Examining the effect of choice theory based pyschoeducation program on adolescents' risk taking behaviors and wellness

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of psycho-education programme based on choice theory and reality therapy on adolesents risk behaviors and levels of general well-being. The study is conducted with adolescents who have risk behaviors studying at Osmangazi Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Aydın, Efeler. Totally 45 students were involved in the study, 15 of whom in experiment group, 15 in compare group and 15 in control group. Students were appointed to experiment, compare and control groups randomly. As pretest Risk Behaviours Scale and General Well-Being Scale were applied to each group. Psyco-education programme based on choice theory was conducted along eleven sessions in experiment group, each of which lasts 80 minutes. Vocational guidance group was conducted as compare group along eleven sessions, each of which lasts 80 minutes and no intervention was applied to control group. At the end of the instruction process the same scales were applied to all three groups as post-test and after three months follow up measurements were administered. Data obtained from pre-test, post-test and followup measurements were analyzed by "3×3 Mixed Design ANOVA" which is suitable for mixed designs. For all the analyzes significance level was taken as .05. According to the findings, it was seen that psycho-education programme based on choice theory and reality therapy is effective in decreasing adolescents' anti-social behaviors, use of alcohol, suicide tendency, harmful eating habits and school dropout levels. Obtained results were discussed under the light of literature and suggestions were provided to mental health professionals and researchers. Key Words: Choice Theory, Reality Therapy, Psychoeducation Program, Adolescence, Risk Behavior, Wellness.