Abstract
Academic success has been studied about self-efficacy and cognitive abilities but one phenomenon that has received less attention is academic grit. Recent evidence suggests that reductions in irrational beliefs brought about by REBT can facilitate increased academic success. This paper reports the findings of a study that used an A–B–A single-case research design to investigate the effect of rational emotive behavior therapy on academic grit. Participants consisted of three students (N = 3) in vocational high schools who experienced a low level of grit. Rational emotive behavior therapy intervention to increase academic grit was provided in 6 sessions. Treatment focused on developing consistency of passion and perseverance using disputing irrational beliefs, tape-recorded examination of beliefs, rational-emotive imagery, time projection, self-monitoring, and behavior reinforcement. Participants completed the Student Grit Inventory. Data were collected before, during, and after the REBT intervention. The results showed an increase in the level of grit during and after the intervention. Thus, rational emotive behavior therapy could be an intervention to increase academic grit.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acar, N. V., & Şahin, E. S. (2019). Rational emotive behavior therapy from a new perspective. Journal of Human Sciences, 16(4), 894–906. https://doi.org/10.14687/jhs.v16i4.5821
Balkis, M., & Duru, E. (2019). Procrastination and rational/irrational beliefs: A moderated mediation model. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 37(3), 299–315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-019-00314-6
Banks, T., & Zionts, P. (2009). REBT used with children and adolescents who have emotional and behavioral disorders in educational settings: A review of the literature. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 27(1), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-008-0081-x
Barker, J. B., Mellalieu, S. D., McCarthy, P. J., Jones, M. V., & Moran, A. (2013). A review of singlecase research in sport psychology 1997–2012: Research trends and future directions. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 25(1), 4–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2012.709579
Baruch-Feldman, C. (2017). The grit guide for teens: A workbook to help you build perseverance, self-control, and a growth mindset. New Harbinger Publications.
Bernard, M. E., & Terjesen, M. D. (2020). Rational emotive behavioral approaches to childhood disorders: Theory, practice and research. In Rational Emotive Behavioral Approaches to Childhood Disorders: Theory, Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53901-6
Blankstein, K. R., & Winkworth, G. R. (2004). Dimensions of perfectionism and levels of attributions for grades: Relations with dysphoria and academic performance. Journal of Rational-emotive and Cognitive-behavior Therapy, 22(4), 267–295. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JORE.0000047312.20212.30
Calo, M., Peiris, C., Chipchase, L., Blackstock, F., & Judd, B. (2019). Grit, resilience and mindset in health students. Clinical Teacher, 16(4), 317–322. https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.13056
Cooper, J., Heron, T., & Heward, W. (2007). Applied Behaviour Analysis. Pearson Education.
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Practice Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th ed.). Brooks/Cole.
David, D., Cotet, C., Matu, S., Mogoase, C., & Stefan, S. (2017). 50 years of rational-emotive and cognitive-behavioral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22514
David, D., Lynn, S. J., & Ellis, A. (Eds.). (2010). Rational and irrational beliefs: Research, theory, and clinical practice. Oxford University Press.
David, D., Lynn, S., Ellis, A., Szentagotai, A., & Jones, J. (2009). The behavioral consequences of irrational beliefs. In Rational and Irrational Beliefs. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195182231.003.0005
David, D., Szentagotai, A., Eva, K., & Macavei, B. (2005). A synopsis of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT); fundamental and applied research. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 23(3), 175–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0011-0
Davies, M. F. (2008). Irrational beliefs and unconditional self-acceptance. III. The relative importance of different types of irrational belief. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 26(2), 102–118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-007-0061-6
Dryden, W. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy: Thirty years on. Journal of Rational- Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 12(2), 83–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354606
Dryden, W. (2013). On rational beliefs in rational emotive behavior therapy: A theoretical perspective. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 31(1), 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-012-0158-4
Dryden, W. (2014). Rational emotive behaviour therapy: Distinctive features. Routledge.
Dryden, W., & Neenan, M. (2004). The rational emotive behavioural approach to therapeutic change. Sage.
Duckworth, A. L. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Simon & Schuster.
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1011. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087
Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009). Development and validation of the short grit scale (grit-S). Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(2), 166–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890802634290
Dweck, C. (2015). Carol dweck revisits the growth mindset. Education Week, 35(5), 20–24.
Egan, P. J., Canale, J. R., Rosario, P. M., & White, R. M. (2007). The academic rational beliefs scale: Development, validation, and implications for college counselors. Journal of College Counseling, 10(2), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1882.2007.tb00017.x
Ellis, A., & Dryden, W. (2007). The practice of rational emotive behavior therapy. New York: Springer.
Ellis, A., Gordon, J., Neenan, M., & Palmer, S. (2001). Stress counselling: A rational emotive behaviour approach. Sage Publisher.
Engels, G. I., Garnefski, N., & Diekstra, R. F. W. (1993). Efficacy of rational-emotive therapy: A quantitative analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(6), 1083–1090. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.61.6.1083
Froggatt, W. (2005). A Brief Introduction to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (3rd Ed.) New Zealand, Stortford Lodge: Hastings. Retrieved March 16, 2015 from http://www.rational.org.nz/prof-docs/Intro-REBT.pdf.
Ghorbani, E., Zahrakar, K., & Mohsenzadeh, F. (2020). The effectiveness of rational emotive behavior therapy-based education in students’ academic burnout and buoyancy. Psychology and Education, 57(2), 95–100.
Gullota, T. P., & Adams, G. R. (2005). Handbook of Adolescent Behavioral Problems. Springer Science.
Haghbin, M., McCaffrey, A., & Pychyl, T. A. (2012). The complexity of the relation between fear of failure and procrastination. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 30(4), 249–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-012-0153-9
Harrington, M., & Velicer, W. F. (2015). Comparing visual and statistical analysis in single-case studies using published studies. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 50(2), 162–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/00273171.2014.973989
Harrington, N. (2005). Dimensions of frustration intolerance and their relationship to self- control problems. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 23(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0001-2
Harrington, N. (2005). It’s too difficult! Frustration intolerance beliefs and procrastination. Personality and Individual Differences, 39(5), 873–883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.12.018
Hickey, M., & Doyle. K.A, (2018). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. In A. Vernon & K. A Doyle in Cognitive Behavior Therapies a Guidebook For Practitioners (pp. 109-142). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association
Horner, R. H., Carr, E. G., Halle, J., Mcgee, G., Odom, S., & Wolery, M. (2005). The use of single-subject research to identify evidence-based practice in special education. Exceptional Children, 71(2), 165–179. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290507100203
Hutami, N. R., Sugara, G. S., Arumsari, C., & Adiputra, S. (2020). Hardiness training model to reduce burn out in college student. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 9(3), 3469–3474.
Jacobson, N. S., & Truax, P. (1991). Clinical significance: A statistical approach to defining meaningful change in psychotherapy research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(1), 12–19.
Jibeen, T. (2013). Frustration intolerance beliefs as predictors of emotional problems in university undergraduates. Journal of Rational - Emotive and Cognitive - Behavior Therapy, 31(1), 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-012-0154-8
Kalia, V., Thomas, R., Osowski, K., & Drew, A. (2018). Staying alert? neural correlates of the association between grit and attention networks. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01377
Katsikis, D., & Kostogiannis, C. (2020). REBT Coaching for Young People to Achieve Goals and Develop in Life. In Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches to Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Theory, Practice, Research, Applications. (pp. 453-473). Springer Publisher.
Kazdin, A. E. (2021). Single- case experimental designs: Characteristics, changes, and challenges. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 115(1), 56–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.638
Kementerian Kesehatan RI Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan. (2018). Hasil Utama Riset Kesehatan Dasar. Kementrian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia, 1–100. Retrieved from http://www.depkes.go.id/resources/download/info- terkini/hasil-riskesdas-2018.pdf
Kennedy, C. H. (2005). Single-Case Designs For Educational Research. Pearson Education.
Lam, K. K. L., & Zhou, M. (2019). Examining the relationship between grit and academic achievement within K- 12 and higher education: A systematic review. Psychology in the Schools, 56(10), 1654–1686. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22302
Lee, W. W. S. (2017). Relationships among grit, academic performance, perceived academic failure, and stress in associate degree students. Journal of adolescence, 60, 148–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.08.006
Lenz, A. S. (2015). Using single-case research designs to demonstrate evidence for counseling practices. Journal of Counseling and Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12036
Lundervold, D. A., & Belwood, M. F. (2000). The best kept secret in counseling: Single-case (N= 1) experimental designs. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78(1), 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2000.tb02565.x
Lyons, L. C., & Woods, P. J. (1991). The efficacy of rational-emotive therapy: A quantitative review of the outcome research. Clinical Psychology Review, 11(4), 357–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7358(91)90113-9
Madihie, A., & Noah, S. M. (2013). An application of the sidek module development in REBT counseling intervention module design for orphans. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 84, 1481–1491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.777
Montas, M., Rao, S. R., Atassi, H. . Al., Shapiro, M. C., Dean, J., & Salama, A. R. (2021). Relationship of grit and resilience to dental students’ academic success. Journal of Dental Education, 85(2), 176–186. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.12414
Park, D., Tsukayama, E., Yu, A., & Duckworth, A. L. (2020). The development of grit and growth mindset during adolescence. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 198, 104889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2020.104889
Parker, R. I., & Vannest, K. (2009). An improved effect size for single-case research: Non- overlap of all pairs. Behavior Therapy, 40(4), 357–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2008.10.006
Peltzer, K., & Pengpid, S. (2018). High prevalence of depressive symptoms in a national sample of adults in Indonesia: childhood adversity, sociodemographic factors and health risk behaviour. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 52–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2018.03.017
Ray, D. C. (2015). Single-case research design and analysis: Counseling applications. Journal of Counseling and Development, 93(4), 394–402. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12037
Rodman, S. A., Daughters, S. B., & Lejuez, C. W. (2009). Distress tolerance and rational- emotive behavior therapy: A new role for behavioral analogue tasks. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 27, 97–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-009-0090-4
Rubin, A. (2008). Practitioner’s guide to using research for evidenced based practice. Wiley.
Rusadi, R. M., Sugara, G. S., & Isti’adah, F. N. (2021). Effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on academic grit among university students. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01795-4
Schaufeli, W. B., & Greenglass, E. R. (2001). Introduction to special issue on burnout and health. Psychology and Health, 16(5), 501–510. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440108405523
Schunk, D. H. (2012). Learning theories an educational perspective (6th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.
Scruggs, T. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. (2016). Summarizing single-subject research: Issues and applications. Behavior Modification, 22(3), 221–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455980223001
Sidman, M. (1960). Tactics of scientific research. Evaluating experimental data in psychology. Basic Books.
Silvia, P. J., Eddington, K. M., Beaty, R. E., Nusbaum, E. C., & Kwapil, T. R. (2013). Gritty people try harder: Grit and effort-related cardiac autonomic activity during an active coping challenge. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 88(2), 200–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.04.007
Smith, M. L., & Glass, G. V. (1977). Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies. American Psychologist, 32(9), 752–760. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.32.9.752
Smith, T. W. (1982). Irrational beliefs in the cause and treatment of emotional distress: A critical review of the rational-emotive model. Clinical Psychology Review, 2(4), 505–522. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7358(82)90027-7
Stanković, S., & Vukosavljević-Gvozden, T. (2011). The relationship of a measure of frustration intolerance with emotional dysfunction in a student sample. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 29(1), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-011-0128-2
Stoffel, J. M., & Cain, J. (2018). Review of grit and resilience literature within health professions education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6150
Sugara, G. S., Rakhmat, C., Nurihsan, J., & Ilfiandra. (2020). Factorial structure and psychometric properties of the quality of life inventory in an Indonesian college sample. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/mjcp-2593
Sugara, G. S., Rakhmat, C., Nurihsan, J., & Ilfiandra, I. (2020a). Quality of life and burnout among university students. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(8), 3742–3750. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.080855
Swan, K. L., & Ray, D. C. (2014). Effects of child-centered play therapy on irritability and hyperactivity behaviors of children with intellectual disabilities. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1939.2014.00053.x
Tang, X., Wang, M. T., Guo, J., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2019). Building grit: The longitudinal pathways between mindset, commitment, grit, and academic outcomes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(5), 850–863. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-00998-0
Tankersley, M., Harjusola-Webb, S., & Landrum, T. J. (2008). Using single-subject research to establish the evidence base of special education. Intervention in School and Clinic, 44(2), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451208321600
Vannest, K. J., & Ninci, J. (2015). Evaluating intervention effects in single case research designs. Journal of Counseling and Development, 93(4), 403–411. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12038
Vernon, A. (2002). What works when with children and adolescents: A handbook of individual counseling techniques. Research Press.
Warren, J. M., & Hale, R. W. (2020). Predicting grit and resilience: Exploring college students’ academic rational beliefs. Journal of College Counseling, 23(2), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocc.12156
Wilde, J. (2012). The relationship between frustration intolerance and academic achievement in college. International Journal of Higher Education, 1(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v1n2p1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
SAS, GSS, FNI; data collection : SAS, FNI; article drafting: GSS, SAS; and data interpretation and revision and final approval of the article: all authors.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest concerning research and publication of this article.
Informed Consent
Informed consent was obtained between the counselor and the client, including voluntary participation, the theoretical framework of therapy, video recording, psychometric measurements, and the research permit
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sari, S.A., Sugara, G.S. & Isti’adah, F.N. Effects of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on Academic Grit. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 40, 857–878 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-022-00444-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-022-00444-4