Whiting Diane L, Faulkner Josh W, Gates Thomas, Metcalf Kasey, Simpson Grahame K
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital.
School of Psychological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington.
Neuropsychology. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1037/neu0001018.
Cognitive flexibility is proposed as being one "building block" of psychological inflexibility/flexibility, yet empirical studies examining these associations are scarce. This study aims to examine the relationship between these constructs in those with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury who demonstrate impairments in cognitive flexibility.
A total of 66 individuals with a traumatic brain injury were administered a battery of cognitive flexibility measures in conjunction with their standard neuropsychological assessment, general (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II [AAQ-II]) and context-specific (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Acquired Brain Injury [AAQ-ABI]) measures of psychological inflexibility and psychological distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21).
Linear regression modeling found the Stroop color-word interference score was the only measure of cognitive flexibility that was significantly associated with AAQ-ABI (β = -.14, < .001), a finding that remained when controlling for Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient and education. Similarly, the Stroop color-word interference score significantly predicted the AAQ-II (β = -0.13, = .024). Simple mediation analysis found the AAQ-ABI and AAQ-II fully mediated the relationship between the Stroop color-word interference score and psychological distress.
This research provides support for the theory of cognitive flexibility being an essential component of psychological inflexibility. Inhibitory control may be an important process within cognitive flexibility that contributes to psychological inflexibility. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
认知灵活性被认为是心理僵化/灵活性的一个“基石”，然而，检验这些关联的实证研究却很匮乏。本研究旨在考察中度至重度创伤性脑损伤且存在认知灵活性受损的个体中这些构念之间的关系。
对66名创伤性脑损伤患者进行了一系列认知灵活性测量，并结合其标准神经心理学评估、心理僵化的一般测量（接受与行动问卷-II [AAQ-II]）和特定情境测量（接受与行动问卷-获得性脑损伤 [AAQ-ABI]）以及心理困扰测量（抑郁焦虑压力量表-21）。
线性回归模型发现，Stroop色词干扰分数是唯一与AAQ-ABI显著相关的认知灵活性测量指标（β = -.14，p <.001），在控制全量表智商和教育程度后该结果依然成立。同样，Stroop色词干扰分数显著预测了AAQ-II（β = -0.13，p =.024）。简单中介分析发现，AAQ-ABI和AAQ-II完全中介了Stroop色词干扰分数与心理困扰之间的关系。
本研究为认知灵活性是心理僵化的重要组成部分这一理论提供了支持。抑制控制可能是认知灵活性中导致心理僵化的一个重要过程。（PsycInfo数据库记录 (c) 2025美国心理学会，保留所有权利）
