"I must be in control!": the role of irrational beliefs, challenge and threat, and self-control, in the mental health of employees.

INTRODUCTION: In the working population, the prevalence of poor mental health continues to increase. Employees are often confronted by workplace stressors, but it is not the experience of stressors alone which determines poor mental health. There are various psychological factors which may increase risks to mental health. The present study investigates how specific psychological factors, namely irrational beliefs, challenge and threat evaluations and self-control, may interact to influence employee mental health indicated by symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anger. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-one adults (Mage = 39.25 years, SD = 11.85) from a wide range of occupations completed a questionnaire pack. RESULTS: Data were modelled using path analysis, indicating that irrational beliefs may undermine employee mental health through threat evaluations and self-control, such that stronger irrational beliefs, higher threat, and poorer self-control were associated with poorer mental health markers. In addition, irrational beliefs were not directly related to self-control, only indirectly through challenge and threat. DISCUSSION: It would appear that, in support of previous research, challenge and threat evaluations are a risk factor for poor mental health. Accordingly, reducing threat evaluations and developing challenge evaluations may be important in enhancing employee mental health.