The Protective Role of Rational Beliefs on the Relationship Between Irrational Beliefs, Emotional States of Stress, Depression and Anxiety

Abstract

The current study focuses on the protective role of rational beliefs in the relationship between irrational beliefs and negative emotional states (stress, depression and anxiety) in a sample of Turkish undergraduate students (N = 440). The findings suggest that irrational beliefs, especially the need for achievement, the need for approval, and the need for comfort, are important predictors of negative emotional states (stress, depression, and anxiety). The findings also provide additional evidence for the protective role of rational beliefs. Findings suggest that rational beliefs have a moderator role in the relationship between irrational beliefs and negative emotional states (stress, depression and anxiety). Contributions and the implications of this study were discussed in detail. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.