages. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of reality therapy, while the control group did not receive any training. Collected data were analyzed by using repeated measure analysis of variance.

Findings: according to the results reality therapy training impacted psychological capital, encompassing dimensions of self-efficacy, hope, and optimism. Furthermore, it effectively led to the reduction of loneliness, and this positive influence persisted upto the follow-up phase. The findings of this study can be used to support single-parent adolescents, aiming to enhance their psychological capital and to alleviate the experience of loneliness.

Keywords: Reality Therapy, Psychological Capital, Loneliness, Single-Parent

Keywords

• Reality Therapy
• Psychological Capital
• Loneliness
• Single-Parent

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