Assessing the Impact of a Positive Psychology School‐Based Psychoeducation on the Mental Health of Adolescents Affected by the 2023 Earthquake in Türkiye

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of a positive psychology-based psychoeducation program on the psychological states, future expectations, and coping styles of adolescents affected by the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. METHODS: A single-group, pretest-posttest design was adopted. A four-session psychoeducation program was delivered to 74 students in one of the high schools in a village affected by the earthquake. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Future Expectations Scale for Adolescents (FESA), and Coping Scale for Adolescents (KIDCOPE) were used to assess the intervention outcomes. Additionally, interviews were used to assess the intervention's acceptability and perceived impact. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the total BSI score and all sub-dimensions after the intervention (p < 0.001). While there was no significant difference between the KIDCOPE general scores (p = 0.599), significant improvements were recorded in the active coping (p = 0.031) and negative coping (p = 0.003) sub-dimensions. Additionally, there was an increase in FESA scores, with a statistically significant difference, especially in the marriage and family sub-dimension. Students perceived the interventions as impactful, interactive, timely, and culturally relevant. They suggested including their families in the intervention and reducing the group size to allow more interaction. CONCLUSION: Mental health interventions targeting children and adolescents should not only focus on reducing negative symptoms but also on nurturing positive mental health traits. Additionally, families should be included in the interventions as they play a vital role in adolescents' emotional and social well-being.