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Response Expectancies and Irrational Beliefs Predict Exam-Related Distress

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Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Individual differences in cognitive factors such as response expectancies and irrational beliefs (IBs) have been shown to contribute to variability in distress associated with stressful situations. However, their independent influence on distress when examined within the same study has not been established, nor has the potential of mediational relationships. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of response expectancies and IBs (both general and exam-specific) to exam-related distress in a prospective study. Results revealed that both response expectancies and general IBs separately predicted exam-related distress (p’s<.05; N=105). Observed effects of general IBs were perfectly mediated by, and observed effects of exam-specific IBs were partially mediated by, response expectancies using the Baron and Kenny approach. These data support the view that cognitive factors contribute to psychological distress and are consistent with response expectancy and rational emotive behavior theories. The results suggest that interventions focused on response expectancies and IBs might be an effective means to reduce psychological distress associated with real life stressors such as exams. Future research is needed to determine whether this effect generalizes to other stressful situations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA

    Guy H. Montgomery & Julie B. Schnur

  2. Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Daniel David

  3. Yeshiva University, Bronx, USA

    Terry A. DiLorenzo

  4. Integrative Behavioral Medicine Program, Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, Box 1130, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA

    Guy H. Montgomery

Authors
  1. Guy H. Montgomery
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  2. Daniel David
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  3. Terry A. DiLorenzo
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  4. Julie B. Schnur
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guy H. Montgomery.

Additional information

Dr. Montgomery is Director of the Integrative Behavioral Medicine Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. David is an associate professor at Babes-Bolyai University, in Romania. Dr. DiLorenzo is an assistant professor in the Psychology Department of Stern College. Dr. Schnur is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (CA81137) and the American Cancer Society (PF-05-098-01-CPPB).

Appendix A

Appendix A

Exam-Related Beliefs Scale

Using the following scale, indicate in the space provided how true each of these statements is for you.

  • 1. Strongly Agree

  • 2. Somewhat Agree

  • 3. Somewhat Disagree

  • 4. Strongly Disagree

    • 1. ............ I absolutely must get a good grade on this exam.

    • 2. ............ I really want to get a good grade on this exam, but I do not absolutely have to.

    • 3. ............ It will be awful if I don’t get a good grade on this exam.

    • 4. ............ It will be really bad if I don’t get a good grade on this exam, but not awful.

    • 5. ............ If I don’t get a good grade on this exam, I am not worthwhile.

    • 6. ............ If I don’t get a good grade on this exam it is because I did not prepare myself well enough not because I am worthless.

    • 7. ............ If I don’t get a good grade on this exam, I won’t be able to stand it.

    • 8. ............ I could stand it if I don’t get a good grade on this exam.

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Montgomery, G.H., David, D., DiLorenzo, T.A. et al. Response Expectancies and Irrational Beliefs Predict Exam-Related Distress. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 25, 17–34 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-006-0029-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-006-0029-y

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