Avaliação de uma proposta de prevenção do vazio existencial com adolescentes

Abstract

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi validar uma proposta de prevenção do vazio existencial em um grupo de estudantes adolescentes. Participaram deste estudo 33 estudantes que estavam no segundo ano do ensino médio, sendo 11 do sexo masculino e 22 feminino, com idade média de 16,5 anos e amplitude de 14 a 18. Os participantes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos. Assim, foi constituído um grupo experimental e um grupo controle. Os adolescentes do grupo experimental participaram de um programa de intervenção denominado prevenção do vazio existencial, com o objetivo de aumentar a sensação de sentido de vida. No primeiro encontro, foi aplicado o pré-teste (Pil-test) tanto para o grupo experimental quanto para o grupo controle, e, ao término, foi aplicado o pós-test para os dois grupos. Para a análise dos dados, utilizou-se o Test t de student para medidas repetidas. Os resultados sugerem que a intervenção promoveu o desenvolvimento da sensação de sentido de vida, pois foi constatado um aumento do nível de realização existencial bem como a regressão dos níveis de desespero e de vazio existencial dos participantes do grupo experimental.

Intervention for Promoting Meaning in Life in Adolescents: Evaluation of the Process and Results

“…From this perspective, Aquino, Silva, Figueiredo, Dourado, and Farias (2011) developed and evaluated a proposal for the prevention of an existential vacuum with 33 adolescents from a public school in Campina Grande, Paraiba. In a quasi-experimental study, an intervention of 15 meetings was offered to the participants in the experimental group.…”

“…The outcomes obtained by Aquino et al (2011) can be added to other international interventions focused on promoting meaning in life for adolescents, even though low in number, that have achieved positive outcomes, associated with an improvement in the quality of life of adolescents (Haditabar, Far, & Amani, 2013) and with an increase in psychological well-being in patients with cancer (Kang et al, 2009). Studies of interventions to promote meaning in life in adolescents are also scarce in the national literature.…”

“…Studies of interventions to promote meaning in life in adolescents are also scarce in the national literature. In addition to the proposal of Aquino et al (2011), only studies in adult populations were found, with positive outcomes for the promotion of autonomy and increased quality of life in psychotic patients (Leonardi, 2011) and prevention of burnout in teachers (Reinhold, 2004). There are few national studies directed toward the promotion of meaning in life in the early stages of the life cycle in non-clinical populations.…”

“…There are few national studies directed toward the promotion of meaning in life in the early stages of the life cycle in non-clinical populations. Thus, new studies to assess the intervention made by Aquino et al (2011), as well as to develop other programs with a similar purpose, could expand the available evidence regarding the benefi ts of this type of intervention.…”

“…Taking into account the above considerations, the aim of this study was to replicate the intervention for the prevention of an existential vacuum and promotion of meaning in life for adolescents proposed by Aquino et al (2011), expanding its evaluation, focusing on its implementation process and outcomes. The junction between evaluations of process and outcomes can offer a broader overview of the implementation and effects of a given intervention, as well as pre-and post-intervention evaluations, also called "black box" evaluations (Steckler & Linnan, 2002).…”