Efficacy of Reality Therapy and Cognitive Coping Behaviour Training in Handling Adjustment Problems of Empty- Nester Retirees

The study investigated the effect of Reality Therapy and Cognitive Coping Behaviour Training and their combination in handling psychological adjustment problems of the empty nesters after retirement. The study adopted the pre-test, posttest, control group, quasi experimental design using a 4x2 factorial matrix. The subjects for the study consisted of 48 retired empty nesters from Owerri. The subjects were randomly assigned into three treatment and one control groups. Findings revealed that the three therapeutic measures proved effective in bringing psychological adjustment to the treated subjects. It was further discovered that adjustment to empty nest syndrome was more difficult for the widowed, separated, divorced and unmarried than those in the intact marriage group. Some recommendations were made based on the findings of the study. Keywords: Empty-Nester, retirees, adjustment, problems, reality therapy, cognitive coping behaviourNigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 13 (1) 2008: pp. 190-20