Life Satisfaction as a Mediator of the Link Between Cognitive Flexibility and Resilience in Adolescents

ABSTRACT Adolescence, a period marked by substantial changes and increased exposure to demanding life events, necessitates a thorough examination of the direct and indirect factors affecting psychological resilience. In this context, the current study aimed to explore the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility on the relationship between resilience and life satisfaction in adolescents. In this study, data obtained from a Turkish adolescent sample ( N = 434) were collected using the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, Adolescent Resilience Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale. The mean age of the sample group was calculated as 16.32 (SD = 1.28). The ages of the sample group ranged from 13 to 18 years old (281 [64.7%]) girls and 153 (35.3%) boys. The results revealed that cognitive flexibility positively impacts resilience and that life satisfaction partially mediates this relationship. Specifically, adolescents who reported higher levels of life satisfaction exhibited more positive effects of cognitive flexibility on resilience. The findings suggest that life satisfaction is a critical factor in understanding how cognitive flexibility influences adolescents' resilience, providing evidence for the development of school interventions aimed at enhancing resilience levels. The study drew attention to the importance of developing cognitive flexibility in adolescents as a pathway to bolster psychological resilience, recommending the incorporation of comprehensive positive psychology activities in proactive school‐based interventions.