The Role of Cognitive Flexibility and Emotional Regulation in Promoting Post-Traumatic Growth: A Narrative Review

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to the positive psychological changes that may emerge following individuals' struggle with highly stressful or traumatic life events. This narrative review examines the roles of cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation in facilitating PTG, using Tedeschi and Calhoun's theoretical framework as its conceptual foundation. The review synthesizes evidence across the five core domains of PTG: enhanced interpersonal relationships, increased personal strength, greater appreciation of life, spiritual or existential development, and recognition of new possibilities. It further evaluates empirical findings linking cognitive flexibility and adaptive emotion regulation to positive psychological adjustment following trauma and proposes an integrative conceptual model illustrating their interactive contributions to PTG. Finally, the review synthesizes the clinical implications of these mechanisms by examining evidence linking cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based interventions, while identifying current limitations in the literature and priorities for future research.

کلیدواژه ها:

post-traumatic growth ، cognitive flexibility ، emotional regulation ، trauma ، resilience ، psychotherapy ، Tedeschi and Calhoun model