MANAGEMENT OF NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE USING RATIONAL EMOTIVE AND BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY AND ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING

Objective: dissatisfaction with real or imagine defect in physical appearance could lead to manifestation of negative self-image. this study thus presented an eight session account of management strategies for negative self-image. method: the following psychological test instruments were administered to 200 participants - negative self-image inventory (nsii); fear of negative evaluation (fne); index of self esteem (ise); illness behaviour questionnaire (ibq); physical self-efficacy scale (pse); social maladjustment scale (sms) and adjective checklist (acl). those that manifested high negative self-image (30 participants), were assigned randomly into three groups of: 1st treatment, 2nd treatment (placebo) and control groups of 10 participants each, comprising 5 males and 5 females. participants were managed with cognitive emotive and behavioural therapy and assertivess training method. collectively, the treatment sessions lasted 8 weeks. therapy was in group therapy format, which gave room for guidance, insight, acceptance, ventilation of feelings, instillation of hope, selfdisclosure, and interaction. result: the 1st treatment group recorded significant reduction in negative self-image and its correlates - fear of negative evaluation and social maladjustment than 2nd treatment and control groups. conclusion: rational emotive and behavioural therapy (rebt) and assertiveness training were found to be efficacious in the management of negative self-image