EFFECTIVENESS OF RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY ON ACADEMIC SELF-EFFICACY OF IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN ABIA STATE

Abstract

This study is an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) on in-school adolescents in Abia State with low academic self-efficacy. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study employed a quasi-experimental design of pretest, posttest non-randomized control group using gender as moderator variable. A total of 24 in-school adolescents were purposively sampled from a population of 687 using Academic Self-efficacy Identification Questionnaire (ASIQ). A 22-item instrument developed by the researchers validated by three experts was used to collect data and psychometric properties established. Before the commencement of the programme, the researchers assured the subjects of confidentiality of information provided in therapy. Pre-treatment assessment (pre-test) was conducted using the ASIQ in order to collect baseline data. Thereafter, the treatment group was exposed to 45 minutes of the REBT programme twice for a period of 4 weeks. The treatment took place between June/July, 2023. Post-test assessment was conducted one week after the last treatment session. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions and the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed the efficacy of rational emotive behaviour therapy in enhancing academic self-efficacy of in-school adolescents. There were no gender disparities in treatment outcomes. It was recommended that counsellors should employ rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) to help in-school adolescents enhance their academic self-efficacy.