Irrational Beliefs Research Articles

Impact of exposure to rational career reflective training on work-related ethics among student-philosophers.

Teaching individuals at the early-career stage what and how to respect organizational codes of conduct is a good step in creating a democratic working environment. As a result, it is important to coach students in sustaining organizational well-being by seeking the truth, teaching the truth and upholding the truth. Currently, how these are taught in institutions of higher learning lacks structure. In fact, some graduate students are displaying work-deviant behaviors showing that they have poor perceptions of work-related ethics. Using this reason, we tested the impact of exposure to rational career reflective training on work-related ethics among student-philosophers. This is a pretest, posttest with a follow-up pure experimental design was used. A total of 105 student-philosophers were recruited, assessed 3 times using Ethics and irrational beliefs measures, and coached by therapists. The participants were exposed to 12-session rational career reflective training. The data collected were subjected to a multivariate statistical analysis to test how effective the intervention was in changing negative perceptions about ethics. It was found that rational career reflective training changes negative perceptions about work-related ethics among student-philosophers. The effectiveness of rational career reflective training is not statistically influenced by gender and group interaction. Gender does not moderate the impact of the intervention. This study finally suggests that rational career reflective training effectively changes negative perceptions about ethics among student-philosophers. Thus, recommends the advancement of Ellis principles in other workplaces and across populations.

Having a Positive Attitude or Doing Good Deeds? An Experimental Investigation of Poker Players’ Responses to the Gambling Fallacies Measure

Gambling fallacies are irrational beliefs about how gambling works, which are common among disordered gamblers, and measured by questionnaires such as the Gambling Fallacies Measure (GFM). Less is known about the potentially rational cognitions of some skilled gamblers, such as professional poker players. The present research experimentally manipulated item 5 from the GFM, “A positive attitude or doing good deeds increases your likelihood of winning money when gambling”, by comparing two new versions focusing only on a “positive attitude” or “doing good deeds” to the original version (control). Item 5 is scored so that “disagree” is the non-fallacious correct answer, but it was hypothesized that the words “a positive attitude” might increase rates of poker players selecting “agree” in a non-fallacious manner. Online experiments were conducted on samples of professional poker players (N = 379), and a broad sample of poker players with no inclusion criteria (N = 1,510). Participants’ responses to item 5 were associated with the rest of their GFM scores (GFM-9). Participants in both samples were more likely to disagree with the good deeds version, and less likely to disagree with the positive attitude version, compared to control. In comparison to the other conditions, good deeds responses were most strongly associated with GFM-9 scores among professionals, while positive attitude responses were least strongly associated with GFM-9 scores among the broad sample. The good deeds version of item 5 has advantageous measurement properties among professional poker players. New approaches are needed to better understand the potentially rational cognitions of skilled gamblers.

Irrational Beliefs and Moral Behaviors: Are Irrational Performance Beliefs Predictor of Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors in Athletes?

Irrational Beliefs and Moral Behaviors: Are Irrational Performance Beliefs Predictor of Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors in Athletes?

Mindfulness traits as potential inhibitor of irrational performance beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty amongst elite female basketball players

Dispositional mindfulness promotes adaptive responses to pressure situations and reduce anxiety and emotional distress, which are common manifestations in sport. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mindfulness characteristics in the display of irrational performance beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty amongst a sample of elite female basketball players (N = 67, Mage = 25.73 years, SD = 4.4). An online Qualtrics survey containing demographic items, the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Irrational Performance Beliefs Inventory, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale was used to collect the study data, which were analysed using SPSS. The results from both Pearson correlation coefficient and simple linear regression analyses indicated that higher levels of dispositional mindfulness are significantly related to elite female basketball players having fewer irrational beliefs about their performance and being more tolerant of uncertain situations in their sport. One-way analysis of variance further indicated a significant difference between low, average, and high mindfulness groups, with Tukey's post-hoc analyses confirming that participants with high mindfulness displayed significantly fewer rigid, extreme, self-defeating performance beliefs in sport, and were less prone to impulsive reactions to uncertain circumstances compared to participants with low mindfulness. Sport psychology practitioners are encouraged to consider the integration of mindfulness assessment and training protocols with traditional cognitive behaviour modification approaches to counter female basketball players’ display of distorted beliefs in sport and adverse reactions to ambiguous experiences.

Subjective Well-Being and Its Relationship With Personality Traits, Irrational Beliefs, and Social Support: A Model Test

Background: Considering the change in the life situation during the student period, attention to their health, especially the subjective well-being of students, is of particular importance. Social support is very important in this era and the aim of this study is to examine a model between subjective well-being and personality traits and irrational beliefs with the mediation of social support. Methods: The statistical population included all the students of Hacettepe University in Turkey, and 296 people were selected as a sample using a multi-stage random method. To measure subjective well-being, social support, personality traits and irrational beliefs, Subjective Well-Being Scale (Tuzgöl Dost, 2005a); Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) (Yıldırım, 2004); Adjective-Based Personality Test (Bacanlı, İlhan, & Aslan, 2009) and the Irrational Beliefs Scale Short Form (Türküm, 2003) scales were used, respectively, which were psychologically conducted in Turkey for Turkish samples and had good validity and reliability. Results: The model test through structural equations showed that there is a significant relationship between neuroticism and conscientiousness both directly and indirectly through social support and subjective well-being. In this model, the indirect relationship of agreeableness with subjective well-being through social support was significant, but extroversion, interpersonal communication, and relational self-perception could not show a significant relationship through the mediation of social support on subjective well-being. Conclusion: Neuroticism and conscientiousness are both directly and indirectly related to subjective well-being through social support. The indirect relationship of agreeableness with subjective well-being was confirmed through social support, but extroversion and interpersonal communication and self-view showed a direct relationship with well-being and the mediation of social support was not confirmed in their case.

“Separation, but not Division”: A Southern Italian Perspective on “Lived Conspirituality”

Conspirituality—that is, the connection between conspiracy theories and spirituality—has recently gained popularity in academic and non-academic circles. Often associated with populist and irrational beliefs, it has been linked to right-wing politics, faulty thinking, and disruptive and potentially violent behaviour (Greenwood 2022; Russell 2022). While these connections have been proven to be true in some cases, in this paper, rooted in my long-standing ethnographic research, I offer a contribution that illuminates other aspects of conspirituality—in line with recent attempts to honour the complexity and internal variability of the phenomenon (for example, Greenwood 2022; Ong 2021). In particular, differently from the overwhelming majority of current approaches in the study of conspirituality, I propose to frame the study of conspirituality not only by focusing on ideas and beliefs, but in conversation with the study of “lived religion” (see, for example, Ammerman 2021; Hall 2001; McGuire 2008) in a way that distinguishes the actual experience of persons from normative beliefs and practices. Similarly to what the study of “lived religion” does to the study of religion, I claim that the study of “lived conspirituality” could offer insights into the phenomenon of conspiracism, today (Ong 2020). By analyzing discourses and practices of conspiritualists that I observed on the field, I will challenge mainstream interpretations of the role of the individual and of marginality in New Age conspirituality.

REBT with Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy’s (REBT’s) ABC model proposes that it is B, Beliefs about A, Activating events, not A, Activating events themselves, that create and control C, emotional Consequences. Codified beliefs such as scriptures and creeds are prominent in most religions. Integrating codified religious beliefs with REBT to help D, Dispute irrational beliefs has been studied in REBT for more than 50 years. Broad knowledge of religious cultures, scriptures, creeds, and wisdom literature is likely to help REBTers and other cognitive behavior therapists (CBTers) more effectively treat religious clients. We give a brief overview of the history, culture, doctrine, and scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then give examples of REBT Disputations excerpted from religion integrative sessions with practicing Latter-day Saint clients. We present practice-based evidence for the effectiveness of this approach and offer suggestions for future study and research in integrating religion with REBT and CBT.

THE WISE MAN AND THE SEA: EPICUREANS ON SEA STORMS, SHIPWRECK, AND CHANCE

The idea that the sea is a dangerous and alien element in which one is at the mercy of higher powers, is deeply imbedded in Mediterranean culture, and has many parallels in Greek and Roman literature. From an Epicurean point of view, however, such higher powers belong to the realm of irrational beliefs which could threaten one's ἀταραξία (‘peace of mind’). What counts in Epicureanism is the rational calculus of all factors in order to minimize the influence of τύχη (‘chance’) on one's endeavours. This article explores how the Epicureans thought about the sea and its many dangers. It tries to establish under which circumstances the sage will travel by sea and gives special attention to Diogenes of Oenoanda's letter (fr. 71 + NF 214 + fr. 72 + fr. 70) about the shipwreck of Niceratus and his friends’ failure to minimize the agency of chance.

Political Theology and International Relations: From History to Emancipation

Abstract This article elaborates an account of political theology that is both historical and critical in orientation. Whereas the historical dimension excavates theological antecedents that inform the vocabulary of international relations, the critical dimension illuminates incoherence in accepted ways of thinking and speaking about the subject. The article develops these distinct, though complementary, modes of argument to illustrate what political theology contributes to the study of international relations. Part one situates the historical mode within the broader discourse of political theology, followed in part two by a consideration of the marginal place of political theology in international relations scholarship. Part three re-reads the exception—extraordinary action that contravenes established legal or moral order—to illustrate what is at stake when analogies between divine and human deviate from the theological original. This, in turn, unlocks in part four a critical project that subverts the ubiquitous contrast between irrational (religious) belief and rational (secular) unbelief and the privilege it asserts. Political theology conceived along these lines breaks free of the parochialism of the present by denaturalizing a matrix of international relations knowledge that is anything but natural.

Mapping the Path to Cognitive Balance: Applying the States of Mind Model and Network Analysis to Eating Disorder Patients.

Background: In eating disorders (EDs), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) represents one of the first-line treatment options albeit with sub-optimal results. The assessment of cognitive balance through an index measuring increased adaptive thinking and reduced maladaptive thinking, the desired outcomes, and the ultimate goal of CBT treatments warrants attention. The states of mind model (SOM) provides a framework through which a cognitive balance index can be defined. The current cross-sectional controlled study tested the clinical utility of the SOM model in a sample of ED outpatients. Methods: ED outpatients (n = 199) were assessed at baseline with the attitudes and beliefs scale-2 (ABS-2) for rational beliefs (RBs) and irrational beliefs (IBs), from which a SOM ratio score index (RBs/(RBs + IBs)) was calculated, the eating disorder inventory-3 (EDI-3) for ED symptoms and ED-related psychopathological features, the psychological well-being scales (PWB) for positive psychological functioning. A matched control sample (n = 95) was also assessed with the ABS-2. Results: ED patients exhibited significantly lower SOM and RB scores compared to controls. Network analysis results highlighted the centrality of the SOM-cognitive balance index, PWB-self-acceptance, and EDI-3-general psychological maladjustment, as well as the importance of the influence that cognitive balance and general psychological maladjustment exert on each other. Conclusions: The findings support the clinical utility of the SOM ratio applied to cognitions in EDs. This demonstrates its ability to differentiate such patients from controls and in capturing worse ED-related general psychopathology as well as compromised aspects of psychological well-being, in particular self-acceptance and environmental mastery. It thus might be considered in CBT treatment of EDs a potential cognitive clinimetric and clinical index of ED severity indicating key difficulties in counteracting maladaptive thinking with adaptive thinking.

Procrastination Among Adults: The Role of Self-doubt, Fear of the Negative Evaluation, and Irrational/Rational Beliefs

Procrastination is often associated with negative outcomes such as poor performance and well-being. Theoretical models suggest that individuals with an uncertain self-concept may be more prone to procrastination due to their fear of failing to meet the required standard. To investigate this issue from a cognitive perspective, a cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the relationships among self-doubt, fear of negative evaluation, procrastination, and rational/irrational beliefs. The study involved 344 highly educated adults (65.4% female, M= 37.51 years, SD = 8.53, range 21-63). Participants completed a questionnaire booklet that included several measures, including the Self-doubt Scale, the Procrastination Scale, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Irrational/Rational Beliefs Scale. The findings from the mediation analysis indicate that the influence of self-doubt on procrastination is partially mediated by fear of negative evaluation. Furthermore, the indirect effect of self-doubt on procrastination through the mediation of fear of negative evaluation is contingent upon the level of irrational beliefs. These results suggest that irrational beliefs may exacerbate the detrimental impact of self-doubt on procrastination by amplifying the role of fear of negative evaluation. Furthermore, the strength of the direct effect of self-doubt on procrastination depends on the level of rational belief, indicating that rational belief may serve as a protective variable in the relationship between self-doubt and procrastination. The present findings underline interventions to strengthen individuals' rational beliefs and modify their irrational beliefs, which can play a fundamental role in overcoming procrastination in the adult population.

REBT 합리적·비합리적 신념 척도 문항 개발 연구

The purpose of this study is to explore the components of the rational and irrational belief scale and develop items through theoretical grounds and empirical data on rational and irrational beliefs. For this, domestic and foreign literature and previous studies were reviewed, and counseling experts were interviewed. In the process of content analysis and itemization of the results through literature and interviews, the researcher, one professor majoring in counseling, and one doctoral major in counseling went through several discussions to revise and supplement the items to form items about rational and irrational beliefs. The results of the study are as follows. First, the sub-factors of rational beliefs were 'acceptance', 'endurance for frustration', 'realistic evaluation', and 'absoluteness'. the sub-factors of irrational beliefs were 'justice', 'exaggeration', 'low human value', and 'low tolerance for frustration'. Second, most of the questions extracted through previous research on sub-factors and interviews were divided evenly. This study is meaningful in that it simultaneously reveals the abstract concepts of rational beliefs and irrational beliefs explained in REBT cognitive-emotional-behavioral therapy and items them in a measurable way. By presenting the standards of the belief system, the distorted perception and self-defeating irrational thoughts of the client are minimized in the clinical setting, and the standards for specifying the belief systems that help individuals achieve their goals in life are presented. It has meaning.

한국판 비합리적 수행신념 척도(iPBIK) 타당화 연구

Objectives The purposes of this study were to develop and validate the original British version of the 28 items iPBI as a Korean version (iPBIK) reflecting the Korean language and culture. The irrational Performance Beliefs Inventory (iPBI) is a scale which was developed based on Ellis' modern rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) theory to measure irrational beliefs in performance environments such as achievement and failure. Methods 296 former and current teachers in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do were tested for translated irrational performance beliefs inventory(iPBI), general attitude and belief scale of korean version(GABS-K), and Stress Emotions Scale by online surveys. Based on the collected data, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis for iPBI were conducted in parallel. For statistical analysis, SPSS 29.0 and AMOS 29.0 programs were used. Results As a result of exploratory factor analysis, 28 items of the four-factor structure of the primary irrational belief, the low frustration tolerance, the awfulizing, and the depreciation were identified. In the first confirmatory factor analysis using Structural Equation Modeling(SEM), eight items with low standard regression coefficients were identified. A second confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to select 20 items of iPBIK as the final model. It was confirmed that the model fit was improved by allowing error term variance. Conclusions iPBIK showed high positive correlation with the conventional irrational belief scale, the General Attitude and Belief Scale (GABS-K), and also with the Stress Emotions Scale that measures anxiety, depression, and anger, proving its validity. In addition, internal consistency was also found to be high, and iPBIK was supported as a reliable and reasonable measure. These findings suggest that members' irrational beliefs in performance settings such as work place, military, sports, and schools reflect cognitive vulnerabilities related to emotional stress, and iPBIK can be used as a useful tool to evaluate these irrational beliefs.

Temporal changes in mental response and prevention patterns, and their impact from uncertainty stress during the transition in China from the COVID-19 epidemic to sporadic infection

An epidemic of a highly lethal disease can overwhelm people emotionally and physically. Little is known about how public mental and preventive patterns changed during the transition from the COVID-19 epidemic to sporadic infection. This study examined changing trends of metal response and behavioral variables, and their impact from uncertainty stress in this process in China. A prospective longitudinal observation design was utilized. There were 7 waves of surveys from COVID-19 epidemic status to the sporadic infection period. Sixty-two participants completed all observation points and were included in the study. The Mann–Kendall Test was used to assess changing trends across the seven observation points. The nonparametric linear mixed effects model was used to examine the association between uncertainty stress and mental and behavioral responses.The mean uncertainty stress did not change significantly over the observation period (Z: −0.911, p > 0.05). This trend was also true for perceived risk, perceived severity, self-efficacy for prevention, and prevention behavior. There was a statistically significant downward trend in irrational beliefs about prevention (Z: −4.993, p < 0.01), sleep (Z: −2.499, p < 0.05), emotions (Z: −5.650, p < 0.01), and lifestyle (Z: −5.978, p < 0.01). The results showed that uncertainty stress was positively associated with irrational beliefs (β: 0.16298, p < 0.01), their sleep (β: 0.02070, p < 0.05), emotions (β: 0.03462, p < 0.01), and lifestyle (β: 0.02056, p < 0.05). High levels of uncertainty stress were negatively associated with self-efficacy for prevention and prevention behavior, β was −1.33210 (p < 0.01) and −0.82742 (p < 0.01). These results may have important policy and disease prevention in post-epidemic times.

The effect of a reduction in irrational beliefs on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms in a group treatment for post-9/11 Veterans

ABSTRACT Previous research has indicated that a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)-Informed Group focused on changing irrational beliefs to address comorbid depression and anxiety (as well as anger and guilt) in a combat Veteran population diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) demonstrated significant reductions in depression and PTSD symptoms at posttreatment. However, mechanisms of change associated with improvement have not been evaluated. REBT theory suggests that a decline in irrational beliefs predicts a decrease in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to test this tenet of REBT theory in a naturalistic treatment setting. Participants (N = 86) were post-9/11 combat Veterans, engaged in the REBT-Informed Group between October 2016 and February 2020. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that a reduction in irrational beliefs predicted notable decreases in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms controlling for several covariates. This study extends previous research demonstrating the success of the REBT-Informed Group with combat Veterans and gives support to REBT theory regarding the effect of a decline in irrational beliefs. Future directions include replication of findings with Veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST), pre-9/11 Veterans, those at other military or Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, and civilians to determine generalizability.

Association between proactive personality and professional identity of nursing undergraduates: The mediating role of resilience and irrational belief

AimTo examine the relationship between proactive personality and professional identity of undergraduate nursing students, including the role of psychological resilience and irrational belief as mediators. BackgroundPersonality has been shown to play a crucial role in determining professional identity. However, the influence of proactive personality on professional identity in the nursing field is poorly understood and requires further investigation. DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional study in China. Between July and December of 2021, 860 nursing undergraduates participated in an online questionnaire survey. MethodsFour main variables (proactive personality, psychological resilience, irrational belief and professional identity) and two covariates (willingness to choose nursing profession and family attitude towards nursing) were assessed. The assessment tools chosen are both valid and reliable. To test the proposed multi-mediation model, linear regression analysis by Hayes's SPSS macro-PROCESS was used. ResultsThe results revealed that PP, PR and PI were positively connected with one another, but negatively with IB. PP positively predicted PI through direct and indirect paths, after controlling for two covariates. The percentage of indirect path (78.72%) outweighed the direct path (21.28%). The indirect effect of PR (72.51%) was higher than that of PR and IB (6.21%). PI was also positively predicted by students’ "Yes" willingness and families’ "supportive" attitude towards nursing. ConclusionThis study stated that nursing educators should take nursing students' PP seriously, which would allow for activities to be taken to improve their PR and decrease their IB, hence continuously enhancing their PI. In addition, respecting students' professional aspirations and improving family support may also be valuable ways to boost their PI.

Ego Resilience and College Student Psychological Well-Being After the Apex of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Effect of Irrational and Rational Beliefs

Ego Resilience and College Student Psychological Well-Being After the Apex of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Effect of Irrational and Rational Beliefs

Cognitive vulnerability, anxiety, and physical well-being in relation to 10-year cardiovascular disease risk: The ATTICA epidemiological study.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between irrational beliefs and the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence among apparently healthy adults. The ATTICA study is a population-based, prospective cohort (2002-2012) consisting of 853 participants without evidence of CVD (453 men and 400 women) who underwent psychological evaluations. Participants completed the Irrational Beliefs Inventory (IBI, range 0-88), a self-reported measure consistent with the Ellis model of psychological disturbance. We conducted a factor analysis to develop irrational beliefs factors to evaluate the association between subcategories of irrational beliefs and CVD incidence. Demographic characteristics, detailed medical history, other psychological factors, and dietary and other lifestyle habits were also evaluated. The incidence of CVD was defined according to the International Coding Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria. The identified dominant irrational beliefs factor, "cognitive vulnerability to anxiety," consisted of demandingness, perfectionism, emotional irresponsibility, anxious overconcern, dependence on others, and overconcern for the welfare of others, was strongly associated with an increased 10-year CVD risk. Nested multi-adjusted regression analysis revealed that anxiety, as well as negative physical well-being, mediated this relationship, and subset of irrational beliefs predicted CVD risk directly and indirectly through anxiety and negative physical well-being. These findings further map the path through which irrational beliefs can contribute to CVDs and provide insights in favor of preventive healthcare.

Intervention for burnout and irrational beliefs in parents of couples seeking a divorce: A critical reflection of Igbo-African marital discord

Background: Looking at the sociocultural dimension of marriage in the sub-region of Nigeria like Igbo, parents allow their sons and daughters to marry so that they can have homes. The expectation is for them to have permanent homes. If there is anything contrary to that such as divorce, parents usually frown at it. To some extent, the psychological effects of it may be deeply rooted in parents who hear that their children are seeking a divorce. Given this reason, this study investigated the effect of rational emotive family health therapy (REFHT) on burnout and irrational beliefs in parents of couples seeking a divorce. Methods: This is a pretest-posttest randomized control group research. Two instruments were used to measure 73 participants who were assigned to treatment and control arms. the intervention group received 12 sessions of counseling that aimed to decrease the level of burnout and irrational beliefs. At the end of the sessions and assessments, the data were analyzed using repeated measures, cross-tabulation, and univariate statistics. Results: the finding indicated that REFHT was highly effective in decreasing the high parental burnout orchestrated by irrational belief. Comparing the mean scores of the participants exposed to the intervention and those in the control group after time 1 and 2 assessments, the mean reduction of burnout and irrational beliefs further showed a positive treatment outcome. There was no significant influence of gender, time, and group. Conclusion: This study suggests that REFHT is significant in improving the psycho-emotional wellness of parents of couples seeking a divorce. Thus, additional research is required to validate the impact of REFHT in decreasing burnout in other populations.

Raising the self-esteem and reducing irrational beliefs of schoolchildren: The moderating and main effect study

Background:Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses studies have called for moderators of treatment outcomes and their main effect with regard to disadvantaged populations. In view of that, this study investigated the impacts and moderators of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on the self-esteem and irrational beliefs of Schoolchildren in Ebonyi State Nigeria.Methods:A group randomized controlled design was utilized to assign 55 schoolchildren to the treatment group and 55 schoolchildren to waitlisted control group. Two self-report measures (Self-Esteem Scale and Children Adolescent Scale of Irrationality) were used to assess the participants. There were pretest, posttest, and follow-up tests given at different intervals to ascertain the baseline, main effect, and long-term effects of the treatment. The data collected were analyzed using a 2-way analysis of covariance statistic.Results:The results of the 2-way analysis of covariance demonstrated a difference between participants in the waitlisted control group at the pretest, posttest, and follow-up test and a positive improvement in schoolchildren with illogical beliefs as a result of exposure to REBT intervention. It was discovered that the REBT intervention changed schoolchildren’s self-esteem and irrational views into rational ones. A later test result supported the intervention’s consistent and significant effects in lowering illogical beliefs and raising students’ self-esteem. The results also showed that there is no connection between gender and group membership.Conclusion:This study suggests that REBT is a significant treatment strategy that reduces irrational beliefs and improves the self-esteem of primary school children. Based on these outcomes, further studies should replicate the study in other cultures with such a disadvantaged group.