Impact of problem-solving skills and attributional retraining intervention on conduct disorder among junior male students at public secondary school in Nigeria: a non-randomized control study
The Journal of Forensic Practice
ISSN: 2050-8794
Article publication date: 11 August 2023
Issue publication date: 13 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report a non-randomized control study undertaken to investigate prevalence and correlates of conduct disorder among male secondary education students in South-West Nigeria and to assess the impact of a problem-solving skills and attributional retraining (PSSAR) intervention with this population.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 787 male students from two schools were screened for conduct disorder. All participants who met criteria for the disorder were allocated to either treatment (n = 55) or control (n = 47) groups. Outcome measures comprised the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ; teacher and student versions) and the teacher rating of students’ aggressive behaviors.
Findings
Of the sample, 13% were found to present with difficulties that met criteria for conduct disorder. The presence of these difficulties correlated with several demographic variables, including parental conflict and alcohol use. A statistically significant reduction in mean scores was observed for the treatment group in the student rating of the SDQ emotional subscale and total difficulties scores. Teacher ratings were less consistent in that conduct problems, prosocial behavior and total difficulties increased following the intervention, whereas peer problems and aggressive behavior were reported by teachers to reduce. No statistically significant change was found in the outcome measures for the control group.
Practical implications
In resource-constrained settings, school-based interventions are an important means through which treatment gaps in child and adolescent mental health can be addressed.
Originality/value
In resource-constrained settings, school-based interventions are an important means through which treatment gaps in child and adolescent mental health can be addressed. This study’s findings offer some preliminary support for the PSSAR intervention for conduct disorder in this context and indicate areas for further research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Disclosure statement. No conflicts of interest are reported. There were also no financial interests or benefits arising from this research study. Similarly, the research study received no funding.
Since acceptance of this article, the following author has updated their affiliation: Jibril Abdulmalik is at the Department of Clinical Services, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria and Department of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Citation
Awhangansi, S., Lewis, M., Karim, K., Abdulmalik, J., Archard, P., Okewole, A. and O'Reilly, M. (2023), "Impact of problem-solving skills and attributional retraining intervention on conduct disorder among junior male students at public secondary school in Nigeria: a non-randomized control study", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 321-337. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-02-2023-0002
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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