Evidence-based coaching to enhance senior students’ wellbeing and academic striving

Abstract

Abstract: This study examined the impact of an evidence-based within subjects coaching intervention within an Australian high school. Participants were a cohort of 25 female high school students aged between 15 and 16 years (mean age = 15.9). The coaching program was part of a broader positive education program conducted by the school. Participants took part in a ten-session evidence-based coaching program (teacher facilitated) that included topics such as goal setting, mindfulness, coaching, and helpful self-talk. Pre and post measures were obtained for wellbeing, cognitive hardiness, trait hope, depression, anxiety, stress, and goal striving and goal achievement. Participants showed a significant increase in wellbeing, total trait hope, cognitive hardiness, and a significant decrease in depression, anxiety and stress. Participants also showed a significant increase in perceptions of successful striving towards personal goals. Scores on personal goal commitment, academic goal striving and academic goal commitment demonstrated a trend towards increased success in the post-intervention scores but did not achieve significance. This study uniquely considers evidence-based coaching as part of a broader positive education approach in an education setting. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.