Irrational beliefs as predictors of anxiety and depression in a college population

This study investigated the predictive discriminant validity of the five irrational beliefs scales of the Survey of Personal Beliefs (SPB) in assessing depression and anxiety in a college population. The results indicated that one scale (Low Frustration Tolerance) was a unique predictor of both depression and anxiety symptoms. In addition, two scales (Other-Directed Shoulds and Self-Worth) were found to have unique predictive associations with anxiety symptoms. However, the relationship between one of these scales (Other-Directed Shoulds) and anxiety was in the opposite direction to expectations as predicted by RET theory. Implications for theory and the external validity of these findings were discussed.