Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Reducing Self-Harm Behaviors among Male Adolescents in Iraq: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Shehab, Abdullah Abd

doi:10.32894/1992-1179.2026.170111.1373

	Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Reducing Self-Harm Behaviors among Male Adolescents in Iraq: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Kirkuk University Journal: Humanity Studies
Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 10 June 2026
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.32894/1992-1179.2026.170111.1373
Author
Abdullah Abd Shehab^*
Iraqi Teachers Syndicate/Anbar Branch
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program in reducing self-harm behaviors and improving emotional regulation skills among male adolescents in Iraq. Self-harm behaviors among adolescents represent a serious psychological and social concern, particularly in contexts where emotional and behavioral difficulties may not receive sufficient therapeutic attention. Therefore, the present study sought to examine whether a structured DBT-based intervention could contribute to decreasing these behaviors and enhancing adolescents’ ability to regulate their emotions effectively. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design that included two groups: an experimental group and a control group, with pre-test and post-test measurements applied to both groups. The study sample consisted of 60 male adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years, divided equally into two groups (30 participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group). The experimental group participated in a DBT-based intervention program designed to develop emotional regulation skills and reduce self-harm tendencies, while the control group did not receive the intervention during the study period. Two standardized instruments were used to collect data: the Self-Harm Behavior Inventory and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire. The findings indicated statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) between the experimental and control groups in the post-test results in favor of the experimental group. Specifically, self-harm behavior scores decreased by 50.3%, while emotional regulation skills improved by 46.1% among participants who received the DBT intervention. Furthermore, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed a large effect size (η² = 0.51), indicating that the intervention had a strong impact on the measured outcomes. Importantly, these improvements remained statistically significant during the three-month follow-up assessment, suggesting the stability and sustained effectiveness of the DBT program in supporting adolescents’ emotional and behavioral adjustment.
Keywords
Dialectical Behavior Therapy; self-harm; male adolescents; Iraq; emotional regulation

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