The effectiveness of a structured group intervention designed to enhance life satisfaction and gratitude among social work students: An experimental study with a control group
The British Journal of Social Work, cilt.0, ss.1-22, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 0
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1093/bjsw/bcag143
- Dergi Adı: The British Journal of Social Work
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-22
- Anahtar Kelimeler: educational policies, gratitude, life satisfaction, social work, structured group intervention
- Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study examined the effectiveness of a structured group intervention designed to enhance life satisfaction and gratitude among Social Work students at Ataturk University in Erzurum, Turkiye. Using a quantitative experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements, 213 students were initially assessed through convenience sampling. Students scoring below the lower quartile on the Life Satisfaction Scale and Gratitude Scale were invited to participate. Twenty-eight volunteers were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 14) or a control group (n = 14). The intervention group participated in a six-session structured group program conducted weekly, while the control group received no intervention. Both groups completed the same measures before the intervention, immediately afterward, and at a one-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA. The findings showed no significant changes in the control group, whereas the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in both life satisfaction and gratitude. These results suggest that structured group interventions can be an effective psychosocial method for promoting positive psychological outcomes among social work students and may contribute to their personal well-being and professional development.