Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Reader 1

Heejung Park

Reader 2

Jose Arreola

Abstract

Adolescence is a pivotal stage of self-discovery, yet many young women lack the tools and knowledge to navigate sexual health confidently. This study implements an intervention rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Social Learning Theory (SLT) to enhance empowerment, self-advocacy, and boundary-setting in adolescent females aged 13–16. The program’s structure incorporates skill-based activities, including role-playing and action planning, to equip participants with practical tools and a safe space to practice these skills. This approach emphasizes addressing psychological and social factors influencing sexual decision-making and seeks to bridge gaps in traditional sexual education. Participants will be recruited from six randomly selected schools in the Houston Independent School District and will participate in a three-week program comprising three workshops. The workshops focus on fostering bodily autonomy, advocating for sexual health, and developing long-term goals aligned with participants’ values and aspirations. The intervention hypothesizes a measurable increase in perceived empowerment following participation, as assessed using the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale. Pre- and post-intervention data will be analyzed via Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), with age and socioeconomic status controlled. The anticipated results include a significant enhancement in perceived empowerment among adolescent females, reflected in higher post-intervention scores compared to pre-intervention and a notable time-by-intervention interaction effect. This study advances understanding of adolescent female empowerment by integrating psychological theories into a targeted intervention and addressing gaps in sexual education programs. Broader impacts include empowering young women to make informed decisions, build healthy relationships, and achieve improved educational and career outcomes.

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