The relationships between irrational beliefs and trait anxiety in adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between irrational beliefs and trait anxiety in regard to gender of students in early adolescence and also, to determined how irrational beliefs predict trait anxiety. The subjects were 236 students in 7th grade who were recruited from junior high school. To collect the data, The Irrational Beliefs Scale for Adolescents (IBSA) and Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) was administered. Data were analyzed by using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. In this research, significant positive correlations were found between trait anxiety and IBSA total scores and subscales (demand for success, demand for comfort, and demand for respect) for total sample. For girls, significant correlation was not found between trait anxiety and demand for success, and demand for respect. For boys, significant correlation was not observed between trait anxiety and demand for respect. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that demand for comfort was significant predictor of trait anxiety for total sample and girls and boys.