Integrating REBT and ACT: An intervention study for managing academic self- handicapping among young adults

ABSTRACT

Academic self-handicapping (ASH) has been linked to a number of negative academic outcomes. Thus, it becomes essential to develop and test the efficacy of suitable interventions for the same. The present study aims to explore the effectiveness of integrating Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to manage ASH among young adults. A before-after with control experimental research design was adopted. The Academic Self-Handicapping Scale was employed. The sample comprised 53 undergraduate female students (M_age = 18.5, SD = 0.88) selected through purposive sampling. Participants who scored at or above the 50th percentile (n = 25) were randomly assigned to the experimental (n₁ = 13) or control group (n₂ = 12). The experimental group was exposed to an 8-hour online intervention. Tests were re-administered at the end of the intervention. Student’s t-test and one-way multiple analysis of co-variance (MANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results revealed a significant reduction in overall ASH scores as well as the sub-scale scores within the experimental group as well as in comparison to the control group. The effect size was greater for Claimed self-handicapping. The findings have implications in adopting an eclectic approach to manage academic difficulties.

KEYWORDS:

• ASH
• REBT
• ACT
• integrating REBT and ACT
• young adults

Acknowledgments

The researchers wish to acknowledge all the participants of the study for their co-operation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Zenodo data repository and can access at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6466849

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded under the Junior research fellowship scheme of the University Grants Comission

Notes on contributors

Nandini Jagadeesan

Nandini Jagadeesan (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5030-0197) is currently pursuing her Doctoral studies at the Department of Psychology, Women’s Christian College, India. She is trained in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy from Albert Ellis Institute, New York. She has received several best research paper recognitions in national and international conferences. Her research interest focuses on the use of behaviour therapy for dealing with emotion regulation among adolescents and young adults.

M. Kanchana

Dr. M. Kanchana, is an Associate professor of Psychology and Heads the Department of Psychology at Women’s Christian College, India. She has published several papers in national and international journals. Her research interests are in school psychology (with special focus on study skills), educational psychology and gender attitude among adolescents