Developing a Reflective Positive Approach Module to Enhance Group Cohesion and Spiritual Well Being Among Waria

Structured, participant-facing psychosocial media for Indonesia's waria (transgender women) community remain scarce, particularly media that integrate positive psychology, group cohesion theory, and Islamic spiritual values without imposing doctrinal judgment. This study aimed to Dari Diri ke Makna ("From Self to Meaning"), a reflective psychosocial module designed for use by non-specialist facilitators working with waria communities, and to explore its initial comprehensibility and acceptability. Employing a research and development (R&D) design following the 4D model (Define, Design, Develop, Disseminate), the study produced a 57-page illustrated module organized into three sequential sections Positive Approach, Group Cohesion, and Spiritual Meaning-Making each pairing short expository text with guided self-reflection prompts. The module was tested in a limited dissemination trial conducted in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, involving five members of the Waria Crisis Center (WCC) Yogyakarta, using a Participatory Action Research design. Five participants achieved a mean post-training comprehension score of 84%. Reflective group discussions yielded themes that corresponded to the module’s three main components: self-acceptance, group cohesion as a protective resource, and spirituality as a source of resilience in facing chronic social rejection. These findings suggest that the module was comprehensible to participants and that it prompted reflection consistent with its intended objectives. However, given the small sample and the absence of outcome measures, these results do not constitute evidence of intervention effectiveness. They should be interpreted as preliminary indicators of the module’s comprehensibility and feasibility, pending further evaluation with a larger sample and an appropriate design.