Efficacy of Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Systematic Desensitization and Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy in Reducing the Test Anxiety Status of Undergraduates in a Nigerian University

Abstract

This study investigated the differential efficacy of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Systematic Desensitization (SD) and Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) in reducing the test anxiety status of undergraduates in a Nigerian University. To guide the study two research questions were raised and two corresponding hypotheses formulated. The study, a pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group quasi experiment adopted a 3x2x2 factorial design. A sample of one hundred and twenty-three undergraduate students in a Nigerian University participated in the study. A twenty-item Test Anxiety Inventory adapted from Spielberger (1980) was revalidated and administered to the sample to collect data for the study. The internal consistency of the instrument had a Crombach’s alpha value of 0.82. Data collected were analysed using Analysis of Variance statistics and the hypotheses were tested at .05level of significance. The results revealed statistically significant decreases in test anxiety of participants in two of the treatment groups – Systematic Desensitization and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. The effectiveness of the two treatments on test anxiety was found to be independent of gender of the participants. Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy had no statistically significant effect on the test anxiety of the participants. It was concluded that Systematic Desensitization and Solution Focused Brief Therapy are effective methods of reducing test anxiety in learners. Based on the results, recommendations were made.