The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship between Personality Traits and Self-Forgiveness: A Study on Young Adults
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study aims to examine the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between personality traits and self-forgiveness. A correlational research model was used in the study. The sample consisted of 373 adults aged between 21 and 42 (M = 25.4, SD = 2.91), including 279 women (74.8%) and 94 men (25.2%). As data collection instruments, Personal Information Form, Adjective-Based Personality Test, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and Self-Forgiveness subscale of the Heartland Forgiveness Scale were used. In the data analysis, Jamovi software was used to conduct descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and GLM mediation analysis. According to the results of the correlation analysis, neuroticism was negatively and significantly associated with both cognitive flexibility and self-forgiveness. In contrast, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were positively and significantly associated with both cognitive flexibility and self-forgiveness. Additionally, there was a positive and significant relationship between cognitive flexibility and self-forgiveness. It was found that cognitive flexibility played a partial mediating role in the relationship with neuroticism. In the case of openness to experience, cognitive flexibility played a full mediating role. In contrast, for conscientiousness, only an indirect effect was observed. In contrast, cognitive flexibility did not play a mediating role in extraversion. Similarly, cognitive flexibility did not mediate the relationship for agreeableness.
Author: Fikriye Alkım Arı
Institution: Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7166640111