Impact of rational emotive occupational health coaching on work-related stress management among staff of Nigeria police force.

BACKGROUND: Empirical studies indicated that job-related stress is threatening the well-being of Nigerian public workers. The objective of this investigation was to examine the impact of REOHC for improving work-stress management among Staff of Nigeria Police Force in southeast Nigeria. METHOD: This is a pretest-posttest control group design study with follow-up. A total of 63 Nigerian police officers (randomized into one of 2 groups: n = 32 for treatment group, n = 31 for waitlist control group) completed the study. Two self-report questionnaire measuring organizational and operational stressors associated with police general well-being were used as outcome measures. The intervention group received a 12-week REBC manual intervention. The intervention and waitlisted groups were evaluated at 3-time points: Time1, Time2, and Time3. Statistical analyses were achieved using repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Results showed that there was no significant difference between the REOHC group and waiting-list control group in initial work-related stress management among staff of Nigerian Police Force. REOHC program had a significant effect on work-related stress management among staff of Nigerian Police Force when compared to their counterparts in the waiting-list control group. CONCLUSION: Therefore, REOHC program is a time-effective treatment approach for improving work-stress management among Staff of Nigeria Police Force in southeast Nigeria.

Impacts of cognitive-behavioral intervention on anxiety and depression among social science education students: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is a common disorder which refers to a significant and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations. This study investigated the impacts of cognitive-behavioral intervention on anxiety and depression among undergraduate students enrolled in social science education programs at public universities in the Southeast Nigeria. METHODS: Participants were 55 undergraduate students enrolled in social science education programs at public universities in the Southeast Nigeria. The adequacy of the sample size used was determined using GPower software. Cognitive-behavioral treatment manuals on anxiety and depression were used to deliver the intervention. Data analyses were completed using repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant positive impact of cognitive-behavioral intervention on anxiety and depression among social science education students exposed to the cognitive-behavioral intervention when compared to the waitlisted group. Results also showed that there was a significant time × group interaction for anxiety and depression. Follow-up tests showed that significant reduction in anxiety and depression persisted after 3 months for the cognitive-behavioral intervention group in comparison to the waitlisted control group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that cognitive-behavioral intervention was a successful intervention which decreased the symptoms of anxiety and depression in social science education students who participated in the study. Additional studies are recommended to further corroborate the influence of cognitive-behavioral intervention in the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the Nigerian undergraduate student population.

Effect of music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress in a sample of Nigerian married couples.

BACKGROUND: Music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring could provide a mechanism to improve patients' sense of control over emotional distress. This study evaluates the effect of music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress in a sample of Nigerian couples. METHODS: The participants for the study were 280 couples in south-east Nigeria. Perceived emotional distress inventory (PEDI) was used to assess emotional symptoms. Repeated measures with analysis of variance were used to examine the effects of the intervention. Mean rank was also used to document the level of changes in emotional distress across groups. Effect sizes were also reported with partial η. RESULTS: There were no significant baseline differences in emotional distress level between participants in the music therapy with cognitive restructuring group and waitlisted group. Significant decreases in the level of emotional distress were observed in the music therapy with cognitive restructuring group, but the waitlisted group demonstrated no significant change in their score both at posttreatment and 3 follow-up assessments. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest music therapy with cognitive restructuring therapy is effective for reducing emotional distress of couples. In addition, the positive effect of the music therapy with cognitive restructuring therapy program can persist at follow-up. Therefore, therapists have to continue to examine the beneficial effects of music therapy with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress level of couples both in Nigeria and in other countries.