EFFICACY OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY IN RESTRUCTURING THE MINDSET OF IN- SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS FOR SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVED PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

The study examined the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in restructuring the mindsets of in-school adolescents towards self-development and improved well-being in Abia State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design, using Pre-test, post-test and control groups. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study consisted of two hundred (200) in-school adolescents from four secondary schools in Umuahia, Abia State. The sample of the study consisted of sixty-eight subjects who were drawn through purposive sampling, using two researchers developed instruments with 20- items each titled: Adolescent Self-Development Instrument (ASDI) and Adolescent Psychological Well-being Instrument (APWBI). The two instruments had two sections each. Section Ain each of the instruments contained demographic information of the respondents while section B contained 20 items on self-development and psychological well-being. The responses to the items were designed on a four-point rating scale of Strongly Agree (4), Agree (3), Disagree (2) and Strongly Disagreed (1) respectively. The instruments were subjected to reliability analysis using Cronbach Alpha to determine the internal consistency and reliability index of 0.78 and 0.68 respectively were obtained. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions, while ANCOVAwas used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The instruments were validated by 2 experts in the field of Guidance and Counselling as well as one from Measurement and Evaluation. After exposure to therapies, the findings revealed that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy was effective in restructuring the mindset of in-school adolescents for self-development and psychological well-being. Thus, the researchers recommended that counsellors should make use of CBTin restructuring the mindsets of adolescents towards self-development and improved psychological well-being.