Cognitive Flexibility and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Destructive Parent-Child Conflict Communication

Abstract

The social skills deficit vulnerability model of psychosocial problems posits that individuals with low communication skills are at an increased risk for stressful events and psychological problems. This study examined the relationship between young adults’ current cognitive flexibility and general anxiety symptoms through destructive parent–young adult child conflict communication. Participants (N = 152) reported their cognitive flexibility, general anxiety symptoms, and destructive conflict communication with their mother and father. Results showed cognitive flexibility negatively predicted destructive conflict communication with both parents. Destructive conflict communication with mothers was related to general anxiety symptoms. There was also a significant indirect effect from cognitive flexibility to anxiety through destructive conflict communication with mothers. Implications of these results are discussed.