Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy

Does Depression Influence Academic Stress Among University Students Through Anxiety?

2026-04-15T02:22:13+07:00

This study investigates how depression contributes to academic stress among university students, with anxiety functioning as a mediating factor. The research arises from growing concerns about students’ emotional challenges linked to demanding academic expectations and post-pandemic adjustment. Using a quantitative design, the study involved 76 undergraduates recruited through purposive sampling. Standardised measures of depression, anxiety, and academic stress were administered, and the data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4. The findings showed that depression significantly predicted academic stress (β = 0.352, p = .003) and strongly increased anxiety levels (β = 0.642, p < .001). Anxiety also contributed to academic stress (β = 0.380, p < .001) and served as a partial mediator between depression and academic stress (β = 0.244, p = .004). The model displayed moderate explanatory power (R² = 0.440). Overall, the results support Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional stress model and Beck’s (1979) cognitive theory, highlighting the interaction of cognitive and emotional factors. Practically, the study underscores the importance of counselling approaches that strengthen cognitive–emotional regulation and promote mental health literacy in universities.

Black South Africans’ Perceptions of Psychotherapy and Counselling

2026-05-08T21:46:32+07:00

The public health issue of mental health is a concern in South Africa. However, studies indicate that only a minority of Black South Africans pursue psychotherapy and/or counselling, while most, around eighty percent, rely on traditional healers for mental health issues, unlike their white counterparts. This qualitative study, grounded in social constructivism and phenomenological design, examined the perceptions of psychotherapy and/or counselling among Black South Africans in the Soweto township of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It aimed to understand this conundrum and discrepancy. Data was generated through individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic analysis. The analysis uncovered different themes and sub-themes. The findings revealed that Black individuals have a reasonable understanding of psychotherapy and/or counselling. Furthermore, the study demonstrated a shift in perception among Black South Africans, as they expressed a combination of negative and positive opinions on psychotherapy and/or counselling. The results of this study emphasise the need for heightened awareness campaigns to address, clarify and demystify negative perceptions. Additionally, there is a need for targeted interventions that are relatable, relevant, context-specific, and sensitive to the needs of Black South Africans. Future studies should consider conducting a longitudinal study to monitor the trajectory of the perceptions of Black South Africans over time.

Emotional Regulation Training Improves Psychological Well-Being and Marital Happiness Among Young Married Couples

2026-05-12T15:09:55+07:00

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a culturally-adapted emotion regulation intervention for young married couples. Grounded in Gross's process model and integrated with local cultural values, the intervention aimed to enhance psychological well-being and marital happiness. Sixty participants (30 couples) in West Sulawesi were randomly assigned to an 8-session intervention group (n=30) or an active control group receiving standard health education (n=30). Pre- and post-test assessments using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Marital Happiness Scale revealed that the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in emotion regulation (F(1,58)=25.34, p<.001, ηp²=.30), psychological well-being (F(1,58)=18.92, p<.001, ηp²=.25), and marital happiness (F(1,58)=22.15, p<.001, ηp²=.28) compared to controls. Qualitative findings further revealed enhanced emotional awareness and improved dyadic communication. Results support the intervention as an effective clinical-positive psychology model for enhancing mental health and relational well-being in young couples, with significant implications for culturally-informed public mental health initiatives in Indonesia.

Sociodemographic Factors and Parental Verbal Abuse Among Indonesian Families

2026-05-16T16:27:56+07:00

Violence against children has both physical and psychological impacts on their development. Perpetrators of verbal abuse are often caregivers or close relatives living in the same household as the child. The objective of the study is to analyse the relationship between sociodemographic factors and parental verbal abuse. The method uses a cross-sectional approach. Convenience sampling was used to select 225 samples. Data analysis with chi-square test, simple logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression. The result of parental verbal abuse was significantly related to the family income, mother's occupation, and ethnicity (p < 0.05). Odds ratio (OR) 4.6, ethnicity from outside Java has five times the effect on verbal abuse than ethnicity from Java. Conclusions: family income, ethnicity, and the mother’s occupation are factors that can predict the incidence of parental verbal abuse. Religious institutions or religious communities, basic education institutions, and community health centers need to be encouraged to conduct parenting classes to prevent parental verbal abuse. In addition, family intervention is needed to decrease parental verbal abuse. The research findings contribute to public mental health. Practical implications include preventive and promotive actions by healthcare professionals, such as health education. The social implications of this research provide an understanding of the prevalence of parental verbal abuse in families, a practice that families may not fully understand regarding the limits of parenting that involves violence.

When AI Joins the Counseling Room: Students’ Trust, Disclosure, and Therapeutic Alliance in AI-Assisted Counseling

2026-04-21T15:28:34+07:00

The growing use of artificial intelligence in psychological support has positioned AI-assisted counseling as a promising approach to expand access, reduce stigma, and provide immediate support for students. However, counseling is not merely a technical process; it is fundamentally relational, requiring trust, self-disclosure, and therapeutic alliance to function effectively. Despite increasing interest in AI-based mental health services, limited research has specifically examined how these relational dimensions interact in student populations. This study aimed to investigate students’ trust, disclosure, and therapeutic alliance in AI-assisted counseling, as well as the relationships among these variables. A cross-sectional field survey was conducted with 1,284 undergraduate students from 12 universities across Indonesia. Data were collected using structured Likert-scale instruments and analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. The findings showed that students reported moderately positive levels of trust, disclosure, and therapeutic alliance. Trust was positively associated with disclosure and therapeutic alliance, while trust and disclosure jointly predicted therapeutic alliance. These findings suggest that AI-assisted counseling may serve as a valuable initial support tool, but its effectiveness depends heavily on relational acceptance.

The Influence of Survival-Safety Skills on Adolescents’ Involvement in Promiscuity and Premarital Sexual Behavior

2026-04-15T02:31:56+07:00

This study aims to explore how cultural and religious values shape the Career Search Efficacy of vocational high school students (SMK) in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Employing a descriptive exploratory qualitative approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 15 students from grades XI–XII and two guidance and counseling teachers. The findings reveal that Career Search Efficacy is deeply embedded within Acehnese cultural norms, including Islamic principles, family decision-making traditions (musyawarah), and informal social interactions such as discussions in coffee shops. The analysis identified four main dimensions of Career Search Efficacy influenced by the cultural context: career exploration, interviewing efficacy, networking efficacy, and personal exploration. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of religious dimensions and local cultural practices into the framework of Career Search Efficacy, an aspect that remains underexplored in both national and international scholarship. The findings underscore that the career development of vocational students is not merely an individual process but also a social construction shaped by communal values and spiritual beliefs. Nevertheless, the limited number of participants and the contextual nature of this study highlight research gaps that should be addressed in future investigations using mixed-methods designs and broader participant coverage to obtain more generalizable results. Practically, this study contributes to the development of culturally responsive career guidance services and supports the integration of local wisdom into vocational education practices.

Conflict Resolution Model: Strategies for Handling Verbal Violence in High School Students in Majene Regency

2026-04-21T11:32:45+07:00

Verbal violence among high school students has become a significant problem in the educational environment, affecting students' mental health, academic performance, and social relationships. This study aims to develop a conflict resolution model for addressing verbal violence among high school students in Majene Regency. Verbal violence remains a prevalent issue in school environments, often manifested through ridicule, insults, threats, and discriminatory remarks based on ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations. This study employed a research and development approach using the ADDIE model, which consists of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation stages. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and documentation involving students, teachers, and guidance and counseling practitioners. The developed model integrates peer mediation, restorative justice, and collaborative negotiation to promote constructive conflict resolution. The validation results indicate that the model is both theoretically sound and practically feasible for implementation in schools. The findings suggest that the model contributes to reducing verbal violence, improving students’ social interactions, and fostering a more inclusive school climate. Therefore, this model can serve as an alternative approach for guidance and counseling services in addressing verbal violence in educational settings.

Second Career Readiness After Retirement: Self-Efficacy, Positive Expectations, and Clear Goal Aspect

2026-04-22T14:48:45+07:00

This study aims to analyze the readiness of second careers after retirement among members of the Juang Kencana Community of Badan Kependudukan dan Keluarga Berencana Nasional (BKKBN) Jambi Province. Using a mixed-methods approach with concurrent design, quantitative data were collected from 31 retirees through questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with key informants. The findings reveal that overall, second career readiness is in the high category, with 58.06% of participants demonstrating strong self-efficacy, positive expectations, and clear goals. Self-efficacy emerged as the strongest aspect (70.97% high), followed by outcome expectations (61.29% high), while goals were relatively weaker (54.84% high). Qualitative findings support this by showing that retirees who remain engaged in entrepreneurial or organizational activities feel healthier, more motivated, and socially supported, although challenges such as declining business income, limited participation of community leaders, and irregular activity implementation persist. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of quantitative indicators and qualitative insights, highlighting the importance of family support, community involvement, and organizational platforms in strengthening second career readiness. The implications suggest that policymakers and community organizations should design programs that not only provide economic opportunities but also foster mental resilience and social engagement for retirees, ensuring their continued contribution to society.

Group Guidance Gratitude Intervention Technique to Improve the Meaning of Life of Inclusive Students

2026-04-28T17:04:22+07:00

The existence of meaning of life is an aspect that plays a very important role in well-being and self-achievement, for inclusive students, physical limitations experienced directly or indirectly will cause various psychological problems to arise, including tending to have psychological problems such as feeling anxious, tending to withdraw from social circles, being apathetic and having a bad outlook on life on oneself. This study tested the ability of group guidance services with gratitude intervention techniques in improving the meaning of life of inclusive students, with the pre-experimental design method through four times of providing group guidance services with gratitude intervention techniques to inclusive students in Central Java, with the meaning of life questionnaire instrument and observation resulting in data on significant changes before and after treatment, namely the Z value of 2,731 with an Asymp Sig value = 0.000 <0.05, pretest of 85.4 and posttest 123.1. The results of the analysis indicate that Group Guidance with Gratitude Intervention Techniques effectively has significant effectiveness in improving the Meaning of Life of Inclusive students in Central Java.

AI Chatbot Acceptance and Self-Disclosure among Guidance and Counseling Students: Testing the Technology Acceptance Model in Counselor Education

2026-04-30T09:30:01+07:00

Self-disclosure is a core competency in counseling, yet many students experience psychological barriers, such as fear of judgment and stigma, that inhibit openness. AI-powered counseling chatbots directly facilitate self-disclosure by providing a non-judgmental and anonymous environment that reduces these barriers. However, empirical evidence in counselor education remains limited. This study examines the role of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables in predicting self-disclosure among 76 Guidance and Counseling students at Universitas PGRI Semarang using a cross-sectional design. Results showed moderate levels of perceived ease of use (M = 3.38), perceived usefulness (M = 3.46), attitude toward use (M = 3.18), and self-disclosure (M = 2.94). Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between perceived ease of use (r = 0.20, p = 0.043), perceived usefulness (r = 0.32, p = 0.002), attitude toward use (r = 0.39, p < 0.001), and self-disclosure. Regression results indicated that perceived usefulness (B = 0.29, p = 0.04) and attitude toward use (B = 0.31, p = 0.005) significantly predicted self-disclosure, explaining 35.8% of variance (R² = 0.36). These findings extend TAM by demonstrating that psychological acceptance and perceived value, rather than usability, are the primary drivers of self-disclosure in AI-mediated counseling.

A Preliminary Evaluation of CBT-Based Group Counseling for Sexual Awareness Among Female Adolescents

2026-05-12T04:15:08+07:00

Sexual awareness is an important component of adolescent health education, particularly in institutional environments where discussions related to sexuality may be culturally sensitive. Islamic boarding schools represent a context in which preventive and culturally appropriate educational approaches are needed to support adolescents’ understanding of personal boundaries and sexual safety. This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)–based group counseling in improving sexual awareness among female adolescents in an Islamic boarding school setting. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was used. Twenty-two female students aged 12–15 years were allocated into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group participated in six structured CBT-based group counseling sessions focusing on cognitive restructuring, self-awareness, assertiveness, and behavioral reflection, while the control group received no intervention. Sexual awareness was measured using the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test. Results indicated a statistically significant difference between groups, with the intervention group demonstrating higher posttest sexual awareness scores compared with the control group, t(20) = 3.158, p = .005. These findings suggest that CBT-based group counseling may support improvements in sexual awareness among female adolescents in religious educational settings. Further research with larger samples and longer follow-up periods is recommended to strengthen evidence for effectiveness.

Assistance and Mental Strengthening for Women and Child Victims of Sexual Violence through Picture Cards to Reduce Anxiety

2026-05-16T15:19:35+07:00

This research was conducted based on the increasing cases of violence against women and children, which often cause psychological impacts, particularly anxiety among victims. Therefore, appropriate mentoring and mental health strengthening strategies are needed to help children express emotions and reduce anxiety effectively. This research aims to determine the results of mentoring and strengthening the mental health of women and child victims of violence through picture cards to reduce anxiety in the city of South Tangerang, Indonesia. This research uses a research method based on Participatory Action Research (PAR), a research method that involves active participation from the community or target group in each stage of the research, considering collaboration between researchers and participants (P2TP2A volunteers and parents) to jointly identify problems, design interventions, take action, and reflect on the results. Data collection for preliminary study activities was carried out through interviews and observation methods with 15 children and parents who had children aged 5-12 years at the Women's Empowerment Service, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning (DP3AP2KB), South Tangerang City. The results of the research explain that picture cards used to identify victims of violence against women and children can help reduce anxiety. The media developed picture cards that help children express their anxiety through stories. The picture card media consists of two groups. The first group consists of seven cards used to identify children's anxiety, while the second group consists of six cards containing strategies for reducing anxiety. The images on the picture cards are based on anxiety grids and anxiety theories. The anxiety material written in the guidebook also helps parents understand anxiety more deeply. With language that can be directly conveyed to children, it becomes easier for parents to deliver the material, and the anxiety strategy cards have been developed to teach activities that can help children reduce anxiety.

The Impact of Perceived Social Support and Emotion Regulation on the Psychological Well-Being of Islamic Boarding School Teachers

2026-05-17T11:07:37+07:00

This study aims to examine the effect of perceived social support and emotion regulation on the psychological well-being of teachers in an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) context. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design involving 264 permanent teachers from an integrated Islamic boarding school foundation in East Java, Indonesia. Data were collected using three standardized instruments: Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being (42 items), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support/MSPSS (12 items), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire/ERQ (10 items). Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression after all classical assumptions were met. The results revealed that perceived social support and emotion regulation simultaneously had a positive and significant effect on teachers’ psychological well-being, with an F value of 160.358 and p < 0.001. The coefficient of determination indicated that these two variables explained 64.9% of the variance in psychological well-being (R = 0.806; R² = 0.649). These findings demonstrate that the psychological well-being of pesantren teachers is shaped not only by internal personal resources but also by supportive social environments. Therefore, strengthening social support and providing emotion regulation training are important strategies for promoting teachers’ mental health and sustaining educational quality in pesantren settings.