An examination for adolescents' depression and anxiety symptom levels in view of adolescents' irrational beliefs which are about their basic psychological needs

In this study, it was aimed to investigate irrational beliefs about the basic psychological needs of adolescents' depression and anxiety symptom levels and whether they relate to some demographic characteristics. The sample of the research consists of total of 293 high school students including 143 girls and 150 boys who are studying in Istanbul. In the study, Rational Affective Self-Determination Scale, Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, Demographic Form and Personal Information Form prepared by the researcher were distributed and filled out after the permission was obtained from the Provincial Directorate of National Education and student's parents for child consent form for the purpose of research. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Windows 22.0 program, t-test was used to compare quantitative continuous data between two independent groups, and One Way Anova test was used to compare quantitative continuous data among more than two independent groups. The Scheffe test was used as a complementary Post-hoc analysis to determine the differences after the Anova Test applied. Among the continuous variables of the study, Pearson Correlation and Regression Analysis were applied. As a result of the analyzes made, there was a weak positive correlation between the irrational beliefs of depression and autonomy, a weak positive correlation between irrational beliefs of depression and relationality, and a weak positive correlation between irrational beliefs of depression and competence. It has been determined that the level of autonomy irrational beliefs of students increases the level of depression symptoms, the level of irrational beliefs of relationality does not affect the level of depression symptoms, and the level of competence irrational beliefs increases the level of depression symptoms. It was observed that the level of the autonomy irrational beliefs of the students increased the level of anxiety symptoms, the level of the irrational beliefs of relationality did not affect the level of anxiety symptoms, and the level of the competence irrational beliefs increased the level of anxiety symptoms. It was found that girls' relationality irrational beliefs scores were higher than boys, competence and autonomy irrational beliefs were not significantly different according to the average in terms of sexes, and girls' anxiety and depression symptom scores were higher than boys. It was determined that there was no significant effect of students' average monthly income level on anxiety and depression symptom scores. The findings were discussed in the light of other studies and related literature and various suggestions were made. Key Words: Basic Psychological Needs, İrrational Beliefs, Depression, Anxiety, Adolescence.