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Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
On the contribution of psychological flexibility to predict adjustment to breast cancer
Carmen Berrocal Montiel1, Teresa Rivas Moya, Francesca Venditti
1University of Pisa (Italy).
Background:
This study explored the contribution of Psychological Flexibility (PF) to predict adjustment to breast cancer.
Method:
Sixty-four females with breast cancer completed self-report measures of PF and adjustment (anxiety, depression, negative and positive affect) at baseline, and forty-two patients returned for assessment six months later.
Results:
Higher flexibility at baseline significantly contributed to predict lower anxiety, depression and negative affect at follow-up. The effect sizes ranged from moderate to large.
Conclusions:
Results provide evidence for targeting PF to prevent enhanced psychological distress in patients with breast cancer, and add to a growing body of research supporting PF as a common protective factor across different contexts and populations.
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