Cognitive Flexibility and Job Satisfaction among Intensive Care Nurses: The Mediating Role of Self-Critical Rumination
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Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between cognitive flexibility and job satisfaction among intensive care nurses and to investigate the mediating role of self-critical rumination in this relationship.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was conducted among 167 intensive care nurses working in five public hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, Self-Critical Rumination Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, simple linear regression, and mediation analysis using PROCESS Macro with bootstrapping (5,000 resamples) and 95% confidence intervals.
Findings: Cognitive flexibility showed a significant positive correlation with job satisfaction (r= .362, p< .001). Mediation analysis indicated that cognitive flexibility had a significant direct effect on job satisfaction (β= .3974, p= .0048). Cognitive flexibility was negatively associated with self-critical rumination (β= −.3761, p< .001), while self-critical rumination negatively predicted job satisfaction (β= −.6635, p< .001). The indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on job satisfaction through self-critical rumination was significant (indirect effect = 0.2766, 95% CI [0.106, 0.415]), confirming the mediating role of self-critical rumination.
Conclusion: Cognitive flexibility is positively associated with job satisfaction among ICU nurses, and reducing self-critical rumination may strengthen this relationship. Psychological and educational interventions targeting adaptive cognitive processes may support nurses’ occupational well-being.
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