Effects of a Character Strengths Intervention on Emerging dlsAut' Identity Formation, efESl-fffiayicc, and Self-Doubt

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a single-session character strengths intervention (CSI) on improving identity formation and self-efficacy, and reducing self-doubt of Malaysian emerging adults enrolled in tertiary education. Method: A randomized active-controlled trial with pretest, posttest, 2-week follow-up was conducted. A total of 129 undergraduate students (age 18 - 25) were randomly assigned to either the CSI or the control group, which participated in a gatekeeper training for suicide prevention. Data from emerging adults and perceived adults were analysed separately through a mixed-design analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: The results indicated that CSI showed no effects in improving emerging adults' identity formation, self-efficacy, and self-doubt. Additionally, this study explored incidental findings such as the developmental differences between emerging adults and perceived adults at pretest, in which emerging adults had significantly lower identity formation and self-efficacy, as well as significantly higher self-doubt as compared to perceived adults. Conclusions: Despite the current results not being significant, this study revealed important developmental differences between emerging adults and perceived adults.