The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students and to evaluate the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in this relationship.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 151 medical students aged 18 years and older. Data were collected via an online survey using the Emotional Self-Awareness Scale (ESAS), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Self-Regulation Scale (SRS). Relationships among variables were examined using correlation analyses, and the mediating role of cognitive flexibility was tested. Age and gender were controlled as covariates in the analyses.
Results: Significant and positive relationships were found among emotional self-awareness, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation. Mediation analysis revealed that cognitive flexibility played a partial mediating role in the effect of emotional self-awareness on self-regulation. The model explained approximately 50% of the variance in self-regulation, and the magnitude of the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility was large (K²=0.246). Subdimension analyses indicated that the control dimension of cognitive flexibility exhibited a stronger mediating effect compared to the alternatives dimension.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that self-regulation among medical students is strengthened not only by emotional awareness itself but also by the cognitively flexible processing of this awareness. Cognitive flexibility, particularly through perceived control, can be considered a critical mechanism in transforming emotional self-awareness into functional self-regulatory behaviors.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Psychiatry
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
May 19, 2026
Submission Date
January 9, 2026
Acceptance Date
May 8, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 3
APA
Göksel, P., & Korkmaz, U. (2026). The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(3), 603-607. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1854364
AMA
1.Göksel P, Korkmaz U. The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(3):603-607. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854364
Chicago
Göksel, Pelin, and Ulaş Korkmaz. 2026. “The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship Between Emotional Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation Among Medical Students”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (3): 603-7. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1854364.
EndNote
Göksel P, Korkmaz U (May 1, 2026) The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 3 603–607.
IEEE
[1]P. Göksel and U. Korkmaz, “The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 603–607, May 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1854364.
ISNAD
Göksel, Pelin - Korkmaz, Ulaş. “The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship Between Emotional Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation Among Medical Students”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/3 (May 1, 2026): 603-607. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1854364.
JAMA
1.Göksel P, Korkmaz U. The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:603–607.
MLA
Göksel, Pelin, and Ulaş Korkmaz. “The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship Between Emotional Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation Among Medical Students”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 603-7, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854364.
Vancouver
1.Pelin Göksel, Ulaş Korkmaz. The mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and self-regulation among medical students. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 May 1;9(3):603-7. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854364
