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Updated: Jun 25, 2025
07:26
Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
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Cognitive flexibility and resilience measured through a residual approach
Lies Notebaert1, Patrick J F Clarke1,2, Frances Meeten3
1Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
Anxiety, Stress, and Coping
|May 20, 2024
Summary
This study found no link between cognitive flexibility and resilience. Cognitive flexibility did not predict how well individuals coped with adversity, challenging existing resilience theories.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Resilience is adapting well despite adversity.
- Cognitive flexibility is theorized to underpin resilience.
- Previous research lacked outcome-based resilience measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive flexibility and resilience.
- To test theoretical models linking cognitive flexibility to resilience.
- To utilize an outcome-based residual approach to measure resilience.
Main Methods:
- 463 undergraduates completed adversity and mental health questionnaires.
- Cognitive flexibility was assessed using a number-letter task-switching task.
- A residual-based approach was used to index resilience.
Main Results:
- Multiple regression analyses revealed no significant association between cognitive flexibility and resilience.
- Cognitive flexibility did not predict better outcomes relative to experienced adversity.
Conclusions:
- Findings do not support theories linking cognitive flexibility to resilience.
- Future research should explore "hot" cognitive flexibility and refine resilience measurement.
- The study highlights the need for further investigation into resilience mechanisms.
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