Effectiveness of reality therapy in managing anxiety and depression in couples with infertility challenges in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of reality therapy in managing anxiety and depression in couples with infertility challenges in  Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria. The population of this study was seventy six (76) couples of reproductive age with infertility challenges  that were registered and receiving infertility treatment at the two Government owned hospitals selected for this study. These are: Federal  teaching hospital, Gombe and Specialist Hospital Gombe. Forty two (42) patients accessing infertility treatment from Federal  teaching hospital and thirty four (34) patients accessing infertility treatment from specialist hospital Gombe (i.e. 42+34 = 76). Purposive  sampling technique was used. The researcher employed quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test and control group design, in which  selected couples were assigned to reality therapy while the control group didn’t receive any treatment. The treatments were carried out  within eight weeks of counselling sessions. Group counselling method was employed in the study. Each of the subjects was administered  with pre-test/post-test research instrument using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results from data  analysis revealed that reality therapy counselling techniques was effective in managing anxiety and depression level among couples with  infertility challenges. It is recommended that counsellors should be encouraged to use reality therapy in managing anxiety level of   couples faced with infertility challenges in various health centres.