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Journals / Bartın Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Issue: 2

The Role of Psychological Flexibility, Mindfulness, Valuing, and Cognitive Defusion in the Prediction of Dark Future among University Students

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Karanlık Gelecek Algısının Yordanmasında Psikolojik Esneklik, Farkındalık, Değerler ve Bilişsel Ayrışmanın Rolü

Elif Seran Doğan(TED UNIVERSITY)0009-0005-2382-4592
Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı(TED ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-9491-2750
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-12
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Findings: The results indicated that the final model accounted for 32% of the variance in future anxiety.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: Within the framework of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, the study aimed to examine the extent to which psychological flexibility predicted future anxiety among university students and whether core components of psychological flexibility, which are mindfulness, valuing (progress and obstruction), and cognitive defusion, explained additional variance in future anxiety beyond the psychological flexibility.
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Key Findings & Data:The sample consisted of 336 undergraduate students (213 females, 119 males, and four who did not disclose their gender) enrolled at universities in Ankara, Türkiye, with ages ranging from 18 to 29 years.
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Conclusion & Impact:Findings: The results indicated that the final model accounted for 32% of the variance in future anxiety.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Future Anxiety · dark future · psychological flexibility

Abstract

Purpose: Within the framework of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, the study aimed to examine the extent to which psychological flexibility predicted future anxiety among university students and whether core components of psychological flexibility, which are mindfulness, valuing (progress and obstruction), and cognitive defusion, explained additional variance in future anxiety beyond the psychological flexibility. Method: A correlational research design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 336 undergraduate students (213 females, 119 males, and four who did not disclose their gender) enrolled at universities in Ankara, Türkiye, with ages ranging from 18 to 29 years. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the proposed model. Findings: The results indicated that the final model accounted for 32% of the variance in future anxiety. Individuals with higher levels of psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and cognitive defusion reported lower levels of future anxiety, whereas those with greater value-related obstruction reported higher levels of future anxiety. Progress in values did not significantly predict future anxiety. Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in understanding and addressing future anxiety among emerging adults.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi’ne dayalı olarak, psikolojik esnekliğin üniversite öğrencilerinde gelecek kaygısını ne düzeyde yordadığını ve psikolojik esnekliğin temel bileşenleri olan bilinçli farkındalık, değerlerle uyumlu eylemlerde tıkanma ve ilerleme ile bilişsel ayrışmanın, psikolojik esnekliğin ötesinde gelecek kaygısına ilişkin ek varyansı açıklayıp açıklamadığını incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada ilişkisel araştırma deseni kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın katılımcılarını, Ankara’daki üniversitelerde öğrenim gören ve yaşları 18–29 arasında değişen 336 lisans öğrencisi (213 kadın, 119 erkek ve cinsiyetini belirtmeyen 4 kişi) oluşturmaktadır. Önerilen modelin test edilmesinde hiyerarşik regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgular, nihai modelin gelecek kaygısındaki toplam varyansın %32’sini açıkladığını göstermiştir. Psikolojik esneklik, bilinçli farkındalık ve bilişsel ayrışma düzeyi arttıkça gelecek kaygısı azalırken değerlerle uyumlu eylemlerde engellenme düzeyi arttıkça gelecek kaygısının da arttığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Tüm bu bulgular, Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisinin genç yetişkinlerde geleceğe yönelik kaygının anlaşılmasında önemli bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Doğan, E. S., Kaynakçı, F. Z. Ü. (2026). The Role of Psychological Flexibility, Mindfulness, Valuing, and Cognitive Defusion in the Prediction of Dark Future among University Students. Bartın Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1846155

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