Cinematherapy and parental psychosocial wellbeing and disposition towards children with behaviour-learning deficit in the Ibadan metropolis

Cinematherapy is a therapeutic method involving films watching for emotional exploration in both family counselling and psychotherapy. This study examined the worth of cinematherapy on the psychosocial wellbeing and disposition of Nigerian parents of children with behaviour-learning deficits (PCwBD) in Ibadan. The research specifically investigated the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and religiosity on the acceptance and impact of cinematherapy. While cinematherapy has shown promise in addressing emotional distress and fostering personal growth, its application in non-Western contexts, particularly in Nigeria, remains understudied. This study employed a pretest-posttest design, with a sample of parents in Ibadan participating in cinematherapy sessions featuring Nollywood films. The control group received no intervention. Results indicated that cinematherapy positively impacted the psychosocial wellbeing and disposition of PCwBD parents (F = 5.409, p = 0.045). However, no significant interaction was found between cinematherapy, SES, and religiosity on parental wellbeing. Notably, SES and religiosity significantly influenced parental attitudes towards their children. These findings suggest that cinematherapy when adapted to cultural sensitivity, can be a valuable tool for supporting Nigerian parents of children with behavior-learning deficits. Further research is necessary to explore the use of culturally appropriate films in therapy and to investigate the interplay of SES and religiosity on therapeutic outcomes in non-Western settings.