The Role of Childhood Traumatic Experiences in Cognitive Flexibility During Early Adulthood

Cognitive flexibility enables individuals to navigate unpredictable situations and rapid changes. Because the prefrontal cortex governs both cognitive flexibility and emotional input, lifetime traumatic experiences may influence its development. Despite this, research examining the impact of childhood trauma on cognitive flexibility in early adulthood remains limited. This study investigates the relationship using a sequential explanatory approach. A total of 275 undergraduate and diploma students (ages 18–25) from Gadjah Mada University completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS). Simple linear regression and thematic analysis indicated that childhood trauma predicts cognitive flexibility in early adulthood. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the long-term impact of childhood trauma on cognitive adaptability, which may inform interventions to enhance resilience in early adulthood. Future research should consider developmental timing, sociocultural environment, education, socioeconomic status, and spirituality, as well as experimental performance measures.