The relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression: Cognitive flexiblity intermediary role

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression levels of university students. The research was conducted 440 students studying 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University. The data in the study were obtained by using the "Personal Information Form", "Cognitive Flexibility Inventory", "Beck Depression Inventory" and "Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale", which were prepared by the researcher. Correlation analysis was performed on the data obtained in the study to reveal the relationship between the variables. Regression analysis was performed to test whether cognitive flexibility plays a mediating role between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression. When the data on cognitive emotion regulation strategies sub-dimensions, cognitive flexibility sub-dimensions, and depression scores are examined in detail with regression analysis, it is seen that the increase in self-blame, rumination, blaming others and control dimensions, which are the dimensions of cognitive emotion regulation, will increase the level of depression, but positive refocusing and planning. It was found that an increase in refocus sub-dimensions would also decrease the level of depression. It was found that depression was predicted statistically significantly by the predictive variable, adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion strategies; It was found that cognitive flexibility, which is the mediating variable, alone significantly predicted depression. A statistically significant decrease was observed in total adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, which was considered as a predictor variable. Based on the significant decrease in the obtained values, it was found that partial mediation occurred.It is seen that partial mediation relations of cognitive flexibility are significant in the relationship between bootstrapping method and both compatible and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression. Keywords: Cognitive flexibility, cognitive emotion regulation, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, depression.