A randomised controlled trial of a cognitive behaviourally informed intervention for changing violent sexual attitudes among adult sexual offenders in prison

BACKGROUND

Predatory sexual acts by adults cause concern worldwide. Patterns of distorted thinking and weakened self-control are among the leading explanations. Amidst growing concerns about sexual offences in Nigeria, it might be that more psychologically informed interventions in prison could reduce the risks of further harm compared with the standard prison regime.

AIMS

To test the effectiveness of a cognitive behaviourally informed intervention (CBII) in reducing violent sexual attitudes among men in prison in Nigeria for a sexual offence.

METHODS

In a randomised controlled trial, men in two prisons who responded to in-prison advertising about the trial were screened for nature of offence and willingness to participate. Those nearing their sentence end or in other psychological therapy were excluded. Sample size was confirmed by power calculation. The Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Inventory (CSBI-22) and the Hypersexual Behaviour Inventory (HBI) were administered before, immediately after and 3 months after completion of a 12-session (18 h) Cognitive Behavioural Informed Intervention or equivalent periods of 'treatment as usual' (TAU) alone. The CBII was designed to change sexual attitudes, and delivered by trained cognitive therapists to the men, as a group, in one of the prisons while the controls received only TAU in the other.

RESULTS

Before the intervention, the 39 men in each group had similar psychosocial histories and sexual attitude scores. Following CBII, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in scale scores that was sustained, whereas the TAU group showed no significant change in scores. An ANCOVA analysis confirmed between-group differences immediately after the intervention and 3 months later.

CONCLUSIONS

This randomised controlled trial adds to existing knowledge in the field because prior studies have been from high income countries, where interventions are generally delivered in more privacy and at greater length. Given that our study had to be limited to change in sexual attitudes as the main outcome, future research must focus on the extent to which such change maps on to changes in interpersonal behaviour among such men. If these findings can be extended in this way and replicated, this could pave the way for more cost-efficient interventions in higher income countries too.

School-based intervention for academic stress management and school adjustment among industrial technical education students: Implications for educational administrators

BACKGROUND

The high level of academic stress and maladjustment in the school environment led to this study to investigate the management of academic stress and school adjustment among university students using rational emotive behavioral therapy.

METHODS

The study adopted a pretest-posttest control group design. A total of 97 students participated in the study and were measured using an academic stress scale and academic adjustment scale at 3 points.

RESULTS

The results of the multivariate statistics indicated the improvement in the management of academic stress and academic adjustment among Industrial Technical Education students following their participation in the rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) treatment and those in the waitlisted control group (WCG) at 3 points. After the treatment, a second assessment shows that the REBT treatment had a significant effect on improvement in academic stress management and academic adjustment among Industrial Technical Education students and was subsequently sustained at follow-up assessment. It was also found that there is no interaction effect of groups and gender.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the reduction in academic stress and improvement in the academic adjustment were due to exposure to rational emotive behavioral therapy. Therefore, school counselors should reach out to students that experiencing a high degree of stress and maladjustment and assist them using rational emotive behavioral therapy.

Occupational health coaching for job stress management among technical college teachers: Implications for educational administrators

BACKGROUND

The need for stress management strategies has been empirically investigated and supported considering demands in workplaces. However, some people in public offices do not seem to have been exposed to occupational health strategies that could reduce the adverse impacts of stress on job productivity and quality of life. Consequently, they become susceptible to mental health disturbances requiring the attention of occupational therapists. Given this, we studied the impact of occupational health coaching for job stress management among technical college teachers.

METHODS

Using a randomized control design study, 90 technical college teachers were screened and ready to participate. The eligible teachers were included and assigned to intervention and control groups. An occupational stress index was given to the participants before, immediately after, and 2 months after the delivery of occupational coaching program by career counselors while the comparison group received no intervention. Data collected were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant improvement in the management of job stress after receiving rational emotive occupational health coaching. According to the multivariate analysis of variance analysis, there were between-group differences immediately after the intervention and 3 months later. As a result, the study suggested that career counselors and school management systems should incorporate rational-emotive behavioral therapy into workforce and workplace programs.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for challenges to quitting tobacco smoking among social science and religion students

BACKGROUND

Tobacco smoking is a public health issue. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the disputation of challenges to quitting tobacco smoking among students enrolled in the Social Science and religious Education programmes.

METHODS

The study adopted a pretest-posttest randomized controlled group design with follow-up. The population comprised of 76 tobacco smokers (randomized into 1 of 2 groups: n = 38 for the treatment group, n = 38 for the waitlist control group) completed the study. A self-report scale measuring dependence on cigarettes was used as the outcome measure. The treatment group was exposed to a 12-weeks CBT intervention. The treatment and waitlisted groups were evaluated at 3 time points: pretest, post-test, and follow-up. Statistical analyses were achieved using ANOVA.

RESULTS

The result showed that CBT had a significant effect in reducing the challenges to quitting tobacco smoking among the student smokers in the treatment group in comparison with the waitlist control group. The positive behavioral gains after the CBT program also persisted at follow-up in the treatment group compared with the waitlist control group.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, this study suggests that CBT intervention is a time-effective treatment method for disputation of challenges to quitting tobacco smoking among students enrolled in the Social Science and Religious Education Programmes.

Rational emotive intervention for work-family conflict and female primary school teachers' well-being

Globally, work and family conflict has been investigated by many researchers. Yet there is an increased prevalence of work-family conflict and its influence on the well-being of the female teaching population, especially Nigerian primary school teachers. This incidence has kept a good proportion of schoolteachers vulnerable to health problems as well as affected their wellbeing. This study evaluates the effect of rational emotive behaviour therapy on improving the well-being of female teachers with irrational behaviours arising from the work-family conflict. This is a randomized study. A total of 69 female primary school teachers in Enugu state Nigeria who met the criteria for inclusion were used as the study participants. Three self-report measures (Work-Family Conflict questionnaire, Multidimensional Health States Scale-Short Form, and Teacher Irrational Belief Scale) were used to collect data. Repeated measures with analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the effects of the intervention. The findings of the study revealed that REBT had a significant effect on the well-being scores of Nigerian female primary school teachers with work-family conflict when compared to their counterparts in the no-intervention group at Time 2. In addition, the effect of REBT on improving well-being in female teachers with work-family conflict was significantly maintained at the follow-up measurements (Time 3). In conclusion, it is suggested that REBT is an effective intervention for moderating the effect of work-family conflict on the well-being of career female teachers. As such, cognitive behavioural therapists can further examine the effectiveness of REBT using other constructs and cultures.

Assessment of psychosocial work hazards and workplace deviant behaviours of teachers in rural community-based schools

This is a cross-sectional study that assessed the psychosocial work hazards and workplace deviant behaviours of teachers in rural community-based schools. A total of 254 primary school teachers participated in the study. Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and Work Deviance Behaviour Scale were employed to elicit the teachers' responses. The descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage), and Pearson's correlation (r) statistical analysis were used to analyse the data. The results showed that the primary school teachers experience elements of psychosocial work hazards. It was also indicated that primary school teachers rarely exhibit work deviant behaviours. There is a significant positive relationship between psychosocial work hazards and workplace deviant behaviours of primary school teachers in Enugu State. In conclusion, it was suggested that teachers experience psychosocial work hazards and exhibit workplace deviant behaviours in primary schools in Enugu State Nigeria. Therefore, professionals in workplaces including schools should design practicable interventions that would help to reduce workplace deviance among employees in different works of life. With this, these should be reflected in decision-making and policies implementations to rural communities and beyond.

Occupational health intervention for work-life balance and burnout management among teachers in rural communities

This study examined the efficacy of the occupational health model of rational emotive behavioral on work-life balance (WLB) and burnout management (BOM) among public school teachers. The study was a pretest-posttest randomized control group design. The participants were 141 teachers in rural communities in Enugu state Nigeria drawn with emphasis on inclusion criteria. Two instruments were used for the data. Data were analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance. The result showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching (REOHC) led to a significant increase in the management of WLB and burnout among teachers compared to their counterparts in the control group. At the follow-up stage, REOHC proved to be effective over a period of 3 months. REOHC is a therapeutic intervention strategy that is valid and reliable over time in the management of WLB and BOM among teachers. The researchers are optimistic that the extension of REOHC to other related social and psychological-based self-defeating belief by social workers, psychologists, counselors, and employers of labors can enhance their productivity and emotionality in the home and workplace.

Intervention for Treating Depression in Parents of Children with Intellectual Disability of Down's Syndrome: A Sample of Nigerian Parents

A good number of parents of children with Down syndrome are prone to depressive disorders. The depressive feelings are attributed to negative perceptions of the situation, self, and the future. Given this, we explored the impact of the family health model of rational-emotive behavior therapy on depressive symptoms in parents of children with intellectual disability of Down syndrome in the COVID-19 pandemic era. This is a randomized pretest-posttest control group design that recruited 88 parents of children with intellectual disability of Down syndrome. We measured the depressive symptoms in parents at Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3 using the Beck depressive inventory and Hamilton depression rating scale. We adopted a family health model rational emotive behaviour therapy intervention in treating the depressive symptoms affecting the parents. The analysis of covariate results showed that at initial assessment there was no significant difference between the treatment group and comparison group at baseline evaluation of depressive symptoms in participants. At the posttest, it had a significant effect on the intervention on participants' depressive symptoms. Likewise, a follow-up result still shows that intervention had a significant effect on participants' depressive symptoms of participants. In conclusion, this study suggests that treatment variable accounted for the effect in decreasing depressive symptoms scores of participants.

Assessment of sociodemographic and psychological well-being of Primary School Teachers

BACKGROUND

Teaching is very stressful and demanding and it intensifies psychological and related disorders compared to other occupations. Most teachers in Nigeria are battling emotional distress, burnout, depression, and anxiety due to excess workload, which has affected their psychological well-being. This study assessed the sociodemographic and psychological well-being of primary school teachers in Enugu State, Nigeria.

METHODS

This is a study with a cross-sectional design. The psychological well-being of 254 primary school teachers was assessed using a psychological well-being scale and a sociodemographic information inventory was also used to ascertain their personal information. The data collected were analyzed using chi-square, mean, standard deviation, and bivariate correlation statistics.

RESULTS

The results showed that the majority of primary school teachers experience unhealthy psychological well-being irrespective of age, gender, working status, qualification, and years of teaching experience. These teachers' sociodemographic variables are significantly correlated with psychological well-being. Only location is not significantly correlated with psychological well-being.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, this study concluded that primary school teachers' psychological well-being is not positive or healthy and is significantly related to their sociodemographic characteristics.

Improving quality of family life among Christian parents of children with low vision in Nsukka catholic diocese using rational emotive family health therapy

BACKGROUND

Most Christian parents living with children with low vision have reported to be experiencing psychological disturbances that are affecting the family health. As a result, the quality of family life is being impaired. The experience of parents catering for children with low vision is mainly influenced by psychosocial factors that could determine the quality of family life of such parents. This present study is to investigate the efficacy of rational emotive family health therapy in reducing poor quality of family life among Christian parents of children with low vision in Nsukka Catholic Dioceses.

METHOD

This is a randomized pretest and posttest control trial. Participants were 88 parents of children living with low vision in Nsukka Catholic Dioceses, Nigeria. The power of the sample size was determined using Gpower statistical software. The participants in rational emotive family health therapy programme-group were exposed to a 12-session treatment programme whereas their counterparts in waitlisted control group did not receive anything. A family quality of life scale was utilized in assessing the participants. Data analyses were performed using repeated measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

It was found that rational emotive family health therapy had a significant positive effect on increasing quality of family life among the study participants compared to those in the waitlisted control group.

CONCLUSION

This study contributed and validated the efficacy of rational emotive family health therapy in improving quality of family life among parents of children with low vision.

Household caregivers' knowledge and control of helminthiasis in preschool children in a rural community of Enugu state, Nigeria

Helminthiasis causes iron deficiency anemia, pica, growth, and mental retardation in children. Deworming exercises are being included as part of various interventional programs to reduce the disease burden. However, the success or failure of such activities in terms of household caregivers' knowledge and practice of deworming is not usually adequately evaluated, thus this study. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in the rural community of Enugu State, Nigeria. Pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Inferential statistics, χ² test, and t-test were also used in the analysis for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 294 preschool children and 250 caregivers were studied. Among the caregivers, 212 (71.9%) had good knowledge and 149 (50.5%) had good practice of deworming. There was a statistically significant association between the age of respondents and knowledge score (χ²  = 6.471, p = 0.039) and between the educational level of respondents and practice score (χ²  = 30.632, p < 0.001). Most respondents in the rural community had a good knowledge of worm infestation and only half had good practice of deworming. Also, there was a significant difference between the age of respondents and knowledge of helminthiasis and between the educational level of respondents and deworming activities of respondents.

Testing the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy for pathological internet use among undergraduates in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) on pathological internet use (PIU).

METHOD

The study applied a group randomized controlled trial design to assign participants to intervention and control groups. A total of 40 college students aged 18 to 30 who were pathological internet users (PIUs) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Participants completed a self-report scale entitled the Problematic Internet Use Scale (PIUS) at three time points. The intervention lasted 8 weeks. The data collected were statistically analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

The results showed that GCBT has significant efficacy, decreasing the symptoms of PIU among the GCBT participants compared to those in the control group and that the improvements were maintained at follow-up. We also found a significant interaction effect by time for PIU.

CONCLUSION

From the study findings, we can conclude that GCBT has significant benefit for mitigating the severity of PIU in college students. Therefore, mental health professionals are encouraged to explore the benefits of GCBT in treating symptoms associated with PIU in school settings and beyond.

Effect of cognitive behavioral active engagement training on test item construction skills among primary school teachers in Nigeria: Implication for educational policy makers

BACKGROUND

Most classroom teachers are weak in constructing test items for assessment of students. This study examined the effects of cognitive behavioral active engagement training on test items construction skills among primary school teachers in Nigeria.

METHODS

We adopted a randomized pretest-posttest control group design. A total of 148 participants served as the study sample. One instrument was used for data collection. The participants were administered the instrument at 4 different times. Test construction guide was employed to implement the training. Data analysis was completed using analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

The researchers found that cognitive behavioral active engagement training had a significant effect on participants' test items construction scores as measured by test construction skills inventory at posttest, first and second follow-up stages.

CONCLUSION

The researchers concluded that cognitive behavioral active engagement training is efficacious in the improvement of test items construction skills among primary school teachers in Nigeria.

Rational emotive occupational health coaching for quality of work-life among primary school administrators

BACKGROUND

This study aimed at investigating the effect of rational emotive occupational health coaching on quality of work-life among primary school administrators.

METHOD

This is a double blinded and randomized control design study. A total of 158 administrators were sampled, half of them were exposed to rational emotive occupational health treatment package that lasted for 12 sessions. Two self-report measures were utilized in assessing the participants using quality of work life scale. Data collected were analyzed using MANOVA statistical tool.

RESULT

The results showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching is effective in improving perception of quality of work-life among public administrators. A follow-up result showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching had a significant effect on primary school administrators' quality of work life.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded rational emotive occupation health coaching is useful therapeutic strategy in improving quality of work of primary school administrators, hence, future researchers and clinical practitioners should adopt cognitive-behavioral techniques and principles in helping employers as well as employees. Based on the primary findings and limitations of this study, future studies, occupational psychotherapists should qualitatively explore the clinical relevance of rational emotive occupational health practice across cultures using different populations.

Improving work-life balance among administrative officers in Catholic primary schools: Assessing the effect of a Christian religious rational emotive behavior therapy

OBJECTIVE

Work-life balance (WLB) is an essential precursor of workers' mental health. The theory of rational emotive behaviour therapy proposes that an imbalance in work and family life may result from people's dysfunctional perceptions of their work and other aspects of their personal life. Also, the constructive philosophies of rational emotive behavior therapy are said to be congruent with most religious belief systems of Christian clients. Therefore, our research examined the efficacy of Christian religious rational emotive behaviour therapy (CRREBT) on WLB among administrative officers in Catholic primary schools.

METHODS

This is a group randomized trial involving 162 administrative officers from Catholic primary schools in Southeast Nigeria. The treatment process involved an 8-session CRREBT programme.

RESULTS

The scores for WLB of the administrative officers enrolled in the CRREBT programme were significantly improved compared to those in the control group at the end of the study. At the follow-up phase, the CRREBT programme proved to be effective over a 3-month period.

CONCLUSION

CRREBT is an effective therapeutic strategy for managing WLB among Catholic school administrative officers.

Irrational career beliefs in agricultural education students, demographics, impacts, and rational career education intervention

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that a good number of students admitted into Agricultural Science Education program in Nigerian universities exhibit irrational career interest which affects their perceptions, feelings, and academic behaviors. This study, therefore, explored the effect of rational emotive career education on irrational career beliefs among students enrolled in agricultural education program in federal universities in Enugu state. Three null hypotheses guided the study.

METHOD

Of the population (N = 79 students) targeted for the study and who underwent a screening exercise, 61 students were recruited as participants/sample size for the study. Sequence allocation software was used to assign 31 students into experimental groups and 30 into waitlisted control group. Participants in the intervention group received a rational emotive career education program that lasted for 12 sessions while those in waitlisted group did not receive the intervention. The participants in both groups were assessed at three points (Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3) using rational and irrational belief scale. A repeated measure (ANOVA) and partial eta square statistical tools were used to analyze the data collected.

RESULT

This study result showed that rational emotive career education significantly reduced irrational career beliefs among students enrolled in Agricultural Science Education program exposed to intervention group compared to those in waitlisted control group. It also showed that there was time × group interaction for irrational career beliefs. The follow-up assessment indicated that the efficacy of rational emotive career education was sustained overtime.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that rational emotive career education is beneficial in reducing irrational career beliefs of university students enrolled in Agricultural Science Education program. Recommendations were also made in line with the results.

Impact of cognitive behavioural play therapy on social anxiety among school children with stuttering deficit: A cluster randomised trial with three months follow-up

BACKGROUND

Stuttering is a speech deficit which is characterized by obstruction of speech eloquence and verbal expression in addition to involuntary flow of air during communication. School children with communication deficit often experience social anxiety in their immediate environment. Currently, reports show that a good number of children with communication deficits are prone to social maladjustment due to their being socially inept. And this has significantly affected their thought pattern, social behaviours and emotional responses. In view of this, we examined the impact of cognitive behavioural play therapy in reducing social anxiety among school children with stuttering.

METHOD

This is a pretest-posttest randomized control group design. Participants were 178schoolchildren in inclusive schools in South east Nigeria. Participants in the intervention group were treated using cognitive behavioural play therapy programme (CBPT). Participants in the waitlist control group were only assessed at three points of assessment. Data analyses were completed using repeated measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

The results show that cognitive behavioural play therapy is beneficial in decreasing schoolchildren's social anxiety scores. The intervention equally showed the considerable impacts on the children when exposed to cognitive behavioural play programme at different times of assessment compared to waitlisted control group.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that CBPT is a long-term psychotherapeutic programme that has significant impacts in reducing social anxiety among children with stuttering. This study makes a leading contribution on the limited scholarship focusing on the impact of CBPT on social anxiety of special population with stuttering deficits in developing countries.

Cognitive-behavioural reflective training for improving critical thinking disposition of nursing students

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

The importance of critical thinking in improving treatment practices in, for instance, the nursing profession, cannot be overemphasized. Despite this importance, empirical studies have shown that helping strategies to train learners on critical thinking disposition are needed. Given this knowledge gap, this study investigated the impacts of cognitive-behavioral reflective training for improving the critical thinking disposition of nursing students.

METHOD

Of all the students screened, a total of 167 participants were assigned to the treatment group and waitlisted control group. A researchers-developed training program aimed at improving critical thinking disposition was delivered in English language by therapists.

RESULTS

Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference between the critical thinking disposition of nursing students in the treatment and control groups as measured by CTDI-M at the posttest. At the posttreatment and follow-up measures, there were consistently improved impacts of CBRT on the critical thinking disposition of nursing students in Nigeria as measured by CTDI-M.

CONCLUSION

Following the results, we concluded that cognitive-behavioral reflective training was beneficial and had sustained improvement in enhancing the critical thinking disposition of nursing students.

Impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy on personal value system of students with visual impairment: A group randomized control study

BACKGROUND

Visually impaired students have been reported to struggle with value system and rash decision making process. This study examined the impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) in reducing negative personal value system of visually impaired people.

METHOD

A group-randomized trial design was adopted using 56 students with visual impairment. The participants received a value-based rational emotive behavior progamme and were assessed at 3 points using PVS and ABS-2-AV.

RESULTS

The result of analysis of covariance showed that there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups in initial personal value in Nigerian as measured by PVS. At the post-treatment the effect of V-REBP was significant in personal value and follow-up assessment respectively in favour of treatment group.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that there is significant impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy on reduction of negative personal value system of students with visual impairment.