Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychoeducation in Reducing Breakup Distress Among Eleventh-Grade Students: A Quasi-Experimental Pretest-Posttest Design Study at SMAN 6 Malang

Abstract

Breakup distress, an emotional response to romantic dissolution, poses significant challenges to adolescent mental health, particularly in urban settings like Malang, Indonesia, where social media amplifies relational pressures. According to recent data, approximately 34.9% of Indonesian adolescents aged 10–17 experience mental health issues, with romantic-related distress contributing to 20–30% of cases in high schools. This quasi-experimental pre-posttest study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral psychoeducational model in reducing breakup distress among 50 eleventh-grade students at SMAN 6 Malang who had experienced a breakup in the past six months. Using purposive sampling, participants underwent four 60-minute sessions focusing on emotional understanding, coping strategies, and self-reflection. Data were collected via the breakup distress scale, with pre- and post-test scores analyzed using a paired samples t-test and effect size calculation. Results indicated a small, non-significant reduction in mean scores (pre: M = 36.1, SD = 12.8; post: M = 35.6, SD = 14.4; p = .489, Cohen’s d = 0.04), though individual variations suggested potential benefits for some. Findings highlight the need for longer interventions to achieve significance, contributing to psychological theories on adolescent resilience. Limitations include sample size and lack of a control group; future research should incorporate randomized designs.