Effect of a cognitive behavioural intervention on depression reduction among community-dwelling adult learners in Nigeria: Implications for adult education administration

Abstract

Objective The study objective was to determine the effect of a cognitive behavioural intervention (CBI) on depression among community-dwelling adult learners in Nigeria. Methods This was a 10-week randomized control trial. Participants were 82 community-dwelling adult learners with depression. The Beck Depression Inventory-II was used for data collection. Data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results The initial results showed that the participants in both the treatment group and the usual care control group had severe depression. After 10 weeks of the CBI, there was a significant reduction in depression among adult learners in the treatment group compared with those in the usual care control group. The follow-up assessment indicated a further significant reduction in depression among participants in the treatment group compared with those in the control group. Conclusion The CBI was effective in reducing depression among community-dwelling university adult learners in Nigeria.