Cognitive flexibility, emotional intelligence, difficulties in emotion regulation and separation anxiety as predictors of growth fear in emerging adulthood

In the study, it was aimed to examine cognitive flexibility, emotional intelligence, difficulty in emotion regulation and separation anxiety as predictors of growth fear in emerging adulthood. In addition, it was examined whether the fear of growth differed according to demographic variables (age, gender, marital status, employment status, number ofsiblings, educational status). The sample of the research; It consisted of 342 participants in emerging adulthood (18-35 years old) living in Turkey. As data collection tools in the study; Personal Information Form, Growth Fear Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, Emotion Regulation Difficulties Scale, and Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire used. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and multiple regression were used in the analysis of the data As a result of the analyzes made, demographic variables; It was determined that the level of fear of growth did not differ significantly according to gender, employment status, number of siblings and education level. Participants who are single by marital status fear of growth level was found to be significantly higher than those who were married. Cognitive flexibility and emotional intelligence variables were found to predict growth fear negatively. Difficulty in emotion regulation and separation anxiety variables were found to predict growth fear positively. Cognitive flexibility, emotional intelligence, difficulty in emotion regulation and separation anxiety were found to significantly predict fear of growth. It is thought that the study will contribute to future research on fear of growth, which is a new concept.