Enhancing Students' Self-Efficacy to Prevent Child Marriage Through Digital Peer Counselling on Instagram

Background: 

Child marriage in Indonesia affects adolescents' well-being, education, and health. Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in resisting social pressures, and digital platforms such as Instagram provide alternative approaches to peer counselling. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Instagram-based peer counselling in enhancing students' self-efficacy compared to conventional peer counselling. 

Methods: 

A quasi-experimental study using a pretest–posttest control group design was conducted with 220 high school students in Bojonegoro, Indonesia. The intervention group (n = 110) received Instagram-based peer counselling, while the control group (n = 110) received conventional peer counselling. Self-efficacy was measured using validated scales assessing three dimensions: generality, level, and strength. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and the Mann–Whitney U test. 

Results: 

The intervention group showed a significant increase in self-efficacy scores (mean pre-test = 91.34; post-test = 99.12; p < 0.001), whereas the control group showed a smaller increase (mean pre-test = 80.75, post-test = 87.67; p < 0.001). The Mann–Whitney U test indicated a statistically significant difference between the two groups at post-test (p < 0.001), with higher self-efficacy observed in the intervention group.

Conclusion: 

Instagram-based peer counselling resulted in greater improvment in students' self-efficacy compared to conventional peer counselling, particularly across the generality, level, and strength dimensions. These findings support the integration of digital platforms into school-based peer counselling programmes to empower adolescents and help prevent child marriage.