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The map of cognitive processes in boredom: multiple mediation models

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2020

Ion Milea Open the ORCID record for Ion Milea [Opens in a new window] ,
Roxana A.I. Cardoş  and
Daniel David
Ion Milea*
Affiliation:
Doctoral School ‘Evidence Based Psychological Assessment and Interventions’, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Roxana A.I. Cardoş
Affiliation:
The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University, Republicii Street 37, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Daniel David
Affiliation:
The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University, Republicii Street 37, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background:

Trait boredom is associated with several internalizing and externalizing problems. Addressing existing research gaps in the field, the present study investigated the map of cognitive processes for boredom, based on the rational emotive behaviour therapy model (REBT).

Aims:

The general aim of the study was to investigate the organization of irrational and rational evaluative cognitions related to boredom, and the association between boredom and depression symptoms and state/trait anxiety.

Methods:

The 233 participants (84% women) completed online scales of evaluative cognitions, trait boredom, trait/state anxiety and depression. Multiple mediation models via the SPSS extension PROCESS were employed.

Results:

The REBT psychopathology and psychological health models were partially confirmed, as the evaluative primary cognitions predicted positively and significantly the secondary ones in both cases. Low frustration tolerance (LFT) and global evaluations (GE), and frustration tolerance (FT), respectively, had significant effects. We found a positive significant association between boredom proneness and the negative dysfunctional emotions investigated.

Conclusions:

Both results offer further support for the hierarchy of cognitions and the distinction between the level of irrationality and rationality in REBT. This is the first attempt to assess a cognitive map of boredom, underlining the importance of (L)FT in relation to boredom. The significance of GE in boredom suggests that people might see themselves responsible, or even blame themselves, others or life itself while bored. The associations of boredom with anxiety and depression are relevant, as its role in those contexts is not yet fully understood.

Keywords

anxietyboredomcognitive mapdepressionREBT
Type
Main
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 49 , Issue 4 , July 2021 , pp. 441 - 453
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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