A Creative Writing Program to Enhance Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy in Adolescents

PURPOSE: To describe the rationale, content, and results of a group creative writing program to increase adolescent self-esteem and self-efficacy. METHODS: Subjects were low-income, at-risk minority youth (N = 11). Free writing in response to specific exercises, sharing their own stories in their own language, and responding to their peers were used daily for 2 weeks as part of the high school English class. The program was oriented toward health rather than problems, with the content created by the adolescents. FINDINGS: The opportunity to tell their own story, in their own language in a safe, structured setting with positive feedback led to higher self-efficacy and self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a writing intervention focused on building self-in-relation self-esteem and the four aspects of self-efficacy resulted in increased sense of well-being.