Addressing emotional aggression in Thai adolescents: evaluating the P-positive program using EQ metric.

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigates the effectiveness of the P-Positive program in addressing emotional aggression among junior high school students in Lopburi Province, Thailand.

Methods: A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was employed with 54 participants aged 13-15. The intervention, conducted over 16 weeks, applied the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) framework. Key components included emotional regulation, empathy development, and behavioral change, facilitated through structured activities. Emotional intelligence was assessed using the EQ Metric, evaluating nine dimensions comprehensively.

Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed across all dimensions of emotional intelligence (p<0.001). The most notable improvements were in self-control, empathy, and decision-making, with motivation showing the highest mean difference (4.333). Inner peace exhibited the smallest mean improvement (1.593), but the change was still statistically significant. These findings highlight the program's effectiveness in enhancing emotional intelligence and reducing aggression.

Conclusions: The P-Positive program shows strong potential as a scalable intervention for improving emotional well-being and mitigating aggression in adolescents. It offers valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and public health stakeholders, suggesting the importance of integrating such programs into broader educational and health initiatives. Further refinements to address specific dimensions like inner peace may enhance its impact.