The role of psychological flexibility, mindfulness, valuing, and cognitive defusion in the prediction of future anxiety among university students

The aim of the present study was to examine the predictive role of mindfulness, valuing (obstruction and progress), cognitive defusion, psychological flexibility in explaining future anxiety among university students. The sample consisted of 336 undergraduate students (213 females and 119 males), aged between 18 and 29, studying at universities in Ankara, Türkiye. To collect data, the Dark Future Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Valuing Questionnaire, Drexel Defusion Scale, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale were administered. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to ascertain the extent to which the predictor variable indicated future anxiety. In the first step, psychological flexibility was entered into the model. In the second step, cognitive defusion, values (obstruction and progress), and mindfulness were added. The hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the final model accounted for 32% of the total variance in future anxiety. Among the predictors, psychological inflexibility, mindfulness, cognitive defusion, and obstruction made significant contributions, while progress did not significantly predict future anxiety. The results suggest that university students who demonstrate higher levels of psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and cognitive defusion are more likely to experience lower levels of future anxiety.