Abstract
BACKGROUND: When under stress, the body secretes a large amount of hormones. These hormones cause the heart to beat more quickly and the blood vessels to constrict, leading to a temporary increase in blood pressure. The release of stress hormones and an accelerated heartbeat are 2 ways that improper stress reactions can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of a heart attack. Keeping this in mind, the current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) approach in reducing stress among Education Scientists with high blood pressure in higher institutions of learning in southeastern Nigeria. METHODS: The study utilized a simple randomized controlled trial design, which included a pretest, posttest, and follow-up test. The study population consisted of 78 participants who were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control group, with 39 participants in each group. The treatment involved following a modified REBT manual. RESULTS: The findings of the study indicated that REBT was successful in reducing the stress levels of academic staff who underwent the treatment. This effect was sustained during the follow-up test. CONCLUSION: Stress was found to be a result of irrational thoughts and erroneous beliefs. However, through the implementation of REBT principles and strategies, individuals were able to address their negative thought patterns, which were characterized by inflexibility, rigidity, and extremism. Further research is needed to confirm the impact of REBT on reducing depression, anxiety, and mental exhaustion in populations from institutions outside the southeastern region of Nigeria.