Exploring the Effects of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on the Irrational Beliefs and Self-Determined Motivation of Triathletes

Abstract

The present study addresses proposals that Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) can influence self-determined motivation. Triathletes received REBT education, followed by either Rational Emotive Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (REPDMS), or PDMS. Measurements of irrational beliefs and self-determined motivation were collected prior to REBT (baseline), during the REBT education period, and after the REPDMS session (post-intervention). An ABC single-case design was adopted, allowing for statistical and visual analysis of data over time and between groups. Findings indicate that REBT led to decreased irrational beliefs and increased self-determined motivation. REPDMS appeared to have no influence on irrational beliefs over and above REBT education.

The use of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) to increase the self-determined motivation and psychological well-being of triathletes.

“…Continuing to self-manage REBT could specifically benefit triathletes, due to demanding training loads typical of endurance sports, such as triathlon (Nixdorf, Frank, & Beckmann, 2016). All participants were selected prior to the study due to their high irrational beliefs and low self-determined motivation scores, therefore overall the data suggest that REBT triggered decreases in irrational beliefs and increases in self-determined motivation in the hypothesised direction and in line with past research (Turner & Davis, 2018). Due to the demanding nature and commitment of triathlon training, (Bales et al, 2012), fostering self-determined motivation might contribute to triathletes continuing in the sport due to more effective coping strategies (see Weiss & Ambrose, 2008, for a review).…”

REBT with context of basic psychological needs: RESD-A Scale

“…However, up until now research has not tested the integration of REBT with the motivational framework of SDT. Past research has indicated that irrational beliefs may be related to the motivation regulation types within SDT, chiefly introjected regulation (Turner, 2016;Turner and Davis, 2018), but the current study is the first to test an integrated model of irrational beliefs and BPNs. For a more detailed discussion about the integration of REBT and SDT, see Turner (2019).…”

“…The combination of SDT and REBT is grounded in conceptual similarities (Turner, 2016) and past research (e.g. Turner and Davis, 2018). SDT distinguishes between intrinsically motivated self-determined actions and extrinsically motivated controlled actions, positing that the fulfilment of three basic needsautonomy, competence and relatednessis necessary for true motivation, psychological development, authenticity, strength, self-congruence and prosperity (Ryan and Deci, 2001).…”

“…The notion that intrinsically, rather than extrinsically, regulated motivation is more beneficial for wellbeing is echoed in what Ellis writes here. Indeed, recent research (Davis and Turner, 2019;Turner and Davis, 2018) has demonstrated that REBT can be successfully used to promote greater self-determined motivation, intimating a positive relationship between irrational beliefs and less self-determined (more controlling) motivation.…”

The effects of REBT on irrational beliefs, self-determined motivation, and self-efficacy in American Football

“…Hence, if irrational beliefs represent a less self-determined, more controlled, types of motivation (introjected regulation), REBT should have the potential to improve self-determined motivation, as it focuses on disputing and restructuring irrational beliefs. Indeed, Turner and Davis (2018) found that self-determined motivation was increased in triathletes after an REBT education intervention and have subsequently repeated this finding using one-to-one REBT in a multi-participant idiographic case-study design (Davis & Turner, 2019). The potential dual benefits of REBT for reducing irrational beliefs and increasing self-determined motivation is important because behavioral actions that are controlled by external motives and can lead to dysfunctional behavior, such as wanting to, or actually, avoiding or escaping the current situation (Dryden & Branch, 2008;Ryan & Deci, 2002).…”