Effect of rational emotive behaviour therapy in reducing examination anxiety among senior high school students in Kumasi

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) in reducing examination anxiety among students in Kumasi High School. The study adopted the quantitative approach and utilized a quasi-experimental design. Twenty (20) participants each were used for treatment and the control groups. The sample size was 40. The “Students Examination Anxiety Questionnaire (SEAQ)” was used for pretest and posttest data collection. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and Inferential statistics (Two-way mixed ANOVA, independent sample t-test and ANOVA) were used for the analysis. The study found a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in their examination anxiety. The study revealed that there was a significant difference between male and female students in terms of their level of examination anxiety; female students experienced more examination anxiety than male students. Also, there was no significant difference in the examination anxiety of students on the basis of their ages. Finally, there was no significant difference in the examination anxiety of students on the basis of their programmes of study. It was recommended that school authorities should collaborate with school counsellors to screen and identify students with examination anxiety so that REBT treatment can be planned for them since the study found that REBT was effective in reducing examination anxiety.