Table 1

Session One

Objectives: Provide age-appropriate information about nail biting.

This includes educating children about the definition, causes, symptoms, potential consequences, and complications of nail biting.

Session Two

Objectives: (a) Cultivate a belief that quitting nail biting is achievable.

(b) Foster a positive attitude towards quitting nail-biting.

The researchers encouraged children to reflect on the negative aspects of the habit and the benefits of stopping it in an attempt to alter their beliefs. Through various activities and discussions, children explored many preventative measures to develop self-confidence in overcoming this habit. The researchers also distributed the educational booklet.

Session Three

Objectives: Discover the subjective norms, perceived social expectations, and influences of nail-biting behaviors.

In this session, the researchers utilized the children’s self-reported information about subjective norms to tailor individualized instruction. Children were provided the opportunity to share their experiences and engage in discussions about nail biting with their family members and peers. This interactive element created a supportive environment that encourages behavior change. By involving parents and emphasizing the importance of their support, the program addressed subjective norms and promoted a social norm that values quitting nail biting.

Sessions four and five

Objectives: Equip children with enabling factors to quit nail-biting.

In this session, the researchers provided children with different resources, practical strategies, and coping mechanisms to resist the urge to bite their nails. This may involve teaching relaxation techniques and offering alternative activities to keep hands busy. Children were instructed to be engaged in distractive activities such as drawing, coloring, and playing music in case of emotional distress. To facilitate behavior change, the researcher equipped children with a wide variety of enabling factors such as consuming healthy food, receiving biotin supplements, drinking plenty of water, avoiding gel or acrylic nails, and cutting their nails regularly. On the other side, parents were instructed to provide rewards or incentives for progress and establish a support system for ongoing encouragement and motivation.