Insight: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi
Vol. 28 No. 1 (2026): FEBRUARY 2026

Behavioral Skill Training to Improve Personal Safety Skills Among Junior High School Students with Experiences of Sexual Victimization

Widi Asih (Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta)
Rahma Widyana (Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta)
Kamsih Astuti (Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Oct 2026

Abstract

Sexual victimization may impair adolescents’ ability to recognize and respond to unsafe situations. This study examined the effectiveness of Behavioral Skills Training (BST) in improving personal safety skills (PSS) among junior high school students in Gunungkidul, Indonesia, with histories of sexual victimization. A randomized pretest-posttest control group design with follow-up was used. Of 51 students screened with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire–Sexual Victimization module (JVQ-SV), 36 eligible students were randomized to BST (n = 18) or a no-intervention control group (n = 18). BST comprised five 60-minute sessions delivered in one day, using instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback to target three components: Recognize, Resist, and Report (3R). PSS was measured with the What If Situations Test (WIST-III) at pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up (experimental group only); baseline knowledge was assessed with the Personal Safety Questionnaire (PSQ). Groups were comparable at baseline on both PSQ and WIST-III. At posttest, the experimental group outperformed the control group, t(34) = 9.12, p < .001, mean difference = 8.11. Within the experimental group, scores rose from pretest (M = 10.11) to posttest (M = 18.83), t(17) = 14.56, p < .001, d ≈ 3.67, and further improved at follow-up (M = 19.33, p = .008). Interviews (n = 4) indicated improved recognition of warning signs, greater assertiveness in refusing inappropriate contact, and increased willingness to disclose to trusted adults. BST is an effective, durable intervention for strengthening PSS among sexually victimized adolescents and is relevant for school-based prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

psikologi

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

Jurnal Insight diterbitkan oleh Unit Publikasi Ilmiah & HaKI Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta, dimaksudkan sebagai media pertukaran informasi dan hasil penelitian antara staf pengajar, alumni, mahasiswa. Insight terbit dua kali setahun. ...