Leadership and Peer Counseling Program: Evaluation of Training and Its Impact on Filipino Senior Peer Counselors

Rogie Royce Carandang, Akira Shibanuma, Junko Kiriya, Karen Rose Vardeleon, Maria Aileen Marges, Edward Asis, Hiroshi Murayama and Masamine Jimba
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Rogie Royce Carandang: Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Akira Shibanuma: Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Junko Kiriya: Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Karen Rose Vardeleon: Childfam-Possibilities Psychosocial Services Co., Quezon City 1104, Philippines
Maria Aileen Marges: Childfam-Possibilities Psychosocial Services Co., Quezon City 1104, Philippines
Edward Asis: Department of Global Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
Hiroshi Murayama: Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Masamine Jimba: Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Senior volunteers represented a significant, mostly untapped lay resource of informal social care. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the training program on improving senior volunteers’ competency toward peer counseling, and explored its impact on their well-being after three months of the program implementation. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention analysis among 60 senior volunteers aged 60–82 years. They participated in 40 h of training and performed weekly peer counseling home visits for three months. We evaluated the program using survey questionnaires, trainer observation and debriefing, and focus group discussions. After the training, peer counselors showed a significant improvement ( p < 0.001) in knowledge (17.1 versus 22.3) and skills (17.0 versus 17.9). All of them met the minimum required passing level of 70% for the knowledge test, and their overall performance was satisfactory as rated by two independent trainers. After three months, peer counselors showed a significant improvement ( p < 0.001) in their subjective well-being ( d = 0.69) and depressive symptoms ( d = −0.67). Filipino senior volunteers could be trained to serve as peer counselors in their communities. This program improved their competency and well-being. Future research is warranted to determine whether the provision of counseling by them will affect the health outcomes of the target population.

Keywords: leadership; senior peer counseling; aging; mental health; Philippines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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