The Tension Between Cognitive and Regulatory Flexibility: Cognitive Flexibility is More Strongly Associated with Current PTSD Symptoms

In recent years, researchers have tried to unpack the meaning of the term flexibility and test how different constructs of flexibility are associated with various psychopathologies. For example, it is apparent that high levels of flexibility allow individuals to adaptively cope and avoid psychopathology following traumatic events, but the precise nature of this flexibility is ambiguous. In this study, we focus on two central constructs: cognitive flexibility – the ability to recognize and implement possible responses to a situation– and regulatory flexibility – the ability to modulate emotional expression and experience across situations. We aim to explore the connection between cognitive and regulatory flexibility and evaluate their relative effect on PTSD symptoms. Trauma-exposed college students (N = 109, M = 25.31, SD = 4.59) were assessed for cognitive and regulatory flexibility and current and lifetime PTSD symptoms. We predicted and found a relatively weak, yet significant, overlap between participants’ cognitive and regulatory flexibility. Importantly, while both cognitive and regulatory flexibility were associated with lifetime PTSD symptoms, only cognitive flexibility was associated with current PTSD symptoms. The findings illuminate the possible value of differentiating between constructs of flexibility in predicting PTSD symptoms, hinting at their mitigating effects on current versus lifetime PTSD symptoms.

近年来，研究者致力于厘清“灵活性”这一术语的内涵，并探究不同灵活性构念与各类精神病理问题之间的关联。例如，已有研究证实，较高水平的灵活性可帮助个体在创伤事件后进行适应性应对，从而规避精神病理问题，但此类灵活性的具体本质仍未明确。本研究聚焦于两大核心构念：其一为认知灵活性（cognitive flexibility），即个体识别并落实情境下可行应对方式的能力；其二为调节灵活性（regulatory flexibility），即个体在不同情境中调控情绪表达与情绪体验的能力。本研究旨在探究认知灵活性与调节灵活性之间的关联，并评估二者对创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状的相对影响。研究对象为109名曾经历创伤的大学生（平均年龄M=25.31，标准差SD=4.59），研究者对其认知灵活性、调节灵活性水平，以及当前与终身性PTSD症状进行了评估。本研究预先假设并验证发现，被试的认知灵活性与调节灵活性之间存在较弱但显著的重叠关联。值得注意的是，尽管认知灵活性与调节灵活性均与终身性PTSD症状存在关联，但仅认知灵活性与当前PTSD症状显著相关。本研究结果揭示了区分不同灵活性构念以预测PTSD症状的潜在价值，同时暗示二者对当前与终身性PTSD症状的缓解效应存在差异。