Irrational beliefs, perceived availability of social support, and anxiety.

Based on the assumption that individual difference factors can influence aspects of the social environment, it was predicted that individuals who exhibit high levels of irrational beliefs would appraise their interpersonal environment as less supportive than would individuals with lower levels of irrational beliefs. The second prediction was that irrational beliefs would be related positively to anxiety. Thirdly, it was expected that perceived social support would be related inversely to anxiety. The final prediction was that deficits in social support among individuals who exhibit irrational beliefs may account, in part, for their relatively high levels of anxiety. Results based on questionnaire data obtained from 39 college students supported all four hypotheses.