EFFECTIVENESS OF ACCEPTANCE - COMMITMENT AND RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPIES ON DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS FROM BROKEN HOMES IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

 Studies have reported that broken home directly or indirectly impact on mental health namely stress, anxiety, and depression, which adversely affect adolescents of such homes. Thus, this study examined the effectiveness of two behaviour modification therapies namely: Acceptance-Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) on depression in Adolescents from broken homes in Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample of 71 adolescents consisting of 28 male and 43 female were chosen for the study using multistage sampling process. The design used for the study was the quasi–experimental: pretest/posttest control group design. The study consisted of three groups: two treatment groups and one control group. The first group was exposed to Acceptance-Commitment therapy (ACT), second group was exposed to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), while the control group had no treatment. The following instruments were used to collect relevant data for the study, Family structure questionnaire (FSQ), The Adjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS) and the depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS).Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data collected for the study were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated significant differences on depression among the adolescents as a result of the interventions. The ACT was observed to be effective in the management of depression than REBT though both were significant. Male and female adolescents were observed not to differ in depression as a result of exposing them to ACT and REBT. In the light of the findings, it is recommended among others that ACT and REBT should be adopted in managing depression among adolescents from broken homes.