Cognitive Flexibility as a Mediator of the Association Between Childhood Maltreatment and Entrapment in Adults
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Objective: Childhood maltreatment is associated with a range of adverse psychological outcomes, including feelings of entrapment. This study examined whether cognitive flexibility mediates the association between childhood maltreatment and entrapment among adults in Isfahan, Iran.
Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational cross-sectional study was conducted on 317 adults. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and Entrapment Scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in AMOS-26. Internal consistency coefficients for the measures were acceptable.
Findings: Childhood maltreatment significantly and negatively predicted cognitive flexibility (β = −0.50, p < .001). Cognitive flexibility significantly and negatively predicted entrapment (β = −0.75, p < .001). Childhood maltreatment also had a significant direct positive effect on entrapment (β = 0.58, p < .001). In addition, the indirect effect of childhood maltreatment on entrapment through cognitive flexibility was significant (β = 0.24, 95% CI [0.16, 0.36]). The proposed model demonstrated good fit indices (χ²/df = 1.66, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.04).
Conclusion: Cognitive flexibility partially mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and entrapment. These findings suggest that cognitive flexibility may function as a protective psychological factor in adults exposed to early adversity. Because of the cross-sectional design, causal interpretation should be made cautiously.
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