The investigation of mindfulness, cognitive flexibility and mental symptom of teacher trainess

The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between mindfulness levels, cognitive flexibility levels, and mental symptoms of teacher trainees. The sample of this research consisted of 396 teacher trainees from Dokuz Eylül University Buca Education Faculty. Data were collected by; "Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)", "Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI)", "Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)" and a questionnaire developed by the researcher in order to gather sociodemographic characteristics of participants. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22.0 program using Pearson Correlation Analyze and regression analysis. As a result of the study, it was found that there was a statistically significant negative relationship between mindfulness and mental symptoms in general and depression, anxiety, negative self, somatization, and hostility sub-dimensions. According to the results, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between mindfulness and cognitive flexibility total and alternative, and control sub-dimensions. As a result of the study, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between the total and alternative dimensions of cognitive flexibility, the control sub-dimensions and the psychological symptoms in general, and depression, negative self, somatization, hostility sub-dimensions.As a result of the regression analysis performed in the study, it was determined that mindfulness and cognitive flexibility generally and the cognitive flexibility control sub-dimension significantly predicted mental symptoms. According to that mindfulness predicts 18% of the mental symptoms. It is found that cognitive flexibility explains 17.2% of the mental symptoms. Moreover, the cognitive flexibility control sub-dimension explains 23% of mental symptoms. Mindfulness and cognitive flexibility control sub-dimensions together explain 31% of mental symptoms. Besides, Mindfulness is stated as a solid predictor variable of cognitive flexibility level. When mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and mental symptoms were examined in terms of socio-demographic variables, as a result of the regression analysis, perception of happiness, perceived unhappiness, class level, and psychological support were predictive variables, and together they explained 21.2% of the total variance of mental symptoms; perceived happiness, perceived unhappiness, and the department is predictors of mindfulness and together they explain 10% of the total variance of mindfulness; It has been determined that perceived happiness, gender, perceived unhappiness, class level, and department variables are variables that predict cognitive flexibility and together explain 13% of the total variance of cognitive flexibility. As a result of the study, it is stated that mindfulness co-operates with cognitive flexibility as mental health protective structures, and the growth of mindfulness creates positive effects on cognitive flexibility. Gathered information discussed further in the essay under literature. Keywords: Mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, mental symptom, emerging adulthood, preservice teacher.