The Effect of Cognitive and Behaviour Therapies on Prison and Post-Prison Inmates’ Psychological Adjustment, In Afokang Prison, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was an experimental (pre-test, post-test) groups design, and analysed to determine the effects of cognitive and behavioural therapies on the psychological adjustment of prison inmates, using the Afokang prison in Calabar South local government area of Cross Rivere State as the study area. Three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study, while a total of 120 inmates (109 males and 11 females) were randomly selected from the present stock of Afokang prisoners numbering 1017 (1006 males and 11 females) in the study area. Before treatment, the inmates were randomized into 3 groups (40 each for cognitive, behavioural and the control group - 36 males and 4 females for groups 1 and 2, 36 males and 4 females for the control group). After treatment which lasted for 8 weeks, all the 3 groups were again subjected to post-test and the result compiled for data analysis. Data was analysed using the independent t-test analysis procedures. The result revealed that: there is significant difference between prison inmates treated with cognitive therapy and others who are not treated at all in their psychological adjustment; there is significant difference between inmates treated with behavioural therapy and those not treated at all in their psychological adjustment; prison inmates treated with cognitive therapy do not differ significantly from their counterparts treated with behavioural therapy in their psychological adjustment. It was discovered that inmates subjected to any form of therapy differ significantly from those who did not pass through any form of therapy in their psychological adjustment. It was concluded that behavioural and cognitive therapies significantly influence prison inmates positively in their psychological adjustment (particularly after imprisonment). It was recommended among others that prison inmates should be subjected to cognitive and behavioural therapies in other for them to