Psychological flexibility: Positive implications for mental health and life satisfaction
Open accessAbstract
New wave therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy aim to cultivate people's psychological flexibility in order for them to live a satisfying life. Psychological flexibility has also a role in promoting mental health, which may mediate the relationship with life satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine whether mental health mediates the effect of psychological flexibility on life satisfaction. A convenience sample of 140 adults (32 males, M = 36.50 years, SD = 12.22; 107 females, M = 38.46 years, SD = 12.81; and a 45-year-old person of unknown gender) completed an online questionnaire assessing psychological flexibility, mental health and life satisfaction. Three of the four hypothesized components of psychological flexibility (experiential acceptance, cognitive alternatives and cognitive control) contributed to the latent construct of psychological flexibility, but cognitive defusion failed to contribute. Psychological flexibility had a direct, positive effect on life satisfaction and the hypothesis that mental health would mediate this relationship was supported. The results suggest that psychological flexibility is important for one's mental health and that both are integral to life satisfaction. The results also support a continued focus on third-wave therapies in cultivating psychological flexibility.
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Only SE practice led to greater control over emotions and the ability to find multiple alternatives and solutions to life's difficult situations.
“only SE practice led to greater control over emotions and the ability to find multiple alternatives and solutions to life’s difficult situations [99,100].”
Lucas and Moore (2020) found that the significant association between psychological flexibility and satisfaction with life was mediated by mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and social functioning).
“Lucas and Moore (2020) found that the significant association between psychological flexibility and satisfaction with life was mediated by mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and social func tioning).”
From Psychometric properties of the engaged living scale (ELS) Spanish version in a large sample of Spanish pilgrims (2023) · cites this paper as Lucas and Moore (2020)
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“Psychological flexibility has been associated with greater levels of life satisfaction (Graham et al., 2016), and found to have a direct, positive effect on life satisfaction (Lucas & Moore, 2020).”
Maral, S., & Satıcı, S. A. (2025) · Psychiatric Quarterly · doi:10.1007/s11126-025-10239-2 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Investigation of Academic Success, Psychological Flexibility and Self-efficacy in Teacher Candidates
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The Mediating Role of Emotional Flexibility between Social Support and Life Satisfaction
Çağlar, A., Akyıl, Y., İme, Y., & Erdinç, B. (2025) · Ayna Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi · doi:10.31682/ayna.1559107 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
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Die Validierung der deutschsprachigen Version des CompACT-8 zur Messung psychischer Flexibilität
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“It was pointed out that having a high level of psychological adjustment and flexibility (Extremera et al., 2007; Lucas & Moore, 2020), being satisfied with family life (Szcześniak & Tułecka, 2020), coping effectively with stress (MacCann et al., 2012), and being optimistic (Leung et al., 2005) are…”
Hu, H., Zheng, Q., Ding, D., & Fang, S. (2024) · International Journal of Mental Health Promotion · doi:10.32604/ijmhp.2024.059324 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
The role of school climate and flexibility in promoting well-being in educators
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes Differentially Predict Aspects of Mental Health
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“[15] The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between NML, PF, USA, and PWB among Generation Z.”
Testing Psychological Flexibility in the Curvilinear Model of Stressful Life Events
Campion, S. (2021) · NORMA
المرونة النفسیة وعلاقتها بالتفکیر الإیجابی لدى المراهقین
العازمی, ع. ع. ا. م. (2022) · مجلة کلیة التربیة فى العلوم النفسیة · doi:10.21608/jfeps.2022.253470
Anxiety and depression in people with acquired brain injury
Rauwenhoff, J. C. C. (2022) · doi:10.26481/dis.20221130jr
Development and preliminary validation of Cancer-related Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire
Ou, M., Xu, X., Chen, H., Chen, F., & Shen, S. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1052726
“reported that PF was important for mental health and had a direct, positive effect on life satisfaction among community residents (Lucas and Moore, 2020).”
BackgroundPramudita, A. J. N., & Setiasih, S. (2023) · Jurnal Psikologi · doi:10.35760/psi.2023.v16i2.7818
Nieves, D. (2024) · Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-5242-7.ch012
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A Review of the Relationship between Gender Roles and Mental Health
任, 思. (2024) · Advances in Psychology · doi:10.12677/ap.2024.143154
Uslu, Ö. S., & Görücü, A. (2024) · Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise · doi:10.15314/tsed.1384594
Chaudhary, N. I., & Rafiq, D. M. (2020) · PJPPRP · doi:10.62663/pjpprp.v11i2.53
“From culture to culture, the differences between individualistic (Grégoire et al., 2020; Lucas et al., 2020) and collectivistic context supported the responses given by the development population for the scale.”
BackgroundDeveloping a Mental Health Counseling E-book to Improve Student Mental Health
Sahputra, D., Fawri, A., Rapono, M., Asyfa, A., & Putra, A. (2025) · MITRA ASH-SHIBYAN Jurnal Pendidikan dan Konseling · doi:10.46963/mash.v8i01.2249
“Optimal mental health allows individuals to think clearly, make wise decisions, and experience satisfaction and meaning in life (Lucas & Moore, 2020).”
Schram, S. J., & Lillis, J. (2025) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs15060788
“Psychological flexibility is associated with a broad range of mental (Gilbert et al., 2019; Lucas & Moore, 2020) and physical health (Gentili et al., 2019) clinical presentations and has been linked specifically to disordered eating (Masuda & Tully, 2012; Rawal et al., 2010), depression (Leahy et…”
Huang, Y., Wen, L., Xie, M., Liu, Y., & Zhang, S. (2025) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08035-z
Consultation-Liaison Case Conference: Management of Demoralization in the Medical Setting
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Alkal, A. (2025) · Türk Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi · doi:10.37217/tebd.1638537
Dehshiri, G., Amani, N., & Sourmeh, R. (2025) · Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma · doi:10.1080/10926771.2025.2536285
“In this regard, recent studies have emphasized the importance of cognitive functions – particularly cognitive flexibility, as a protective factor (Lucas & Moore, 2020).”
VAROLUŞÇU SANAT TERAPİ PROGRAMININ BİREYLERİN YAŞAM DOYUMU VE PSİKOLOJİK ESNEKLİK DÜZEYLERİNE ETKİSİ
Demir, V. (2025) · Akademik Hassasiyetler · doi:10.58884/akademik-hassasiyetler.1599330
Resilience Amidst Ambiguity: Considerations for Family Members Affected by Alcohol Use Disorders
Navarro, G. H., & Fickling, M. J. (2025) · Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly · doi:10.1080/07347324.2025.2601679
“ACT interventions enhance psychological flexibility, which is associated with improved well-being and mental health outcomes (Gloster et al., 2017; Kashdan, 2010; Lucas & Moore, 2020).”
Suso‐Ribera, C. (2026) · Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1007/s10942-026-00638-0
“Our findings support the literature suggesting that the ability to tolerate discomfort and regulate emotional responses is a key predictor of well-being and life satisfaction (Gross, 2015; Lucas & Moore, 2020).”
Lai, Y., Gu, Y., Chen, Y., Hu, Z., & Zheng, W. (2026) · Behavioral Science · doi:10.3390/bs16030374
“A substantial body of empirical evidence supports the crucial role of psychological flexibility in promoting mental health (Lucas & Moore, 2020; Stockton et al., 2019).”
Relationship between obsessive personality traits and eating disorders
Triguero-López, M. J., García, I. M., & Ortíz, M. M. (2026) · Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity · doi:10.1007/s40519-026-01829-5
“This has been conceptualised as a trait of psychological inflexibility [63, 82], although some studies argue that they are distinct constructs rather than opposite ends of a single dimension [109].”
Anderson, A. R., & Chittenden, A. (2026) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-026-02612-7
Alptekin, F. B., Torlak, E., Asik, Ö., Karaaslan, B., Turgal, E., Burhan, H. Ş., Aytaç, H. M., & Güçlü, O. (2026) · International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1002/mpr.70051
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression
Knudsen, F. M., & Levin, M. E. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-29009-1.00065-2
Turkish women’s happiness levels: Relationship with self-compassion and psychological flexibility
Özer, D., Altun, Ö. Ş., & ALTUN, L. (2026) · Sağlık akademisyenleri dergisi/Sağlık akademisyenler dergisi · doi:10.52880/sagakaderg.1806756
Faulkner, J. W., & Cairncross, M. (2026) · Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/13803395.2026.2707991
Kumru, M., Çolak, T. S., & Düşünceli̇, B. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1878259
“Psychological flexibility has a positive effect on life satisfaction (Lucas and Moore, 2020) and psychological well-being (Guerrini Usubini et al., 2021); it has a significant effect on chronic pain, anxiety (Gentili et al., 2019), and depression, and as a result, it has been found to reduce the…”
Liang, P., Chang, R., Li, X., Huo, D., Yang, M., & Zhang, Y. (2026) · International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2026.104044
- Authors
- Lucas, J. J., & Moore, K. A.
- Affiliations
- Deakin University (AU)
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation University Australia, Northways Road, Churchill, Victoria 3842, Australia
- Corresponding author
- Lucas, James J
- ORCID
- Lucas, James J
- Venue
- Health Promotion International
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2019-05-09
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 312-320
- ISSN
- 0957-4824 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2245
- OpenAlex
- W2944163432
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 7.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- Locations
- Health Promotion International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- FedUni ResearchOnline (Federation University Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- psychological flexibility, mental health, life satisfaction, acceptance and commitment therapy, experiential acceptance, cognitive control, cognitive defusion, mediation, third-wave therapies
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Personal Satisfaction, Surveys and Questionnaires, Internet, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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