Translation, Adaptation and Preliminary Efficacy of the My FRIENDS Youth Program among Pakistani Adolescent Girls

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to translate, adapt and implement the adapted version of My FRIENDS Youth’s program on the Pakistani adolescent girls to have the data base for the feasibility of the implementation of such kind of intervention programs in our culture considering the incline of the mental health concerns among them. The study was carried out by the adaptation of the My FRIENDS Youth activity book using the planned adaptation approach while maintaining cultural equivalences through Flaherty’s cross cultural equivalences approach. Moreover, the implementation phase was carried out in the main stream school settings following quasi experimental approach with the experimental group that participated in the intervention program was compared with the control group, not receiving any intervention. The program was implemented for the purpose of checking the program’s effectiveness in Pakistani context and its implementation showed the significant reduction in the adolescents’ Anxiety levels (F=100.4, p=0.00) and behavioral problems and emotional problems (F=25.77, p=0.00). Thus, the study aimed to promote the prevention science to make way for the future studies to implement the program with larger samples so to provide the cost effective, time efficient and well-being promotion program for the adolescents of Pakistan.