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Self-talk in upper elementary school children: Its relationship with irrational beliefs, self-esteem, and depression

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Abstract

Self-talk, irrational beliefs, self-esteem and depression were measured in a sample of 105 elementary school children in Grades 4 to 7. Sex and grade differences in positive self-talk were found. The pattern of correlation coefficients for positive self-talk supported the substantive position that positive self-talk is positively related to self-esteem and negatively related to irrational beliefs and depression in a non-clinical sample of children. However, the same support was not forthcoming for the reverse relationships for negative self-talk. Therapeutic implications are outlined as are suggestions for future research in the area of children's self-talk.

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Burnett, P.C. Self-talk in upper elementary school children: Its relationship with irrational beliefs, self-esteem, and depression. J Rational-Emot Cognitive-Behav Ther 12, 181–188 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354595

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