Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on Level of Stress and Anxiety among Sober Alcohol Dependents Attending Self Help Groups in Selected Areas

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Stress and anxiety are common, especially in challenging situations. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) helps manage these by addressing irrational thoughts. It is also effective in reducing emotional distress linked to alcohol addiction. Methodology: This study evaluates the levels of stress and anxiety among sober alcohol dependents attending self-help groups and assesses the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in reducing these levels. A quantitative, quasi-experimental non-randomized control group design was used, with 60 participants (30 in the control group and 30 in the experimental group) selected through convenience sampling. Conducted over 28 days, the research setting included selected self-help groups. Reliability scores for the stress and anxiety assessment tools were high (0.99) based on the test-retest method, ensuring the study's credibility. A pilot study confirmed feasibility for larger-scale research. The findings provide key insights into REBT's role in improving mental health among sober alcohol dependents. Result: The study demonstrated that Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is significantly effective in reducing both stress and anxiety among sober alcohol dependents attending self-help groups. For stress, pretest results in the experimental group showed 43.3% of participants had moderate stress and 56.7% had high stress. Posttest results revealed substantial improvement, with 33.3% reporting low stress and 66.7% reporting moderate stress. The paired t-test showed a significant reduction in stress scores, with an average decrease from 26.8 to 16.6 (p-value < 0.05). Similarly, anxiety levels improved significantly. In the experimental group, pretest anxiety results showed 56.7% with moderate anxiety, which dropped to 13.3% posttest. The paired t-test revealed a significant decrease in anxiety scores from 26 to 15.3 (p-value < 0.05). Comparison between experimental and control groups also confirmed the significant impact of REBT on reducing both stress and anxiety levels. Conclusion: The findings suggest that REBT is a highly effective intervention for managing stress and anxiety in sober alcohol dependents.