The relationship between cognitive development level and psychological symptoms

Objective: In this present study, we aimed to examine the relationship between cognitive developmental level and psychological symptoms in a university student sample from Turkey. Methods: Participant were 388 college students between the ages of 18‒24. Sociodemographic Form, Piaget Developmental Tasks Inventory (IPDT-TR), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Personality Belief Inventory-Short Form (PBI-SF), and Luebeck Pre-Operational Thinking Questionnaire (LQPT) were administered. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between the IPDT-TR's Relationship and BSI's Hostility scores (r=-0.13, p<0.05). Significant negative correlations were found between the IPDT-TR's Conservation, Relationships, and Law sub-dimension and the PBI- F sub-dimensions scores (p<0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between the Luebeck Scale and BDI scores (r=-0.61; p<0.01). Luebeck Scale scores were negatively significantly correlated with all sub-dimensions of the PBI-SF (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results suggested a significant negative relationship between the pre-operational thinking scores and psychological symptoms and distinct personality traits.