Effect of Cognitive Restructuring Technique on Social and Emotional Adjustment of Divorcees

Abstract

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of cognitive restructuring technique on social and emotional adjustment of divorcees. The need for the study came as a result of the increasing rate of divorces among couples to which the researchers sought to find solutions. Pre-test-post-test randomized control trial experimental design was adopted by the researchers for the study. 34 divorces who were drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling technique constituted the sample for the study. The divorces were randomly assigned to experimental (19) and (15) groups. Social Adjustment Assessment Scale of Divorcees (SAASD) and Emotional Adjustment Scale of Divorcees (EAASD) were used for data collection. SAASD and EAASD were properly validated by experts in the test development and the internal consistency reliability indices of the items estimated as 0.88 and 0.89 respectively using Cronbach Alpha method. Before the commencement of the testing and treatment package, the researchers assured the participants of confidentiality of interactions and personal information as they work together in self-disclosure. Thereafter, pre-treatment assessment (pre-test) was conducted using the SAASD and EAASD in order to collect baseline data (Time 1). After that, the experimental group was exposed to 90 minutes of the CRT program twice a week for a period of 6 weeks. The treatment took place between September and November 2019. Post-test (Time 2) assessment was conducted 1 week after the last treatment session. Besides, a follow-up assessment was conducted after two months of treatment (Time 3). Data collected were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The findings of the study revealed that the effect of cognitive restructuring technique on the social and emotional adjustment of divorcees was significant at post-test and follow-up measures. One of the contributions of the findings is that if divorcees are not properly counseled, maladjustment socially and emotionally will continue to increase. Based on the findings, the contribution among others is that Federal Government or relevant education authorities should provide enough family counsellors in the various institutions who will assist in the counselling of the divorcees in the dangers of social and emotional maladjustment using CRT.