The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility on the Relationship between Emotional Appraisal and Pro-Environmental Behavior Among Young Adults

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the role of emotional appraisal and cognitive flexibility in predicting pro-environmental behavior in young adults. This being one of the pressing calls worldwide, this research was aimed to understand the psychological constructs that may relate to sustainable acts. Data were collected through questionnaires. Sectioned into the correlational type, 381 university students were purposely selected as subjects. The tools used for data gathering were the BEIS 10, the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEBS). After the collection of data, analyses were done using the SPSS statistical package, including Pearson correlation and multiple regression, to analyze, correlate and assess the predictive strength among the variables. The results show significant positive correlations between both emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility with pro-environmental behavior. Regression analysis particularly revealed cognitive flexibility as a more robust predictor than emotional appraisal, placing emphasis on the weight of adaptive cognitive processing in steering environmentally responsible behavior. The findings, therefore, suggest certain psychological bases for sustainable behavior whereby any intervention that seeks to promote cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation could improve environmental sustenance among youngsters. The study included the use of self-report measures, which may be subject to social desirability bias, and a sample limited to university students, which restricts generalizability. Future research should explore longitudinal designs, include diverse demographic groups, and examine potential mediating variables such as environmental awareness and social norms.