The effects of wellness coaching on the wellness and health behaviors of early adolescents

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of a wellness coaching program on the health behaviors of eighth-grade students. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: The study population comprised 132 adolescents (Wellness Coaching Group n = 33, Health Education Group n = 33, Control Group n = 66). METHODS: A pretest/posttest randomized controlled study was used. Students completed a demographic information form, the Five-Factor Wellness Scale-Adolescent Form (5F-Wellness-AF) and the Adolescent Lifestyle Scale (ALPS). The wellness coaching program of group education, individual consulting, physical activity, and health education was provided for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The data indicated a significant difference in the total 5F-Wellness-AF and ALPS scores after the program. No statistically significant difference was observed in the total scores of the two scales for the Health Education Group, while the Control Group's 5F-Wellness-AF mean score declined after the intervention. At the beginning of the study, 15.2% of students in the wellness coaching program were overweight; this percentage decreased to 9.1% at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This wellness coaching program significantly increased the wellness of adolescents and improved their healthy lifestyle behaviors. This program can be used together with health education provided by a public health nurse.