Effects of an Empowerment Program on Nicotine Dependency, Temptation, Self-esteem, Depression in Adolescents Who Smoke

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of an empowerment program on nicotine dependency, temptation, self-esteem, and depression for adolescents who smoke. METHODS: The study design was a quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent control group, pre-post design. The participants were 49 adolescents who smoked. Twenty-six adolescents were assigned to the experimental group and 23 to the control group. The intervention was conducted twice a week for 6 weeks. Chi-square test, t-test, paired-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: After program, scores for self-esteem (t=5.560, p=.014), were significantly higher and scores for depression (t=-2.111, p=.040) were significantly lower for adolescents in the experimental group compared to adolescents in the control group. CONCLUSION: The finding indicate that the empowerment group training program was effective in improving self-esteem, and decreasing depression and could be considered as a positive program for smoking cessation for adolescents who smoke.