The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and psychological symptoms

The purpose of this research is to investigate the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. The study sample consists of 399 participants aged 18 to 65 years, including 235 females (59%) and 164 males (41%). The measurements include the Demographic Information Form, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in the current study. Hayes' PROCESS Macro Analysis Model 4 was employed to test the mediating effect. According to the findings, both adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation have a significant mediating effect on the relationship between cognitive flexibility and depression. In the relationship between cognitive flexibility and anxiety and stress, the mediating effect of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation was not significant, while the mediating effect of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation was significant. In conclusion, both adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation played a significant mediating role in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and depression. However, only maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation had a significant mediating role in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and anxiety and stress.