EFFECT OF EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE FOR EMOTIONAL

STABILITY IN THE INSTITUTE OF ADOLESCENT PRISONERS OF

CHILDREN SPECIAL COACHING CLASS II

Salis MiftahulKhoeriyah*, Dina PutriUtamiLubis**, Istichomah***

Nursing Programed, Institute of Health Science Yogyakarta, Indonesia
E-mail: miftakhul.khoery@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Introduction: The prevalence of children in Indonesian prison in 2015 as many as 2,207
children. The impact of detention on children are psychological decline such as anger,
anxiety, sadness, fear, disappointment, and other feelings that can cause changes in
emotional stability. Therapy Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is one of the
complementary therapies that can be administered to nursing improving emotional stability
adolescent prisoners. To determine the effect of emotional stability EFT against child
prisoners in LPKA Class II Yogyakarta.Method: This study design using quasi-experimental
approach to non equivalent control group design, purposive sampling with a sample of 32
respondents consisting of 16 respondents to the intervention group and 16 respondents to the
control group. The research instrument used is Questionnaire Emotional Stability. Test
analysis using Independent t test. Result: The results showed that there are differences in
average emotional stability between the intervention group and the control group with p =
0.000 (p <0.05). Conclusion and recommendation: EFT therapy is highly recommended as
one of the nursing interventions to increase emotional stability in adolescents.

Key words: Emotional Freedom Technique, emotional stability, juvenile prisoners

INTRODUCTION 2 which contains the policy on the

Adolescents are a valuable
asset of the nation in realizing the
progress of the country. It is said that
because adolescents are the younger
generation of successors of the
nation's ideals that proved able to
make changes (change agent) and
solve problems more creative, simple,
and concise (Subiyakto,2012). The
involvement of adolescents in
development is contained in the
Regulation of the Minister of Women's
Empowerment and Child Protection
No. 03 of 2011 in Article 1 paragraph
participation of children in
development.
Attention to adolescents has been
attempted by the government but
crime rates in adolescents are still
high. Teenagers not only become
victims of crime behavior but
adolescents also become perpetrators
of crime. National Center for Juvenile
Justice (NCJJ) 2014says that law
enforcement agencies in the United
States are catching 1.3 million
adolescents under the age of 18 over
the 2012 span. The juvenile majority
arrest was caused by the theft of
224,200 cases. In the arrest, as many
as 4 out of 10 (42%) arrests included
women, 29% of 15-year-olds, and
61% of them were white teenagers
(Sickmund, 2014).
In Indonesia, the prevalence of
complaints of child crimes by 2014
according to the Indonesian Child
Protection Commission (KPAI) (2016)
there are 445 case complaints with 67
cases of child perpetrators of violence,
and increased in 2015 to 79 cases.
Based on data from UNICEF (2015)
in 2014 there were 3,488 children in
Indonesian penitentiary institutions
and decreased in March 2015, to 2,207
children. The decline is due to the
diversion (coaching of the child).
Based on data from the
Kemenhumham General Directorate
of Corrections, the number of children
facing the law mostly occurs in areas
with dense population such as Java
and Sumatera. The highest data
occurred in 5 provinces namely,
Central Java, North Sumatra, DKI
Jakarta, East Java and West Java.
Central Java is the province with the
number one ranking of criminal rate
committed by the child, but has only
one Child Correctional Institution, the
Institute for Special Education for
Children in Kutoarjo. This is certainly
an important concern given that the
crime rate by minors in Central Java is
still high (Maharis,2015).
The cause of teenagers in prisons
is caused by various criminal cases.
Based on Child Trends Data Bank
(2015) about juvenile inmates in the
United States said that about 44
adolescents from 100,000 adolescent
population experienced detention
because as perpetrators of rape.
Meanwhile, Cahyaningtyas (2013) in
his research in Prison Class II Blitar
found the most dominant crime was
rape 41.4% followed by theft and
murder of 20.7% and the rest evenly
with criminal acts of maltreatment,
drugs, and extortion.
Negative emotions from the beginning
should be anticipated or even
prevented so that children do not feel
depressed, resulting in greater
psychological impact of mental
development disorders. The
psychological impact of detention on
the convicted child is based on a
report from the American Academy of
Pediatrics (2014) indicating that the
prevalence of psychiatric disorders
among adolescents in the Penitentiary
is high at an average of 16.5% (range:
6.2% -41.3 %). Research conducted
Rahmawati,et.al (2015)
also showed adolescent depression
due to high detention rates. The results
showed that of 46 juvenile inmates, as
many as 28 people (60.9%)
experienced depression. Adolescents
should be trained early on to have
good emotional stability. Emotional
stability aims to improve the quality of
one's life such as self-acceptance, self-
confidence, achievement and self-
concept.
Based on a preliminary study at the
Institute for Special Education for
Children (LPKA) Class II Yogyakarta,
the number of inmates in January as
many as 61 inmates and in March
2016 as many as 73 inmates with age
between 14 to 18 years. The age is
included in the Teen category. Inmates
can also be differentiated by their
groups: BI: criminal over 1 year, B
IIa: criminal under 1 year, B IIb:
criminal under 3 months, BIII: penalty
of substitute of fine. Criminal
Children who must undergo a penal
penalty in LPKA Yogyakarta the most
is a criminal over 1 (one) year as
many as 45 children. Standard
capacity of the Child Detention Room
exceeds capacity, because the standard
capacity of the room only
accommodates 61 children, this causes
some rooms are crowded. The cause
of children becoming prisoners in
LPKA Class II Yogyakarta is mostly
caused by sexual harassment cases
that amounted to 80%, the rest of the
theft, robbery, gambling, torture, and
murder.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This research uses quantitative
research using experimental quasi
design (quasi experiment). Quasi
experimental experiment is not true,
because this experiment has not
fulfilled requirements such as the way
of scientific experiments that are said
to follow certain rules (Arikunto,
2010).
The approach (type) of research
used is non equivalent control group
design (control group and
experimental group). This study was
conducted by grouping sample
members in the experimental and
control groups (Notoatmodjo, 2007).
The treatment group in this research is
the respondents with the use of EFT in
regulating emotional stability and as
the control group that is the
respondents who do not do any
intervention. Both groups were pre
tested and post tested. Pre Test is done
before EFT is taught and post test is
done after taught EFT. EFT was also
administered to the control group one
day later after the post test.
Sampling in this research is done
by purposive sampling technique,
thatis all of juvenile inmates in
Kutoarjo child development institute
according to predetermined criteria.
Characteristics of the study
sample that can be included in the
inclusion and exclusion criteria,
among others:
a. The inclusion criteria of the
intervention and control group, by:
1) Willing to be a research
respondent.
2) Communicative and Co-
operative.
3) Full awareness.
4) Male sex
b. With exclusion criteria:
1) Inmates who are mentally ill
2) Prisoners receiving other
pharmacological and non-
pharmacological therapies to
decrease emotional stability
3) Unable to fill out the
questionnaire
4) have a severe medical illness
5) Residivist (child convicted again
of the same / recurrent crime).
In this study univariate analysis is
processed to know the descriptive
statistics of respondents in the form of
age and duration of sentence.
Homogeneity test is performed as a
prerequisite in the independent
analysis of T-Test samples. Bivariate
Analysis.
This research was conducted at
LembagaPembinaanKhususAnak
Class II (LPKA) Yogyakarta.
The data of normality test in this
research are: data of emotional
stability score of pre test and post test
both intervention group and ontrol
group. Next is the age of the
respondent and the duration of the
sentence.
Data collection tool used in
emotional stability in this research is
questionnaire.

RESULT and duration of sentence with

The results of this study provide data emotional stability are presented based
on the characteristics of respondents on the results of bivariate analysis
are: age and duration, univariate, and .
influence
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
on emotional stability, age relationship
Tabel 1.Distribution of respondents based on age and duration of adolescence in
LPKA Class II Yogyakarta July2017(n=32)
Variabel Mean Median S.D Minimal- 95% CI
Maksimal
Age 16,03 16 1,177 1418 15,61-16,46

Duration of 4,72 4 2,495 1 11 3,825,62

adolescence
Source: Analysis Data Primer (2017)

Based on the analysis It can be concluded that 95% is

results obtained the average
length of the term of
adolescence is 4.72 months,
median 4 months (95% CI:
3.82-5.62) with a standard
deviation of 2.495. The length
of the lowest sentence is 1
month and the duration of the
highest sentence is 11 months.
believed that the average
duration of juvenile convict
sentence in LPKA Class II
Yogyakarta in July 2017 is
between 3.82 months to 5.62
months.

Tabel 2. Analysis of Relation Characteristics of Adolescent Prisoners: Age and

Duration Punishment Period With Emotional Stability in LPKA Class II
Yogyakarta On July2017 (n=32)
 Characteristics of Adolescent
Age
Duration Punishment Period
Source: Analysis Data Primer (2017)
Based on table 2 above, the result that
p value of adolescent age associated
with emotional stability is p = 0,139.
This shows that p> 0,05, so it can be
concluded that there is no relationship
between adolescence with teen
emotional stability score. Furthermore,
R p value
1,000 0,139
1,000 0,861
p value of the duration of the sentence
is related to emotional stability, with p
= 0.861. The conclusion is that there is
no correlation between the duration of
juvenile sentence and the emotional
stability score of juvenile inmates (p>
0,05)

Tabel 3. Average Difference of Emotional Stability Scores of Youth

Prisoners In LPKA Class II Yogyakarta Before And After EFT Therapy In July
2017 (N = 16)

SkorKestabilanEmos
i Mean SD SE p value N
Pre Test 64,06 10,129 2,532 0,000 16
Post Test 82,13 12,010 3,003 16

Source: Analysis Data Primer (2017)

The result of the research for the stability score is 18,7 and statistic test
average score of adolescent emotional result got p value = 0,000. This means
stability in LPKA Class II Yogyakarta that at alpha 5% with 95% confidence
before getting EFT therapy is 64,06 degree there is a significant difference
with standard deviation 10,129 while between the average of emotional
after adolescence get EFT therapy is stability in LPKA Class II Yogyakarta
82,13 with standard deviation 12,010. between before and after getting EFT
Based on the result, there is difference therapy (p <0,05).
of value of average score of emotional
Tabel 4. Differences of Emotional Stability Scores of Youth Inmates at LPKA
Class II Yogyakarta In Control Group In July 2017 (N = 16)

Emotional Stability
Scores Mean SD SE p Value N
Pre Test 65,00 8,702 2,176 0,751 16
Post Test 65,63 5,898 1,474 16
Source: Analysis Data Primer (2017)
Table 4. explains that the result of the
research for the average emotional
stability score of control group in
LPKA Class II Yogyakarta pre test is
65,00 with standard deviation 8,702,
while post test of control group is
65,63 with standard deviation 5,898.
Based on these results then there is
difference difference of the average
value of emotional stability score is
0.63 and statistical test results
obtained p value = 0.751. This means
that at alpha 5% with 95% confidence
level there is no significant difference
between the mean of emotional
stability in LPKAKelas II Yogyakarta
between before and after getting EFT
therapy (p> 0,05).

Table 5. Average Difference of Emotional Stability Scores of Youth Prisoners In

LPKA Class II Yogyakarta EFT Intervention Group and Control Group In July
2017 (N = 32)

Emotional Stability
Scores Mean SD SE p Value N
Control 66,19 9,382 2,346 0,000 16
EFT 82,13 12,010 3,003 16
Source: Analysis Data Primer (2017)
Based on table 4.5. the and control group equal to
result shows that the average 15,94; then the statistical test
score of emotional stability in results obtained p value =
LPKA Class II 0.000. It can be concluded that
Yogyakartapadapost test for there is a significant difference
intervention group is 82,13 in the average of emotional
with standard deviation 9,382, stability in LPKA Class II
while in control group is 66,19 Yogyakarta, so that there is
with standard deviation influence of EFT giving on
12,010; then there is difference emotional stability in juvenile
difference of value of mean inmates in LPKA Class II
score of emotional stability Yogyakarta (p <0,05).
between intervention group

DISCUSSION
The age is middle age behavior, and mastery of his emotions
(Anjaswarni, 2014). Age is one (Hurlock, 2012).
important indicator in determining the Living in a
level of maturity of a person. Maturity penitentiary and away from a
here not only looks physically but also known person will make the
psychologically. The older the person's psychological condition
age will be more mature also thoughts, decline, especially for
 adolescents where at that time
adolescents are in transition.
According Sarwono (2015)
transition period teenagers
characterized by searching
identity and identity so that the
process of socialization and
support of family and peers is
needed. Therefore, the process
of socialization approach is
good and directed by prison
officers and peers are needed
to complement each other so
that emotional pressure can be
well controlled. Terpenjara is a
life event that can cause stress
and even be at risk of
depression (Reeder, Martin
&Grifin, 2007).
Life inside LPKA that is isolated
from the outside environment, away
from loved ones and known will cause
a psychological shock for a teenager.
feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger and
fear of making a juvenile prisoner
vulnerable to mental health, especially
the problem of emotional stability.
Most teenagers in jail have mental
health problems such as depression,
suicide attempts. This problem is
compounded by adverse conditions
experienced during imprisonment as
adolescents have to adapt to the prison
environment. During detention,
adolescents experience isolation,
boredom, intimidation, and stress.
negative length in adolescents (Ng et
al., 2011).
Adolescents should be supported
by good moral reasoning (Desmita,
2007), self-determination (Erikson,
2007), self-study and socially
responsible behavior (Haviguhurst
(1976) in Sobur (2015). that teenagers
who are in LPKA will experience the
same situation, facilities and
treatment.Teens will feel depressed,
independence is limited, away from
their parents, family and closest
people so that the developmental tasks
that teenagers should reach will be
hampered.Child developmental tasks
resulting in unhappiness in
adolescents, causing community
rejection, and difficulty in completing
the task of developing the next stage
of age (Havighurst (1961) in Yusuf
(2015).
The difficult conditions
experienced by juvenile inmates cause
teenagers to feel isolated, hollow,
anxious, and indecisive. Feelings of
sadness, worry, fear and
disappointment make a prisoner
difficult in maintaining emotional
stability. In addition, activities that are
routinely done every day make
teenagers feel bored, teenagers can not
do their hobbies outdoors, and
teenagers also should not hold the
phone which mobile phone is the most
favorite item of adolescent. The
emotions of new adolescents entering
LPKA tend to be due to the inability
of adolescents to adapt to new
environments, while long-time
adolescents in LPKA feel anxiety and
fear in the face of their freedom. This
causes most to have the same
emotional intensity on each prisoner
even though the duration of the
sentence is different. This study is in
line with Hidayati's (2005) study
which shows that there is no
correlation between duration of
sentence and prisoners' self esteem
after given EFT with p = 0,071.
This research method refers to
some research, among others, Hidayati
(2005) who conducted research by
way of Borrowing Benefits on the
subject of research as many as 32
female prisoners in Bogor prison with
low self esteem issues for 14 meetings
with duration of 2 hours per meeting.
In this study prisoners' self-esteem
score before EFT was 21.6 and then
increased to 24.72 after EFT.
Furthermore, research on the
effectiveness of EFT with Borrowing
Benefits method was also done by
Church, et al (2012) on 9 students who
suffered severe depression with an
average score of 23.44. Treatment
group received four EFT sessions in
groups for a period of 3 consecutive
weeks. Each session lasted 90
minutes. After 3 weeks then the
average depression score decreased to
6.08. This shows the effect of EFT
with Borowing Benefits method is
very strong against depression
depression.
The effect of EFT is also proven
by Suh (2015) by examining the
symptoms of anxiety and anger in
adolescents as many as 27 teenagers
who have Hwabyung syndrome (HB)
in Korea.Suh identified their capacity
in reducing anxiety, anger, and
emotional.Remeen then taught EFT
for 4 weeks with the method of
Borrowing Benefits. The result is that
EFT group experienced a significant
decrease on HB scale with p value
<0.05. The results of this study are
also supported by research conducted
by Hartini (2014) using EFT therapy
in groups to reduce the degree of
depression in female prisoners Class II
A Class Jl. EFT conducted 5 meetings
with each meeting as many as 5
sessions within one hour on female
narapida. As many as 18 respondents
who were given EFT intervention
experienced a decrease of depression
by 60.68%. This shows that EFT with
Borrowing Benefit method has a very
strong effectiveness to overcome
emotional disturbance because of
short, cheap and efficient.
CONCLUSSION
The average age of the
respondents was 16.03 years with the
highest duration of 4.72 months. There
is no relation of respondent
characteristic: age and duration of
sentence with emotional stability of
children with p value> 0,05. There
was a significant mean difference
between the emotional stability score
before and after being given EFT with
p value = 0.026. There was no
significant mean difference in stability
score of pre-and post-child emotions
that were not treated with p value of
0.751. There was a significant mean
difference in emotional stability
between the groups given EFT and the
control group with p = 0,000.
SUGGESTION
EFT therapy can be applied as part of
the nursing care process to improve
the physiological and psychological
problems of children so there is a need
for policy from the head of the child-
specific coaching agency to pursue international
EFT training for all LPKA officers. www.sciencedomain.org

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