Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as a Counselling Strategy for Managing Academic Stress among Adult Learners in Nigeria

Abstract

Adults Learners are matured men and women between the ages 25 -50years and above who are returning back to school to obtain degree(s) due to various reasons such as demand of workplace, promotion in the office, need for career change or need to earn higher salary etc. Many of these adult learners are married, have children, jobs and playing other multiples roles in the society while pursuing their educational goals. Many of these adult learners that cannot cope with academic stress are dropping out of school and will not be able to achieve their educational goals. Numerous factors contribute to their academic stress such as family, work, financial resources, school environment etc. Thus, this paper provides information on how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be used as a counselling strategy for handling academic stress in adult learners in Nigeria. The paper covers review of relevant literature on the theoretical background of concept of adult learners, academic stress, symptoms of academic stress and sources of academic stress. The paper therefore concluded that counsellors through the use of cognitive behaviour therapy should teach adult learners new and healthier ways of thinking which is restructuring of negative cognitions and other strategies which will help the adult learners manage their academic stress effectively.

Keywords: Adult learner, Academic stress, CBT