Cognitive Distortions, Depressive Symptoms, and Counselling Outcome Among Adolescent Females in Government Secondary Schools in Bauchi State

Cognitive distortions are established contributors to the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms in adolescent females, and understanding their patterns within the North East Nigerian context is important for designing effective counselling protocols. This study examined the relationships among cognitive distortions, depressive symptoms, and counselling outcome among adolescent females in government secondary schools in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. A two-phase mixed design was used. In Phase 1, 350 female students completed the Cognitive Distortion Scale (CDS) and the Children's Depression Inventory-2 (CDI-2). Phase 2 involved a quasi-experimental intervention in which 60 students with high distortion-depression profiles received eight sessions of cognitive restructuring counselling. Analysis of covariance was applied for Phase 2 outcome analysis. Phase 1 findings revealed significant associations between catastrophising, personalisation, and depressive symptoms. Phase 2 results confirmed that cognitive restructuring counselling significantly reduced both cognitive distortions and depressive symptoms in the intervention group. Cultural beliefs about adversity as divinely decreed were identified as complicating factors in cognitive restructuring work. The study provides novel empirical data on cognitive-emotional profiles of adolescent females in Bauchi State and establishes a contextual evidence base for cognitive-behavioural guidance practice. Keywords: cognitive distortions, depressive symptoms, counselling outcome, adolescent females, Bauchi State.