A Meta-Analytical Approach of the Relationships Between the Irrationality of Beliefs and the Functionality of Automatic Thoughts

Although irrational beliefs (IBs) and automatic thoughts (ATs) have been proposed as mechanisms that contribute to psychopathology in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model, surprisingly, no previous study systematically evaluated the magnitude and direction of the relationship between the two central constructs. Therefore, the present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate this association, considering its theoretical and clinical importance. We conducted a systematic search of the literature and included 34 experimental and correlational studies suited for the purpose of this meta-analysis, comprising 5086 participants. Results indicated a significant ( p