Efficacy of rational emotive education

Abstract

Introduction. Irrational beliefs are unrealistic reasoning processes by which external events are interpreted and through which emotional distress is mediated. Self-esteem is known as the evaluative dimension of the self that includes the feelings of worthiness, pride and encouragement. Rational emotive education (REE) is a preventive-intervention mental health program through which children and adolescents can learn positive mental health concept. The present research has focused on decreasing irrational beliefs and improving self-esteem with help of intervention of REE, and also finding relation of irrational beliefs with self-esteem. Method. Shortened General Attitude and Belief Scale (SGABS; Lindner, Kirkby, Wertheim, & Birch, 1999) and Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI; Coopersmith, 2002) were used for administration purpose. Initially 300 participants were taken and 100 participants were screen out who were high on irrational beliefs and low on self-esteem, and futher intervention was applied on them. Results. Repeated measure ANOVA and correlation was computed. Results have shown significant negative correlation of irrational beliefs with self-esteem. ANOVA results also shown positive effect of REE on boosting self-esteem and brought decline in irrational beliefs. The findings of the present research have significant implications in the area of counseling of adolescent students.