Abstract
The study examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in reducing social media addiction among undergraduate students of Sokoto State University, Nigeria. Guided by two research questions, objectives, and hypotheses, it adopted a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control groups. From a population of 1,271 UG III students across three faculties—Education, Arts, and Social and Management Sciences—50 students with the highest addiction scores were purposively selected and assigned to experimental and control groups for eight weeks of counselling intervention. Two instruments were used: the Social Media Addiction Scale–Students Form (SMAS-SF, reliability = 0.89) for baseline assessment and the adapted Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (SMAQ, reliability = 0.88) for pre- and post-testing. Data were analyzed using t-test and ANCOVA via SPSS version 27. Results showed that CBT significantly reduced social media addiction (mean difference = 1.71; t(24) = 12.76; p < .000), with no significant gender difference (F(1,22) = 3.659; p = .069; η² = .143). The study concluded that CBT is effective in reducing social media addiction and recommended its adoption for undergraduate counselling interventions.
2025-12-31
Vol. 2 Issue No. 1 December 2025
Articles
Cognitive, behaviour therapy, social media, addiction, student
Vol. 2 Issue No. 1 December 2025
/ ArticleEFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY IN REDUCING SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF SOKOTO STATE UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO, NIGERIA
MUHAMMAD, Sirajo
Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Federal College of Education, Gidan Madi Sokoto
sirajomuhammad@fcegm.edu.ng
Prof. ABUBAKAR, H. S
Department of Educational Foundations, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
Prof. TAMBAWAL, M. U
Department of Educational Foundations, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
Prof. MATAZU, S. S
Department of Science and Vocational Education, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto