Vol.
8 No.
April 2025, 52-61 https://ejournal.
id/index.
php/almusyrif/ https://doi.
org/10.
38073/almusyrif.
Effectiveness of Solution Focus Brief Counseling (SFBC) for Psychological Well-being of Adolescent Girls in Toxic Relationships Aminatuz Zahro1*.
Ika Ariyati2.
Kus Hendar3.
Aprezo Pardodi Maba4 Universitas MaAoarif Lampung.
Metro.
Indonesia University of Queensland.
Queensland.
Australia aminahazzahro41@gmail.
com, 2ikaariyati72@gmail.
com, 3kushendarumala@gmail.
aprezopm@gmail.
*Correspondence 1,2,3 Article Information:
Received: March 2025 Revised: April 2025 Accepted: April 2025 Published: April 2025 Keywords:
Adolescents.
Counseling.
Psychological Well-being.
SFBC.
Toxic Relationships Abstract Adolescent psychological well-being is frequently compromised by toxic relationships, which are associated with increased stress, anxiety, and social isolation.
This quasi-experimental study evaluated the efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Counselling (SFBC) in enhancing psychological well-being among adolescents experiencing such relationships.
A sample of 24 participants was purposively selected and assigned to the experimental and control groups.
The instruments included the Toxic Relationship Scale .
alidity = 0.
40Ae0.
79, = 0.
and the Psychological Well-Being Scale .
alidity = 0.
6Ae0.
95, =
543Ae0.
A pre-test post-test design was implemented.
Pretest and post test data met the assumptions of normality and homogeneity .
< .
, permitting the use of a paired-samples ttest.
Analysis revealed a significant increase in psychological well-being scores for the experimental group .
re-test M = 44.
post-test M = 100.
compared to the control group .
re-test M = 44.
25, post-test M = 59.
These results demonstrate that SFBC is an effective intervention for improving the psychological well-being of adolescents in toxic relationships.
The findings underscore the utility of SFBCAos future-oriented, solution-building framework, which aligns with adolescents' preference for pragmatic and immediate counselling outcomes.
How to Cite this Article Zahro.
Ariyati.
Hendar.
, & Maba.
Effectiveness of Solution Focus Brief Counseling (SFBC) for Psychological Well-being of Adolescent Girls in Toxic Relationships.
Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Islam, 8.
, 52Ae61.
https://doi.
org/10.
38073/almusyrif.
Copyright A 2025 Aminatuz Zahro et al.
This article is licensed under CC-BY-SA | 52 Effectiveness of Solution Focus Brief Counseling (SFBC) for .
| Zahro et al.
INTRODUCTION
Adolescent development is profoundly influenced by peer relationships, which are central to social interaction and identity formation (Julianto et al.
, 2.
However, these friendships are not always beneficial.
some devolve into toxic relationships characterized by harmful behaviours such as exclusion, belittlement, and verbal attacks (Forth et al.
, 2.
Exposure to such dynamics can induce significant psychological stress, adversely affecting mental health.
This is particularly critical during adolescence, a period marked by the search for self-identity and a heightened susceptibility to negative group influences (Dafiq et al.
, 2.
Friendship circles, also conceptualized as a "circle of friends," represent specific social groups formed through close, informal relationships (Alsarve, 2020.
Ford et al.
Soemarsono & Tutiasri, 2.
These networks are characterized by openness and flexibility, as membership is contingent on ongoing acceptance by peers (Tianingrum.
During adolescence, individuals typically form these circles by selecting peers who share similar characteristics and with whom they experience emotional closeness (Hanifa & Lestari, 2.
The resulting peer dynamics are influential, with the potential to either support or hinder developmental outcomes based on the quality of interactions (Sardi & Ayriza, 2.
Consequently, the social and emotional development of adolescents is significantly shaped by the complex dynamics within their immediate friendship circles (Ruaidah, 2.
Adolescent bullying and relational aggression within friendships are often linked to a negative self-concept (Nihaya et al.
, 2.
These behaviors, sustained by social pressures and harmful environmental influences (Ramadhan & Noorizki, 2.
, constitute a significant psychosocial concern.
Although not always physically manifest, such victimization can severely impact mental health by fostering profound feelings of inferiority and diminished self-esteem (Wahyudi & Burnamajaya, 2.
Consequently, affected adolescents frequently experience social exclusion, a loss of socialization skills, a lack of close friendships, and significant impediments to achieving personal and social goals (Wijayanto & Hidayati, 2.
Recent data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health indicate a 6.
2% prevalence of depression among adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24, with unhealthy peer relationships identified as a contributing factor (Praptiningsih & Putra, 2.
Therefore, understanding the dynamics of these relationships and developing effective intervention strategies are critical for mitigating their adverse psychological effects (Fitriyah, 2.
Toxic behavior within adolescent friendships is a documented concern, including in the context of Islamic boarding schools or Pesantren (Fitriyani, 2.
Despite these institutions' emphasis on religious values, factors such as seniority hierarchies, ethnic differences, and exclusive peer groups can foster unhealthy relational dynamics (Fitriyani, 2.
These dynamics, which often manifest as bullying and social pressure, can lead to student exclusion and diminished self-confidence (Fitriyani, 2.
Unaddressed, such experiences pose a significant risk to adolescents' mental health (Fitriyani, 2.
Consequently, safeguarding psychological well-being is a critical Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam | 53 Zahro et al.
| Effectiveness of Solution Focus Brief Counseling (SFBC) for .
priority (Rahimah, 2.
As defined by Ryff .
, psychological well-being comprises multiple dimensions, including self-acceptance, positive relations with others, and a sense of purpose in life (Fadhil, 2.
Exposure to harmful relationships can disrupt these core components, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to mitigate adverse effects and foster adaptive functioning (Fadhil, 2.
Adolescent psychological well-being is a critical determinant of healthy development, underscoring the need for effective counseling interventions.
A growing body of research underscores the efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) in enhancing key adolescent competencies.
For instance.
SFBC has been demonstrated to improve student resilience significantly (Lombu et al.
, 2.
, openness (Wusqa, 2.
, morale (Khoiriyah et al.
, 2.
, career adaptability (Nugroho et al.
, 2.
, and social competence, with effects sustained at a three-month follow-up (Ate, 2.
Furthermore.
SFBC is effective in mitigating maladaptive behaviors.
studies report its success in reducing general aggression (Fitriyah, 2.
and specifically in decreasing online aggressive behavior by fostering positive, self-generated solutions to digital conflicts (Mulawarman et al.
, 2.
This focus on client competencies allows adolescents to overcome frustrations and develop constructive behaviors (Fridiyanto, 2.
The applicability of brief, strengths-based approaches is further evident in addressing complex interpersonal challenges such as toxic relationships, which often originate within an adolescent's immediate environment (Praptiningsih & Putra, 2.
In such cases.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been utilized to help victims rebuild self-confidence and self-love through positive affirmations, thereby reducing anxiety and negative self-perceptions (Habsy et al.
, 2.
Collectively, this evidence positions SFBC and CBT as vital modalities for promoting adolescent psychological well-being across diverse life domains.
While Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) has been established in individual settings, its efficacy within group formats for addressing unhealthy relationships among adolescent girls in Islamic boarding schools remains underexplored.
SFBC is distinguished by its future-oriented, solution-building focus, which contrasts with the problem-centered nature of conventional therapies (Dartina et al.
, 2.
This emphasis on practical and rapid change aligns with the preferences of Generation Z, who often seek efficient interventions (Dartina et al.
, 2.
The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of SFBC group counseling in mitigating toxic relationship dynamics among female students in this specific context.
The SFBC model facilitates client empowerment by guiding individuals to construct their own solutions without extensive analysis of problem etiology (Mulawarman, 2019.
ynzer, 2.
This methodology is particularly suitable for a boarding school environment, where students have constrained schedules and are geographically separated from their primary familial support systems (Fatmawati, 2.
Consequently, this research hypothesizes that the SFBC group intervention will significantly enhance the psychological well-being of adolescent girls experiencing toxic relationships.
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METHOD
This study used a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control-group design.
purposive sampling method was employed to select 24 ninth-grade female adolescents from MTs Wali Songo.
Participants were selected from a total population of 110 and assigned to either the experimental or the control group.
Selection was contingent upon a score of 6.
0 or higher on a toxic relationship screening scale, which served as the primary inclusion criterion.
The research design is presented in Figure 1.
Experiment (Y.
Treatment
(X)
Experiment (Y.
Control (Y.
Treatment
(X)
Control (Y.
Figure 1.
Pretest-Posttest Control Group Research Design Data were collected using two instruments.
The first was the Toxic Relationship Scale (Rahimah, 2.
, a 29-item measure assessing five domains: lack of trust, emotional and aggressive behaviors, self-manipulation, lying, and the use of violence in This instrument demonstrated high internal consistency ( = .
and a reliability coefficient of .
The second instrument was the Psychological Well-Being (PWB) Scale (Fadhil, 2.
, which comprises 29 items measuring six dimensions of psychological well-being.
Its subscales showed acceptable internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .
543 to .
828, and a composite reliability of Both measures employed a 4-point Likert scale, from 1 (Strongly Disagre.
to 4 (Strongly Agre.
(Fadhil, 2.
The internal consistency of the toxic relationship scale was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.
The analysis yielded a coefficient of .
934 for the 29 items, which exceeds the recommended threshold of .
70 (Cronbach, 1.
This indicates excellent reliability, supporting the scale's use as a consistent measure in the present study.
The study employed a three-phase procedure.
First, a pre-test was administered to both the experimental and control groups.
Subsequently, the experimental group .
= .
received six group counselling sessions based on the Solution-Focused Brief Counselling (SFBC) model, facilitated by the researcher.
The control group .
= .
received an equivalent number of regular group counselling sessions.
Finally, a post-test was administered to all participants.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted over three months at MTs Wali Songo in Central Lampung.
Following checks for normality and homogeneity, the data were analysed using an independent-samples t-test in SPSS (Version X.
IBM Corp.
, 2.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The participants' levels of toxic relationship characteristics were assessed using the Toxic Relationship Questionnaire (TRQ), as follows:
Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam | 55 Zahro et al.
| Effectiveness of Solution Focus Brief Counseling (SFBC) for .
Table 1.
Results of the Toxic Relationship Scale Categorization Test
Score
Frequency Percent
Very Low
O 74
Low 75 Ae 94 Valid Hight 95 Ae 114 Very High Ou 115 Table 1 summarizes the distribution of toxic relationship intensity among the student participants (N=.
The sample was categorized as follows: very low .
=9, 2%), low .
=35, 31.
8%), high .
=53, 48.
2%), and very high .
=13, 11.
8%).
From the high and very high categories .
, 24 participants were selected for the intervention These participants were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental The experimental group received group counseling based on the Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) approach, which was implemented to enhance their psychological well-being within the context of toxic friendships.
Following the recruitment phase, both the control and experimental groups will participate in group counselling sessions.
The control group will receive a non-specific, supportive group counselling intervention, while the experimental group will receive counselling based on the Solution-Focused Brief Counselling (SFBC) model.
Prior to the intervention, all participants will complete a pre-test using the Psychological Well-Being Scale.
Upon completion of the counselling sessions, all participants will complete the same scale as a post-test to measure changes in psychological well-being attributable to the SFBC intervention.
The data for the toxic relationship scale met the assumptions for parametric analysis, with a normality value of 0.
080 and a homogeneity value of 0.
Table 2.
Normality and Homogeneity Test Results for the Control Group Normality Sig.
Statistic Homogeneity Sig.
Levene Statistic Pretest The results of the normality and homogeneity tests for the control group, as detailed in Table 2, indicate that all data were normally distributed and homogeneous (< This satisfies the key parametric assumptions for the subsequent statistical Table 3.
Normality and Homogeneity Test Results for the Experimental Group Normality Sig.
Statistic Homogeneity Sig.
Levene Statistic Pretest The data for the experimental group met the assumptions of normality and 56 | Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam.
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homogeneity, as indicated by significance values of < 0.
ee Table .
Given that the control group data also satisfied these assumptions, a paired-sample t-test was deemed appropriate for analyzing the pre-test and posttest differences.
Group Control Experiment Table 4.
Hypothesis Test Descriptive Statistics Mean Pretest Mean Posttest Std.
Deviation Pretest Std.
Deviation Posttest As shown in Table 4, the experimental group's mean score increased substantially 00 to 100.
67, whereas the control group's increased only modestly from 44.
25 to Furthermore, the lower pre-test standard deviation in the experimental group indicates greater initial homogeneity among its participants relative to the control group.
Group Control Experiment Table 5.
Hypothesis Test (Paired Sample T-Tes.
df P value Correlation Significance CohenAos d HedgesAo correction <0.
<0.
The experimental group demonstrated a substantially greater improvement in scores .
00 to 100.
than the control group .
25 to 59.
ee Table .
Independent-samples t-tests confirmed a statistically significant difference in post-test scores between the groups.
Furthermore, the very low correlation between pre-test and post-test scores within the experimental group suggests that the SFBC intervention was a more influential factor in the outcome than pre-existing individual characteristics.
This is supported by a considerable effect size (CohenAos d = -10.
, underscoring the intervention's potent impact Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) is a therapeutic modality that emphasizes clients' strengths and future solutions rather than past problems (Hendriani & Mulawarman, 2020.
McNulty & Smith, 2.
The approach facilitates change by constructing positive expectations, identifying personal resources, and promoting actionable steps toward goals (Holland, 2022.
Mulawarman, 2.
For individuals experiencing toxic relationships.
SFBC may empower them to develop effective coping strategies, thereby mitigating the adverse emotional effects of such dynamics (Franklin et , 2.
The data were found to be generally distributed via a one-sample KolmogorovSmirnov test, with a significance value of 0.
08 (<0.
The toxic relationship scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a CronbachAos alpha of = 0.
paired-samples t-test revealed significant differences between pre-test and posttest scores for both the control and experimental groups.
For the experimental group.
CohenAos d value was -10.
273, indicating a substantial effect size (CohenAos criteria, 1988, where d = Al-Musyrif: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam | 57 Zahro et al.
| Effectiveness of Solution Focus Brief Counseling (SFBC) for .
2 is small, 0.
5 is medium, and 0.
8 is larg.
These results suggest that the SFBC intervention effectively enhanced the psychological well-being of the adolescent This study demonstrates that Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) effectively enhances adolescents' psychological well-being in toxic relationships, thereby reinforcing prior treatment studies.
SFBC offers a structured, goal-oriented alternative to traditional approaches that primarily emphasize problem exploration.
The significant post-intervention improvements in the experimental group, compared to the control group, confirm the efficacy of this specific methodology.
Notably, these gains were most pronounced in the domains of self-esteem and subjective happiness, suggesting SFBC techniques directly facilitate positive psychological change.
For practitioners, particularly in school settings, these findings indicate that SFBC provides a viable and efficient framework for group counseling interventions aimed at helping adolescents navigate unhealthy relationships.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates the efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) in enhancing the psychological well-being of adolescents experiencing toxic Post-intervention data revealed a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group.
These findings affirm SFBC as an efficient and practical intervention for mitigating the adverse effects of such relationships.
The model's emphasis on constructing solutions, rather than analyzing problems, aligns with adolescents' frequently observed preference for counseling that yields prompt, tangible outcomes.
Consequently.
SFBC represents a viable intervention strategy for school counselors and educational institutions to address relationship-related psychological distress among adolescent populations.
REFERENCES