The Mean Score Difference in the Reduction of Aggressive Behaviours between Students Exposed to Multi-Modal Management Therapy and the Self-Control Techniques

Abstract

This study evaluated the mean score difference in the reduction of aggressive behaviours between students exposed to multi-modal management therapy and the self-control techniques behaviour among in-school adolescents in Abia State. Two null hypotheses was formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design employing the pretest, posttest, non-randomized control group design with a 4x2x2x2 factorial matrix. The sample of the study consisted of 120 in-school adolescents who were purposefully selected from 1,327 (Male 616 and Female 711) with aggressive behaviours in the state were used for the study. These comprised 40 students each for multi-modal management theory, self-control techniques, and multi-modal management theory with self-control and control techniques groups respectively. The study equally adopted multi-stage sampling techniques. The instrument used for data collection were a 30-item questionnaire titled “Aggression Behaviour Questionnaire” and another 30-item Personality types A/B questionnaire”. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that: Intervention using multi-modal management therapy (MMT), Self-control techniques and the combination of multi-modal management therapy and self-control techniques respectively reduced aggressive behaviours of in-school adolescents at posttest; ; the treatment using multi-modal management therapy had greater effect than single treatment using self-control techniques; the treatment using multi-modal management therapy and self-control techniques had greater effect on the Type B in-school adolescents than the Type A in-school adolescents; male and female in-school adolescents with aggressive behaviour exposed to multi-modal management therapy and self-control techniques did not differ significantly in the reduction of their aggressive behavior. Based on the findings, the study recommends that School counsellors should use multi-modal management therapy (MMT), Self-control techniques and the combination of multi-modal management therapy and self-control techniques in modifying aggressive behaviours of students that referred to them. Government should organize and sponsor workshop, seminars and conferences to educate the teachers, school guidance counsellors and the parents of the students on the effectiveness of multi-modal management therapy (MMT).