Effectiveness trial of well-being promotion program for management of emotional & behavioral problems among adolescents

Objective Adolescence is a critical yet vulnerable developmental period often marked by emotional and behavioral challenges. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a culturally adapted well-being promotion program for at-risk adolescents in a low- and middle-income country. Methods A total of 405 students (aged 14–19 years) were recruited from public schools using multistage cluster sampling, with 77 adolescents scoring in the borderline range on the SDQ selected for a randomized controlled trial. Measures included the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. Results Compared with the wait-list control group, adolescents who received the intervention reported significantly higher subjective well-being ( d = 2.05), positive affect ( d = 1.80), and life satisfaction ( d = 1.81), alongside marked reductions in emotional and behavioral problems ( d = 4.47) and negative affect ( d = 2.11) (all p < .001) at post-intervention and two-month follow-up. Repeated-measures ANOVA confirmed sustained within-group improvements across all outcomes, with large time effects (partial η² = .63–.95). In contrast, the wait-list control group showed declining well-being and worsening emotional and behavioral difficulties over time. Conclusion These findings provide strong statistical and practical significance, supporting the effectiveness of program in promoting adolescent well-being and reducing emotional and behavioral problems in under-resourced school settings.