The role of cognitive flexibility in cognitive restructuring skill acquisition among older adults

Cognitive flexibility is one aspect of executive functioning that encompasses the ability to produce diverse ideas, consider response alternatives, and modify behaviors to manage changing circumstances. These processes are likely to be important for implementing cognitive restructuring. The present study investigated the impact of cognitive flexibility on older adults’ ability to learn cognitive restructuring. Neuropsychological measures of cognitive flexibility were administered to 40 normal community-dwelling older adult volunteers and their ability to implement cognitive restructuring was coded and analyzed. Results indicated that the majority of participants showed good cognitive restructuring skill acquisition with brief training. The multiple regression analysis suggested that those with poorer cognitive flexibility on neuropsychological testing demonstrated poorer quality cognitive restructuring. In particular, perseverative thinking styles appear to negatively impact the ability to learn cognitive restructuring. Further research is needed to clarify whether older adults with poor cognitive flexibility can improve their cognitive restructuring skills with repetition over treatment or whether alternative skills should be considered.

► We examined the impact of cognitive flexibility on cognitive restructuring ability.
► Most older adults were able to learn cognitive restructuring well.
► Poorer cognitive flexibility was related to poorer cognitive restructuring skills.
► Perseverative thinking was related to poorer cognitive restructuring skills.
► Global cognitive ability was related to cognitive restructuring skill acquisition.