Effect of two therapies on managing conduct disorder among adolescents with intellectual disability in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Conduct disorder is one of the common social disorder which can result in adolescents with intellectual disability exhibiting behaviour that is both immature and inappropriate and will increase aggression towards others if not effectively managed. The present study was  conducted to investigate the effect of music therapy and recreational activities on managing conduct disorder among adolescents with intellectual disability. The study sample were selected from three special schools for adolescents with intellectual disability in Ibadan, Oyo  State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of thirty (30) adolescents with intellectual disability from the schools while they were randomly assigned to three groups (music therapy, recreational activities and control groups). Eighteen sessions of music therapy and recreational activities were performed for the two experimental group each lasting 45 minutes whereas no sessions were applied for anyone in the control group. Modified Aggressive Behaviour Scale (MABS) was used was used before and after  intervention to collect data on conduct disorder among adolescents with intellectual disability. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used for data analysis. Findings revealed that there was significant main effect of treatment on managing conduct disorder. The main effect of gender on conduct disorder was not significant and the interaction effect of treatment and gender did not significantly reduce conduct disorder among the adolescents. Music therapy and recreational activities reduce conduct disorder among adolescents with intellectual disability and can be used as a nonpharmacological intervention to reduce emotional states in this group.