The effect of cognitive distortion on self-criticism mediated by personality traits in the students of Islamic Azad University of Tehran

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive distortion on self-criticism mediated by personality traits in students of Islamic Azad University of Tehran. The method of this research is correlation and its statistical population is the students of Islamic Azad University of Tehran in 1399. The research sample was 350 people who were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Data collection tools were self-critical questionnaires, cognitive distortion and personality traits. The method of data analysis is structural equation modeling. The results showed that the model has an acceptable fit with the data. The results also showed that personality traits and cognitive distortion significantly predict self-criticism. Cognitive distortion has a significant direct effect on self-critical prediction. The indirect effect of cognitive distortion on self-criticism is mediated by positive and significant personality traits. Also, the subscales of extroversion, agreement, openness and conscientiousness have a significant negative effect on self-criticism and neuroticism has a significant positive effect on self-criticism. According to the results obtained in this study, it can be used to reduce self-criticism by reducing cognitive distortions.