Breaking Barriers: Psychoeducation as a Viable Treatment for Psychological Distress in Low-Income Adolescent Population

Sylvester Ezechinyere Eze; Sussan Olufunmilola Adeusi; Bolaji  Johnson Adesanya; Gboyega Emmanuel Abikoye

doi:10.37134/esss.vol5.1.2.2024

Authors

Sylvester Ezechinyere Eze Department of Psychology, College of Leadership and Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Sussan Olufunmilola Adeusi Department of Psychology, College of Leadership and Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Bolaji Johnson Adesanya Department of Psychology, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Gboyega Emmanuel Abikoye Department of Psychology, Faculty Social Sciences, University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37134/esss.vol5.1.2.2024

Keywords:

Adolescents, Effectiveness, Psychoeducation, Psychological distress

Abstract

The high occurrence of mental health issues among adolescents in low-income countries is a significant public health concern with limited evidence-based treatment documentation. The study evaluated the effectiveness of psychoeducation as a viable treatment for psychological distress among in-school adolescents in low-Income setting. Using quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design, data were collected using a standardized self-report questionnaire (DASS-21) from 240 students in four co-educational secondary schools in Oyo-East Area Council of Oyo State, Nigeria. Forty-eight participants with a mean age (13.02; SD±1.97), scoring above the mean (M=30.6) were gender-matched and randomly placed into intervention and control groups, each comprising 24 participants. Results revealed that psychoeducation effectively reduced psychological distress symptoms in the experimental group after six weeks of exposure (t (22) = 5.11, p < 0.001). A significant mean difference in psychological distress measures at pre-test (M= 49.5; SD = 21.4) and post-test (M=19.1; SD=13) was observed. One-month follow-up, the experimental group exhibited a significantly lower level of psychological distress (t (19) = 7.12, p < 0.001), while the control group's distress levels remained high (t (19) = 0.43, p > 0.05), with no significant difference in pre-test measures. Psychoeducation should be considered as a viable treatment for psychological distress symptoms, especially where trained experts may not be available to administer cognitive-behaviour therapy in low-income countries. The study concluded that psychoeducation is effective in alleviating psychological distress in adolescents. With this result, additional research is necessitated to establish psychoeducation as a viable treatment option.

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