Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Intervention in Reducing Feelings of Hopelessness Among Students Exposed to Violence in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effects of Cognitive Behavioural Intervention on feelings of hopelessness among Senior Secondary II students in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of Cognitive Behavioural Intervention on feelings of hopelessness among Secondary students in Chikun Local Government, Kaduna State, and to find out the effects of CBI on feeling of hopelessness among male and female senior secondary school students in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State. Two research questions were raised to guide the study while two hypotheses were formulated for the study and was tested at 0.05 level of significant. A pretest-post-test experimental design was employed with 41 students assigned to experimental and control groups. The Beck Hopelessness Scale was administered at pre-test and post-test stages. Descriptive statistics were used to answer the research question, while Analysis of Covariance was used to test the hypothesis. Findings revealed that students exposed to CBI showed a significant reduction in feelings of hopelessness compared to those in the control group. This result highlights the potential of CBI as a school-based intervention for mitigating psychological distress among Nigerian adolescents. Implications for educational practice and mental health policy are discussed. It was recommended that Nigerian secondary schools should work with school psychologists and counselors to use CBI in addressing psychological stress among students. Teachers and school counselors should also be trained to deliver structured CBI sessions to students.

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