Effectiveness of an Attachment-based Family Program on Emotional Awareness and Social Desirability in High School Students

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an attachment-based family program in enhancing emotional awareness and social desirability among male high school students. Methods: A quasi-experimental design, incorporating pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments with a control group, was employed. The study population comprised all male second-grade high school students in Karun County, Iran, during the 2023-2024 academic year. Through purposive sampling, 30 eligible students exhibiting low emotional awareness and social desirability were selected and subsequently randomized into an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). The experimental group participated in an 11-session attachment-based family program, carefully designed to enhance family dynamics, communication, and emotional regulation. Data were collected using the emotional awareness questionnaire (EAQ-30) and social desirability scale (SDS). For data analysis, SPSS software, version 27 was utilized, primarily employing mixed-model analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in both emotional awareness and social desirability within the experimental group at post-test and follow-up stages compared to the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that attachment-based family programs are an effective intervention for promoting emotional awareness and social desirability in adolescents. Consequently, its implementation in family counseling settings is supported, offering a valuable strategy to mitigate common adolescent challenges.