EFFICACY OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES AMONG DELINQUENT STUDENTS IN BORSTAL TRAINING INSTITUTION BARNA W A, KADUNA

Abstract

Continuous interpersonal conflicts and mistrust among delinquents in custodial settings threaten the rehabilitative mission of Nigeria's Borstal Training Institutions. Grounded in the Cognitive Behavioural Theory (CBT) which posits that interpersonal dysfunction is a manifestation of underlying cognitive distortions and behavioural skill deficits, this study investigated the efficacy

of a structured intervention focusing on relationship-building and conflict-resolution strategies for delinquent students at the Borstal Training Institution, Barnawa, Kaduna. The central research question was: To what extent can a CBT-based intervention, focused on relational and conflict-based schemas, effectively modify the cognitive distortions and behavioural deficits that hinder the rehabilitation of delinquent students in a Borstal setting? Employing a qualitative participatory action research design (PAR), a six-week intervention was designed to function as an applied CBT module. Cognitive restructuring and behavioural skills training was utilized to target maladaptive schemas related to trust, authority, and conflict. Thirty-two male juveniles (14-21 years old) with documented histories of interpersonal behavioural issues and assent to participate in a group-based programme were purposively selected from the juveniles at the institute. Data collection involved sustained participant observation, in-depth focus group discussions, and analysis of participant reflective journals. The findings indicated significant positive shifts in participants' cognitive and behavioural patterns. Key outcomes included a

reduction in hostile attribution bias, enhanced emotional self-regulation, increased use of

assertive communication, and a demonstrated preference for constructive conflict resolution

over aggressive responses. The study concludes that relationship-building and conflict- resolution strategies are most efficacious when explicitly designed to modify the core cognitive and behavioural mechanisms that sustain antisocial conduct. These results advocate for the systematic integration of manualized, CBT-informed psychosocial programmes within Nigeria’s juvenile justice framework.