Abstract

ZELAYA GUARDADO, Vilma Odessa  and  LEIVA YANES, Johan Oswaldo. Irrational Beliefs and Depressive Symptomatology in University Psychology Students in Honduras. Psychol. av. discip. [online]. 2023, vol.17, n.1, pp.85-96.  Epub Nov 02, 2023. ISSN 1900-2386.  https://doi.org/10.21500/19002386.6140.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between irrational beliefs and depressive symptoms in university students of Psychology in Honduras. A quantitative approach, a descriptive-correlational scope and a non-experimental correlational cross-sectional design was used. The sample was 257 university students of Psychology from two Honduran universities. For the collection of data, the Irrational Beliefs Test and the Beck-II Depression Inventory were applied. The main irrational beliefs manifested by the students are guilt, high self-expectations, influence of the past and avoidance of problems, and about a third of the students suffer from moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Male students, under 31 years, attending a private university and who are single are those who have the highest irrational beliefs and higher levels of depression, but there is only a statistically significant difference between the age group and depressive symptomatology. In addition, there is a statistically significant relationship between irrational beliefs and four of its dimensions (need for approval, high self-expectations, guilt and influence of the past) with depressive symptoms. It is urgent that university authorities develop programs and institutional services that prevent and promote mental health, to reduce pathological mental processes that can trigger problems such as suicide.

Keywords : emotional disturbance; psychological disturbance; cognitive distortion; depression; university students.

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