Cited by 102Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

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Psychological flexibility: positive implications for mental health and life satisfaction

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Lucas, James J, Moore, Kathleen A·2020·Health Promotion International

DOI 10.1093/heapro/daz036

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Abstract

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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“[15] The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between NML, PF, USA, and PWB among Generation Z.”
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Anxiety and depression in people with acquired brain injury
Rauwenhoff, J. C. C. (2022) · doi:10.26481/dis.20221130jr · Cited by 1
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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).”
Background
PERAN FLEKSIBILITAS PSIKOLOGIS SEBAGAI MEDIATOR DALAM HUBUNGAN PERSEPSI TERHADAP PENYAKIT DAN KEPUASAN HIDUP PASIEN DIABETES DI SURABAYA
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التشوهات المعرفية والمرونة النفسية وقلق الموت خلال جائحة كورونا لدى عينات من المراهقات وكبار السن في مدينة خميس مشيط
القصبي, و. ح., & كريري, س. خ. ظ. (2024) · مجلة الإرشاد النفسی · doi:10.21608/cpc.2024.343625
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Psychological Flexibility for University Students: Scale Development Employing Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses
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.”
Background
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“Optimal mental health allows individuals to think clearly, make wise decisions, and experience satisfaction and meaning in life (Lucas & Moore, 2020).”
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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…”
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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
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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).”
Understanding Frustration Intolerance: Validation and Analysis of the Spanish Frustration Discomfort Scale
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).”
Psychological Flexibility Moderates the Association Between Multidimensional Stress and Psychological Distress in Medical Postgraduates: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study
Lai, Y., Gu, Y., Chen, Y., Hu, Z., & Zheng, W. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · 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
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“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].”
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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
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Psychological flexibility or inflexibility: examining the distinct roles of these transdiagnostic factors in mild traumatic brain injury recovery
Faulkner, J. W., & Cairncross, M. (2026) · Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/13803395.2026.2707991
The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between self-efficacy and loneliness in young adulthood
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…”
Revision and validation of the driver psychological resilience scale and its relationship with driving anger
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
DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daz036
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: cc-by
academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
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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Psychological flexibility: positive implications for mental health and life satisfaction

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