Dr Isaiah lornenge Shamo & Dr Maria Owan Afu
Abstract
The study adopted quasi-experimental research design using a simple random sampling procedure to draw a sample size of forty (40) jobless youths within Gwagwalada Township in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The instrument adopted for the study was a 10-item Self-Efficacy Scale. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach alpha statistics which produced a reliability index of 0.81. REBT was administered as the treatment on the experimental group for three weeks, whereas the control group received no treatment. Self-efficacy scale was administered twice as pre-test and post-test. t-test statistics was used to analyse the data generated from the experimental and control groups. Findings revealed, among others, that there was significant difference in self efficacy, between the two groups, at post-test. Moreover, there was also a significant gender difference in self-efficacy at post-test. The study recommended, among others, that mental health counsellors should monitor obvious indicators of mental health issues in jobless and other vulnerable youths and take proactive measures to alleviate such. The authors also recommended a paradigm shift from knowledge-based education to skills-centred instruction to address unemployment crisis in the country.