RESEARCH ARTICLE
Centering Adolescents' Voices: Informing a Middle School-Based Well-Being Intervention
Sarah Kiefer,
Jacqueline Blass,
Sarah Fefer,
Kai Zhuang Shum,
Kristen Mahony-Atallah,
Shannon Suldo, John Ferron,
Corresponding Author
Sarah Kiefer
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
Correspondence: Sarah Kiefer ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorJacqueline Blass
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSarah Fefer
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKai Zhuang Shum
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKristen Mahony-Atallah
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSarah Kiefer,
Jacqueline Blass,
Sarah Fefer,
Kai Zhuang Shum,
Kristen Mahony-Atallah,
Shannon Suldo, John Ferron,
Corresponding Author
Sarah Kiefer
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
Correspondence: Sarah Kiefer ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorJacqueline Blass
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSarah Fefer
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKai Zhuang Shum
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKristen Mahony-Atallah
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 04 April 2025
ABSTRACT
Many youth seek and receive mental health treatment in schools, yet research on their perceptions of these interventions remains uncommon. This qualitative study explored how student perspectives on social validity informed the ongoing implementation and evaluation of the Well-Being Promotion Program (WBPP), a Tier 2 positive psychology intervention in middle schools. The study was conducted during the initial years of a larger ongoing randomized control trial evaluating the WBPP's effectiveness. Themes from student interviews conducted during Year 1 of the larger study were used to inform implementation supports during Year 2 to enhance student acceptability. Thirty student interviews were conducted during Year 2 of the larger study. Overall, most students found the intervention content, group process, and delivery to be acceptable. The findings identified ways to further enhance the implementation of the WBPP and indicate accessing student voice is an important way to engage in program implementation and evaluation of a middle school-based intervention. Recommendations are provided for those interested in centering student voices regarding social validity to inform program implementation and evaluation.
Summary
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Incorporating student perspectives on social validity informed the ongoing implementation and evaluation of a Tier 2 positive psychology intervention in middle schools called the Well-Being Promotion Program (WBPP).
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Most students who participated in the WBPP found its content, group process, and delivery acceptable.
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Most students who participated in the WBPP described the group sessions as engaging, group leaders as understanding and responsive, and the intervention as helpful for improving their moods and building relationships.
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