“Humor A B C” Program: Specific Strength Intervention in Facilitating the Positive Development of Left-Behind Children

Wenjie Duan (), Xinhang Yu and Xiaoqing Tang
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Wenjie Duan: East China University of Science and Technology
Xinhang Yu: East China University of Science and Technology
Xiaoqing Tang: Zhongnan University of Economics and Law

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2023, vol. 24, issue 4, No 13, 1605-1624

Abstract: Abstract This study aimed to develop and evaluate a specific strength-based “Humor A B C” program to promote the positive development of left-behind children in mainland China and further investigate mediation mechanisms. A total of 263 left-behind children were involved in a randomized controlled trial. A 12-week “Humor A B C” program with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up tests at Week 16 (i.e., one month after intervention) and Week 37 (i.e., six months after intervention) were conducted. Repeated-measures analyses were performed to evaluate the effectiveness. Moreover, the internal mechanisms behind the intervention were examined. Compared with the control group, a significant increase in hope and satisfaction with life and a decrease in depression were observed for the intervention group at the post-test. The changes were persistent, with significant between-group effects of all three variables maintained in the short-term follow-up test, but only decrease in depression remained significant in the long term. Furthermore, strength knowledge was found to partially mediate the effects of the intervention on hope and satisfaction with life. The use of specific strengths was effective in improving the adaptation of left-behind children to past experiences, current situations, and future expectations. “Humor A B C” program provides social workers with an innovative way to facilitate the positive development of left-behind children.

Keywords: Strength-based intervention; Positive development; Positive education; Strength knowledge; Strength use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-023-00653-3

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