Abstract:
This study determined the effect of rational emotive behaviour therapy on depression among adult learners in Gwagwalada area council FCT. The general purpose of the study was to determine the effect of rational emotive behaviour therapy on depression among adult learners in Gwagwalada Area Council. The study was guided by seven specific purposes, seven research questions and seven corresponding null hypotheses. The study adopted quasi-experimental design precisely, pretest- posttest non-equivalent group design. The population of the study was 30 second year adult learners consisting of 12 males and 18 females with mild and moderate depression symptoms in the literacy centres under the auspices of University of Abuja and National Open University of Nigeria both in Gwagwalada area council. There was no sampling as the population is manageable. The instrument used for data collection was an adapted Beck’s 22 –item depression inventory (BDI). The BDI was trial tested on fifteen (15) adult learners from Kogi State University, Anyimgba, Kogi state. The data obtained from the trial testing was used to establish the reliability of the instrument BDI using Cronbach Alpha statistics. It yielded a reliability index of 0.83 which was considered high enough for the instrument to be used for the study. Mean and standard deviation statistics were used to answer the four research questions while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the four null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The major findings of the study were that adult learners exposed to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) had reduced depression compared to their counterparts treated using the Group counseling therapy; Male and female adult learners had a decreased post-test mean depression; Gender has no significant influence on depression of adult learners exposed to REBT; Married adult learners had a slightly decreased post-test mean depression rating compared to unmarried adult learners. It was concluded that the rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) reduces depression among the male and female, married and unmarried and employed and unemployed adult learners when appropriately applied in psychological treatment of adult learners with depression. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended among others that professional counselors should adopt the REBT in treating depression among adult learners for effectiveness.
