Self-Defense Training for Enhancing Self-Esteem: Sexual Harassment Preventive Strategy—A Pilot Study among High School Girls of Coastal Region of Karnataka, India

Background Sexual harassment is a major public issue among teens. As a result, encouraging teenage girls to claim their rights and providing an atmosphere free of prejudice and violence is vital. Promoting high self-esteem may minimize the probability of teenagers experiencing the negative repercussions of harassment. Objective This study sought to explore the potential of self-defense training to enhance self-esteem among high school girls. Methods A quantitative research approach with quasi-experimental design was adopted. Three government high schools from seven clusters were randomly selected from Mangalore South Zone and 38 high school girls were recruited (control group = 18 from two schools and intervention group = 20 from one school). Data were collected using sociodemographic proforma and Rosenberg self-esteem scale. After pretest, eight sessions of self-defense training were conducted and a posttest was administered with an interval of 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months after the intervention. Ethical approval for the study was obtained. Results A significant difference was found between the self-esteem scores of the intervention and control groups ( p < 0.001). Conclusion This study revealed that the self-defense training was effective in enhancing self-esteem. Enhancement of self-esteem and awareness of self-protection is key to remaining free from violence, assault, and harassment.