Solution-Focused Therapy for Self-Handicapping Behaviors Among Turkish High School Students

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial examined solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) effectiveness for reducing self-handicapping behaviors among Turkish high school students during the 2018–2019 academic year. Methods: Forty-five students (aged 14–16) scoring above 1 SD on the Self-Handicapping Scale were randomly assigned to SFBT intervention ( n = 15), placebo control ( n = 15), or waiting list groups ( n = 15). The experimental group received 6 weekly 60-min SFBT sessions. Assessments occurred at pretest, posttest, and 6-week follow-up. Results: No significant between-group differences emerged at posttest (χ 2 = 3.588, p > .05). However, significant differences favoring experimental group appeared at follow-up (χ 2 = 6.212, p < .05), particularly versus placebo ( U = 34.50, p = .016, r = .46). Within-group analyses showed significant reductions for experimental group from pretest to follow-up ( Z = −2.555, p < .05, r = .74). Discussion: SFBT effectively reduced self-handicapping with delayed benefits, supporting strength-based school approaches for at-risk adolescents.