Predicting Psychological Distress based on Mindfulness and Resilience with the Mediation of Cognitive Flexibility in Diabetic Patients

Objective: The present study aimed to predict psychological distress based on mindfulness and resilience with the mediation of cognitive flexibility in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This study is descriptive-correlational in nature and was conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all diabetic patients visiting hospitals in Mashhad city. Using purposive and volunteer sampling methods, 115 individuals were selected as the sample. Participants completed The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). Inferential statistics were employed, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM), while inferential analysis evaluated hypotheses and assessed the structural relationships using SPSS version 22 and LISREL version 3. Results: The descriptive results indicated the following scores for the study variables: psychological distress (M= 15.43± 10.81), mindfulness (M= 132.93± 36.30), resilience (M= 78.76± 15.95), and cognitive flexibility (M= 56.81± 20.91).The analyses confirmed significant relationships: resilience and mindfulness directly affect psychological distress and indirectly influence it through cognitive flexibility, with all effects being statistically significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, fostering mindfulness and resilience, alongside enhancing cognitive flexibility, offers a promising approach for alleviating psychological distress in patients with diabetes. Future studies should explore targeted intervention strategies to effectively strengthen these psychological resources, ultimately contributing to better disease management and quality of life.