Impact of Childhood Traumatic Experiences on Cognitive Flexibility in Adults
Keywords:
Childhood traumatic experiences, cognitive flexibility, executive functions, traumaAbstract
The present study aimed to examine the effect of childhood traumatic experiences on cognitive flexibility in adulthood. This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of students of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, during the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, aged between 18 and 50 years. Based on Cochran’s formula, the required sample size was estimated at 384 participants; however, after excluding incomplete questionnaires, data from 396 participants were analyzed. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory developed by Dennis and Vander Wal (2010) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) developed by Bernstein et al. (1998). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 26. The findings demonstrated a significant negative relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and cognitive flexibility in adulthood (r = -0.46, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further revealed that childhood traumatic experiences explained approximately 21% of the variance in cognitive flexibility. The negative regression coefficient indicated that increased traumatic experiences were associated with lower levels of cognitive flexibility, and this predictive effect was statistically significant (t = 7.244, p < 0.001). The results suggest that childhood traumatic experiences may function as a significant risk factor for impaired cognitive functioning and reduced cognitive flexibility in adulthood. These findings emphasize the importance of preventing childhood trauma and developing therapeutic and cognitive rehabilitation interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive flexibility. In addition, strengthening protective factors such as social support and resilience may help reduce the long-term adverse effects of childhood trauma.
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