Examining the Mediating Role of Hope in the Relationship Between Cognitive Flexibility and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

With the emergence of positive psychology, there has been a growing emphasis on understanding not only the problems individuals face but also the positive aspects of their lives. In this context, one of the notable concepts is life satisfaction. The present study sought to understand the psychological mechanisms explaining life satisfaction among young adults in the Turkish context. The research examined the role of hope in the relationship between cognitive flexibility, a key psychological resource, and life satisfaction. The study, designed with a correlational model, included 311 volunteer young adults. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Dispositional Hope Scale, and the Cognitive Control and Flexibility Questionnaire. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mediation effects tested using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression-based approach and the Bootstrap Method to determine statistical significance. The findings indicated significant positive relations among cognitive flexibility, hope, and life satisfaction. Mediation analyses demonstrated that hope played a mediating role in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and life satisfaction, and that cognitive flexibility and hope together explained 12% of life satisfaction. The study enriches the existing body of knowledge by underlining the importance of cognitive flexibility and hope as psychological resources in explaining life satisfaction.