Date of Award

6-1987

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Gilbert Mazer

Second Advisor

Dr. RichardTrembley

Third Advisor

Dr. Chris Koronakos

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Rational Emotive Education (REE) as a mental health prevention program for adolescents. The subjects included 109 eleventh and twelfth grade students who were enrolled in four introductory psychology courses. A nonequivalent control group design was used with experimental subjects receiving 12 biweekly sessions of REE. Subjects were pre and posttested on three measures of psychosocial adaptation: the Rational Behavior Inventory (RBI), the Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI), and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). The effects of REE upon behavior were also examined by comparing academic effort grades, number of detentions and grade point averages. Overall results showed significant positive changes in use of more adaptive defense mechanisms and in academic effort grades in the predicted direction. No significant changes occurred on the other measures. As a distinctive group, however, 17-year-olds demonstrated a significant reduction in neuroticism scores and a significant increase in academic effort grades. Follow-up results were also reported. Cognitive developmental issues were identified and discussed as playing an important role in the findings. Results suggest that REE may be an effective mental health prevention program especially for 17-year old adolescents. Implications and suggestions for further research were discussed.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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