Effect of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on Negative Career Thoughts of Students in Technical Colleges in Nigeria

Theresa Chinyere Ogbuanya, Chiedu Eseadi, Chibueze Tobias Orji, Joy I. Anyanwu, Moses Onyemaechi Ede, Jimoh Bakare

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Negative career thoughts are cognitive barriers that interfere with an individual’s career decision-making and successful career development. The current study examined the effect of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on negative career thoughts of students in technical colleges in Nigeria. The study utilized a pretest–posttest control group design. One hundred and seventy-three participants from technical colleges in the Southeast zone of the country completed a measure of career thoughts at pretest, posttreatment, and follow-up: the College Students’ Career Thoughts Scale. An REBT career program manual guided the intervention for 12 weeks. Data collected were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance, chi-square, and t-test. Results show that the negative career thoughts of the REBT group participants were significantly reduced relative to a waitlist control group at the end of the intervention. Follow-up tests conducted after three months and six months revealed that the significant decrease in negative career thoughts of the REBT group participants was sustained. The outcomes of the current study suggest that REBT is an invaluable group therapy for assisting college students in overcoming negative thoughts associated with career choice and decision. It would be helpful if further longitudinal evaluation were implemented in Nigeria and in other countries to evaluate whether and how an REBT-based program can improve vocational maturity and vocational identity of technical college students.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)356-374
Number of pages19
JournalPsychological Reports
Volume121
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • career counseling
  • Career thoughts
  • college students
  • negative career thoughts
  • rational-emotive behavior therapy
  • technical colleges

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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