Strengthening the Competency of Camilies and Communities in Moral Behavior Development of Adolescences in a Digital Society: Case Study in 17 Northern Provinces

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) examine the necessary competencies of families and communities in fostering behavioral virtues among adolescents in the digital age, (2) identify guidelines for families and communities to promote behavioral virtues in adolescents in the digital age, (3) provide policy recommendations for fostering behavioral virtues in adolescents in the digital age, and (4) develop and implement a short-term training course to enhance the necessary competencies of families and communities in fostering behavioral virtues among adolescents in the digital age. The study employed a mixed-methods approach and was conducted across 17 northern provinces, involving 2,550 informants, in-depth interviews, and a short-term training course. Data were analyzed using pre- and post-training tests, content analysis, and statistical methods, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-tests. The findings revealed that families and communities require key competencies such as knowledge, communication skills, role modeling, and strong relationships. Guidelines for fostering behavioral virtues include exchanging ideas, providing knowledge, instilling discipline, and acting as role models. Policy recommendations emphasize the need to support families and communities in developing technological literacy, providing training to foster behavioral virtues, and cultivating appropriate relationships among families, communities, and adolescents. Furthermore, the short-term training course demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in participants’ knowledge, with post-training scores showing a notable increase at the 0.01 significance level.