Intervention for depression among undergraduate religious education students: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This research was designed to investigate the management of depression among undergraduate religious education students and identify the research implications for school-based religious intervention. METHODS: This research is a randomized controlled trial. The treatment condition had 34 undergraduate religious education students but 33 undergraduate religious education students were in the control condition. The treatment process involved a 12-week application of religious rational emotive behavior therapy (RREBT). With Beck's depression inventory, version 2 (BDI-II), data collection was made possible. RESULTS: Compared to students in the control condition, undergraduate religious education students in the treatment condition demonstrated a significant drop in mean BDI-II scores at post-test (F [1, 65] = 592.043, P < .05, η2p = .90). The effect of RREBT among students in the treatment condition stayed consistent at 2 weeks follow-up (F [1, 65] = 786.396, P < .05, η2p = .92, ΔR2 = .922). CONCLUSION: The effect of RREBT on depression treatment among undergraduate religious education students was positive and can be consistent. The study results underscore the importance of expanding this treatment approach for these undergraduate education students in Nigeria.