Family health therapy for treating anxiety symptoms in flood victims.

Background: Flood cases in so many parts of Nigeria, especially in Anambra state and the accruing psychological and health related problems, affecting members of families and society necessitated this study. In view to assist and help affected individuals who specialized in farming therapeutically, this study investigated the effect of rational emotive family health therapy (REFHT) on flood-induced anxiety disorders among farmers in Anambra state Nigeria. This study was guided with 3 null hypotheses.

Methods: This is a group randomized control study, conducted in Anambra state Nigeria. The sample size was 120 registered cassava farmers in Anambra State Nigeria. A measure of anxiety disorders was used to assess the baseline data of the condition before the treatment, immediately after treatment, and after 3 weeks. The treatment was a self-developed REFHT manual that lasted for 12 sessions, 60 minutes per session with aim of reducing anxiety disorders among farmers who are victims of flood. The manual was delivered by counseling psychologists with orientation in rational emotive behavior and family therapies. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, chi-square, and percentage) and inferential (Partial Eta Squared, and Analysis of Covariance) statistical tools.

Results: The result revealed no significant gender difference was observed among the study participants' socioeconomic, working status, and loan status. REFHT was significantly effective in reducing flood-induced anxiety disorders among farmers. There was no significant moderating effect of gender on flood-induced anxiety disorders among farmers. There was no significant interaction effect of gender and REFHT treatment on anxiety disorders among farmers.

Conclusion: REFHT was significantly effective in reducing flood-induced anxiety disorders among farmers. Based on the findings, this study recommended among others that rational-emotive therapists and family health professionals should liaise with community leaders to provide career counseling services to farmers and establishment of community-based rational emotive institute for each state in Nigeria.