Effect of Behavioural Therapy Techniques on Anxiety and Academic Performance of Children with Conduct Problem

Abstract

Conduct problem describes behavioural issues, it occurs when a youngster exhibits rebellious behaviour and may flout accepted norms and values. It is thought that anxiety produces a distracting stimulus that diverts focus away and weakens intellectual capacity, sometimes leads to precede the onset of disruptive behaviours and in turn exacerbate these disruptive behaviour problems. Behavioural therapy is a term that describes a broad range of techniques used to change maladaptive behaviours, it may work well for relieving anxiety which also emphasises academic performance with other problems. The purpose of this study was to see the effect of behavioural therapy on anxiety and academic performance of children with conduct problem. The sample of the study consisted of 30 boys equally divided into experimental (15) and control group (15), age ranging from 11 -14 years, screened with conduct problem through Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ), to measure anxiety adapted hindi version of State-Trait Anxiety for Children (STAIC) was used. The sample participated in behavioural therapy techniques, they are social skill training, parents counselling, collage making, role play, group counselling. Inferential and Parametric test was used as statistical analysis. Data was collected before and after 12 weeks of intervention. As far as specific results are concerned children showed effective impact on anxiety with better behavioural pattern. In case of academic performance also boys showed improvement by the intervention affecting their ability to focus and perform well. Conclusions was drawn that behavioural therapy techniques remediate the underlying issues and to teach children different methods of responding to condition and impetus in appropriate manner.  It taught children strategies for controlling and changing personal-social behaviours, positively affect cognitive functioning, enhancing organizational learning skills, and strategies to overcome anxiety and other barriers to success.