Abstinence self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief that they can control drug use and maintain abstinence in high-risk situations, and it plays a critical role in reducing addictive behaviors and preventing relapse. The level of abstinence se...
Abstinence self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief that they can control drug use and maintain abstinence in high-risk situations, and it plays a critical role in reducing addictive behaviors and preventing relapse. The level of abstinence self-efficacy serves as an important psychological factor that strengthens recovery among individuals with substance use disorders and decreases the likelihood of relapse. To improve abstinence self-efficacy, it is essential to provide integrated interventions that include motivation enhancement, improvement of emotional regulation, reinforcement of social support systems, and psychological therapeutic approaches. The purpose of this study was to develop a Seo-Gak program based on positive psychology theory to improve abstinence self-efficacy among individuals with substance use disorders and to examine its effectiveness. The research questions were as follows: (1) What are the development procedures and content structure of a Seo-Gak program grounded in positive psychology theory to improve abstinence self-efficacy among individuals with substance use disorders? (2) How does this program influence the abstinence self-efficacy of individuals with substance use disorders? The program was systematically developed using a four-stage model— planning, design, implementation, and evaluation. In Stage 1 (Planning), the need for the program was identified and objectives were established through a review of previous studies and related literature. A needs assessment was conducted with the selected research participants. In Stage 2 (Design), relevant components of positive psychology theory and Seo-Gak activities were analyzed. Drawing from previous studies related to abstinence self-efficacy and the results of the needs assessment, the program was structured. After an initial expert consultation, a preliminary 10-session program (50 minutes per session) was developed. This preliminary program was implemented with 16 inmates at P Correctional Institution. Based on the results and a second round of expert validity assessment, the program was revised and finalized. In Stage 3 (Implementation), the finalized program was administered. The study participants were 36 individuals with substance use disorders incarcerated in the drug-offender unit of P Correctional Institution. Through random assignment, participants were divided into six teams of six individuals each, and then allocated into three groups: an experimental group (n=12), an active control group (n=12), and a comparison group (n=12). The experimental group received the positive-psychology-based Seo-Gak program developed in this study, the active control group engaged in reading activities, and the comparison group received no intervention. The finalized Seo-Gak program consisted of eight sessions. Each session included a 40-minute theoretical component followed by 40 minutes of Seo-Gak practice. The theoretical component was delivered by the researcher, while the Seo-Gak activities were facilitated by a recovery activist serving as a co-leader; a correctional counselor participated as an observer. In Stage 4 (Evaluation), the effectiveness of the program was examined. Using SPSS/WIN 29.0, nonparametric statistical analyses appropriate for small samples were performed. Participants’ written reflections, evaluation sheets, and semi-structured questionnaires were also utilized as supplementary data. The findings of this study are as follows. First, the pre- and post-test results showed that the experimental group demonstrated a significant improvement in abstinence self-efficacy (Z = -3.059, p = .002). Second, in the post- and follow-up assessments conducted four weeks after program completion, the experimental group did not show a statistically significant improvement (Z = -1.961, p = .050). Third, an examination of changes in mean scores indicated an overall increasing trend in abstinence self-efficacy across the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test in all three groups. Based on these findings, this study provides the following implications. First, by integrating positive psychology theory with Seo-Gak activities, this study suggests a new therapeutic intervention approach within the field of addiction rehabilitation. Second, components of the program—such as craving management, impulse control, and Seo-Gak practice—may be applied by individuals in their daily lives after release, indicating the program’s potential for continuous use. Third, involving a recovery activist as a co-facilitator improved both the practical relevance and field applicability of group interventions for individuals with substance use disorders. This study also presents several limitations. First, the study was conducted exclusively with male participants, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Second, the lack of sustained effects in some sub-domains at follow-up suggests the limitations of short-term interventions; future studies should include extended follow-up assessments to examine long-term effects. Third, due to restrictions at the research site, data collection was limited to activity sheets and written reflections. Therefore, future research would benefit from incorporating structured interviews and systematic observations to conduct in-depth qualitative analyses.