Effectiveness of Acceptance - Commitment and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapies on Self-Esteem of Adolescents from Broken Homes in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Broken home has damaging effects on adolescents. Studies have reported that broken home has an influence on the self-esteem of  adolescents of such home. Thus, this study examined the effectiveness of two behaviour modification therapies namely: Acceptance- Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) on self-esteem of adolescents from broken homes in Ogun  State, Nigeria. A sample of 71 adolescents consisting of 28 male and 43 female were selected 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 Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). 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 in self-esteem among the adolescents as a result of the interventions. The REBT was observed to be more effective  in the management of self-esteem than the ACT. Male and female adolescents were observed not to differ in selfesteem as a result of  exposing them to ACT and REBT. In the light of the findings, it was recommended, among others, that ACT and REBT should be adopted  in improving self-esteem of adolescents from broken homes.