Efficacy of group counseling in enhancing social adaptation of adolescents relocated for poverty alleviation.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents relocated for poverty alleviation are prone to social maladaptation, which may adversely affect their personal development and social stability. Enhancing their social adaptation is therefore of considerable significance. This study designed and implemented a group counseling program to examine its effects on the social adaptation of these adolescents. METHODS: This study recruited a total of 300 relocated adolescents experiencing social adaptation difficulties. These participants came from urban districts, county seats, and towns in Z City, Guizhou Province, China. The intervention group (n = 151) received an 8-week group counseling program targeting social adaptation, while the control group (n = 149) received no intervention. The Social Adaptation Scale for Relocated Adolescents, the Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II., and the Future Expectations Scale were administered before and after intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in total scores of social adaptation, personal growth initiative, or future expectations. After eight weeks, the intervention group scored significantly higher on all three scales compared with the control group. No significant pre–post changes were found in the control group, whereas the intervention group showed significant improvements from pre- to posttest. CONCLUSION: The structured group counseling program significantly enhanced the social adaptation of adolescents relocated for poverty alleviation, enabling them to adjust more effectively to new environments and new lives after relocation.