The Effect of Cognitive Flexibility on Marital Adjustment

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate different factors, especially cognitive flexibility skills, which affect marital adjustment, which is closely related to family health.

Methods: This study, which has a cross-sectional design, was carried out between 01 April 2022 and 01 June 2022 with the participation of married personnel working in a hospital. The data were filled in by the researchers by face-to-face interview technique, using the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI).

Results: The mean age of 332 people was 40.9±8.2, 194 (58.4%) of them were women. The average of the participants’ RDAS scores was 53.5±9.1, and the average of the CFI score was 76.1±10.9. No significant relationship was found between age, gender, duration of marriage, number of children, and RDAS and CFI. While no significant relationship was found between the number of marriages and the RDAS, a negative correlation was found with the score obtained from the CFI (p=0.005, r=-0.128). Although there was no significant relationship between education level and RDAS, a positive correlation was found with the score obtained from CFI (p=0.001, r=0.116). When the occupational groups were examined, no significant relationship was found with the RDAS score, but the lowest score obtained from the CFI was found in the worker-driver-safety occupational groups. A positive correlation was found between the RDAS and CFI scores (p=0.001, r=0.236).

Conclusion: It has been found that cognitive flexibility has a positive effect on marital adjustment. It is clear that there is a need for social policies that can contribute to individuals’ perception of each other’s feelings and ideas and to establish healthy communication.