Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy

Self-Compassion, Self-Acceptance, and Subjective Well-Being in Adolescents Who Have Experienced Being Motherless Since Childhood

Irene Cecilia Siwalette — 2025-10-04

A mother plays a significant role and responsibility in her child's life, as her attention and affection facilitate many aspects of the child's development. The loss of a mother's role can lead to sorrow that results in disappointment and frustration for children entering their teenage years, which can if held for a long time, affect their overall life satisfaction. To help adolescents avoid negative evaluations regarding the absence of a mother’s role, it is necessary for them to better understand themselves through the application of self-compassion and unconditional acceptance of themselves. This study aims to determine the predictor of self-compassion and self-acceptance together on the subjective well-being of adolescents who have experienced motherlessness since childhood. The research method used is quantitative with a multiple regression analysis design. A total of 203 adolescents who have experienced being motherless since childhood were recruited as participants using the purposive sampling technique. The research measurement used the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) for the self-compassion variable, the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ) for the self-acceptance variable, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) paired with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) for the subjective well-being variable. The research results show that the major hypothesis is accepted (F = 29.980 and sig. = 0.000), which is that self-compassion and self-acceptance have a predictor on subjective well-being in adolescents who have experienced motherlessness since childhood. Minor hypothesis 1 is accepted (r = 0.465 and sig. = 0.000), which states that self-compassion predictor subjective well-being in adolescents who have experienced motherlessness since childhood, while minor hypothesis 2 is rejected (r = 0.042 and sig. = 0.528), indicating that self-acceptance does not predictor subjective well-being in adolescents who have experienced motherlessness since childhood. This indicates that the state of subjective well-being in adolescents who have lost the role of a mother since childhood can be influenced by the application of love and unconditional acceptance towards oneself. However, another finding in this study indicates that only self-compassion has a direct predictor, while self-acceptance has no direct predictor on the subjective well-being of adolescents who have experienced motherlessness since childhood.

The Effect of Exposure to Violent Video Games on Students’ Aggressive Tendencies

Wa Ode Lili Andriani Nasri — 2025-11-12

The rapid development of digital technology has made online games a part of students' daily lives, including games containing violent elements. This phenomenon raises concerns because exposure to violent games is suspected of contributing to increased aggressive behavior among adolescents. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of violent games on the aggressive behavior of junior high school students. This study used a quantitative approach with a correlational design. The study sample consisted of 282 junior high school students spread across three provinces, namely West Sumatra, Jakarta, and Southeast Sulawesi, consisting of 121 male students and 161 female students. This study used two scales: the violent game scale and the aggressiveness scale. Data analysis was conducted through simple linear regression analysis. The results showed that playing violent games significantly influenced aggressive behavior. The coefficient of determination (R Square = 0.253) indicated that 25.3% of students' aggressive behavior was explained by the intensity of playing violent games, while the rest was influenced by other factors. The implications of this research are the need for active participation by schools, parents, and the community in monitoring and providing alternative positive activities that can reduce students' exposure to violent games.

Social Stigma as a Predictor of Academic Help-Seeking Behavior: Evidence from Indonesian College Students

Indra Prapto Nugroho — 2025-11-17

High academic pressure, social expectations, and performance demands make students vulnerable to psychological disorders. Although seeking academic help is an important adaptive strategy, many students refrain from doing so for fear of being perceived as weak or incompetent. Previous research has focused more on stress factors, literacy, and personality, while the role of social stigma as a direct determinant of academic help-seeking behavior has not been widely explored, especially in the Indonesian cultural context. Therefore, this study aims to determine how social stigma affects academic help-seeking in college students. The research sample was purposive sampling, resulting in 303 participants (53 males and 250 females) who were active students in Sumatera, Java, and Kalimantan, Indonesia, with experiences of unpleasant social stigma. Data collection techniques used the Academic Help-Seeking Scale (AHSS) and the Public Stigma Scale (PSS). Data analysis techniques using quantitative methods with simple regression. The results showed that, simultaneously, public stigma is a predictor and contributes to academic help-seeking.

Teachers as Safeguards: An Analysis of Teachers' Attitudes Towards Child Sexual Abuse

Liza Fidiawati — 2025-11-17

Child sexual abuse is a serious problem that has a significant impact on child development and protection, making teachers' attitudes as protectors in the school environment crucial. However, research examining the psychological factors that shape teachers’ attitudes toward child sexual abuse, particularly in the context of developing countries, remains limited and fragmented. This study aims to analyse the influence of teachers' attitudes toward child sexual abuse, specifically examining the role of anxiety, trust, and commitment in shaping these attitudes. The method used was a quantitative survey design. The research sample consisted of 307 kindergarten teachers in Banda Aceh City, Indonesia, randomly selected and stratified by length of work experience. The instrument used was the Teachers' Attitudes Toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse, which consists of 21 items with a five-point Likert scale, divided into three main factors: anxiety, trust, and commitment. Data were analysed using multiple regression to measure the influence of independent variables on teachers' attitudes as the dependent variable. The results showed that teachers' commitment and trust significantly strengthened proactive attitudes in preventing and addressing child sexual abuse, while anxiety had a negative effect.

Bullying Prevention Strategies Among Vocational School Students: A Qualitative Study

Ani Wardah — 2025-11-17

This qualitative research investigates strategies for preventing bullying in Indonesian vocational high schools by conducting in-depth interviews with 12 teachers and 8 counsellors from 4 schools in Banjarmasin. The study identifies four main forms of bullying: verbal harassment, social exclusion, cyberbullying, and physical aggression, noting that underreporting is prevalent due to the normalisation of these behaviours and fear of retaliation. The findings indicate that although current interventions, such as counselling and awareness campaigns, show potential, their effectiveness is limited by three systemic challenges: (1) insufficient training for teachers in addressing cyberbullying, (2) inconsistent implementation of policies across different schools, and (3) a lack of parental involvement. To address these challenges, the research introduces a tripartite intervention model, a novel contribution to the field, integrating restorative justice practices, digital reporting systems, and community partnerships. This hybrid approach is particularly effective in vocational high school settings, where peer hierarchies and vocational pressures heighten the risk of bullying. Limitations of the study include its focus on a localised sample (n = 20) and the qualitative nature of the methodology, indicating the need for longitudinal research across Indonesia's diverse regions. These evidence-based strategies provide a new framework for policymakers aimed at reducing bullying-related disparities in vocational education.