Establishing a Framework of Influential Factors on Empowering Primary School Students in Peer Mediation

BACKGROUND: Empowerment of children and adolescents in terms of social skills is critical for promoting their social health. OBJECTIVES: This study attempts to explore a framework of influential factors on empowering primary school students by means of peer mediation from the stakeholders' point of view, as a qualitative content analysis design. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a qualitative content analysis (conventional method). Seven focused group discussions and six in-depth interviews were conducted with schoolchildren, parents and education authorities. Following each interview, recordings were entered to an open code software and analyzed. Data collection was continued up to data saturation. RESULTS: Within the provided framework, the participants' views and comments were classified into two major categories “educational empowerment” and “social empowerment”, and into two themes; “program” and “advocacy”. The “program” theme included factors such as design and implementation, development, maintenance and improvement, and individual and social impact. The “advocacy” theme included factors such as social, emotional and physical support. CONCLUSIONS: The explained framework components regarding peer mediation are useful to design peace education programs and to empower school-age children in peer mediation.