Examination the relationship between university students' dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive flexibility levels and attitudes to coping with stress

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive flexibility levels and stress coping attitudes of university students. The research is in relational screening model. The study group of the research consists of 414 students studying at Aksaray University. In the research The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-A), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), Coping Style Scale and Personal Information Form were applied to the research group as a data collection tools. Independent Group T Test, One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Pearson Product Moments Correlation Coefficient Test were used to analyze the data. According to the findings obtained from the research, dysfunctional attitudes and cognitive flexibility levels of university students differ significantly according to gender, and optimistic approach, which is one of the stress coping attitudes, differs significantly according to gender and age. It was determined that there were negative relationships between dysfunctional attitudes and self-confident approach, seeking social support from stress coping attitudes and cognitive flexibility, and there was positive relationships between dysfunctional attitudes and submissive approach and helpless approach from stress coping attitudes. Negative correlations were found between cognitive flexibility and the helpless approach and submissive approach from stress coping attitudes, and positive significant relationships were found between cognitive flexibility and optimistic approach, self-confident approach and social support seeking approach from stress coping attitudes.