The structural pattern of irrational beliefs based on personality traits and self-esteem in students: the mediating role of critical thinking

"Critical thinking" is a process used to interpret and evaluate information and experiences. But the main question is, can critical thinking mediate between irrational beliefs and personality traits and self-esteem?

To provide a model for predicting irrational beliefs based on personality traits and self-esteem in students with the role of mediating critical thinking.

The present study was a descriptive study of correlation and structural equations and the Statistical population of 20984 thousand male and female students of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran in the first semester of the 1397-98 academic year. The sample size was estimated to be 375 people who were randomly selected from multi-stage classes to the questionnaires of irrational beliefs Khorsandpour, Rezakhani and Sharifi (1399), personality traits of Neo McCurry and Costa (2004), self-esteem Rosenberg (1965) and Ritex (2003). They replied. The results were analyzed by correlation coefficients and path analysis using SPSS and AMOS software.

The results showed that among personality traits, neuroticism in a positive way and openness to experience and conscientiousness in a negative way can predict irrational beliefs. Self-esteem and critical thinking also negatively predict irrational beliefs. Findings suggest that critical thinking can negatively correlate the relationship between openness to experience and conscientiousness with irrational beliefs; and positively mediate the relationship between neuroticism and irrational beliefs. Critical thinking can also negatively mediate the relationship between self-esteem and irrational beliefs. Overall, the results showed that personality traits, self-esteem and critical thinking can explain 36% of the variance of irrational beliefs (P< 0/05).

Critical thinking can play a mediating role between irrational beliefs with personality traits and self-esteem in students. Among the achievements of this study can be encouraging therapists to create solutions to change the cognition, thoughts, actions, emotions and personality dimensions of students as a young and educated segment of society.