Bodenlos, J. S., Hawes, E. S., Burstein, S. M., & Arroyo, K. M. (2020). Association of cognitive fusion with domains of health. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 18, 9-15. doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.08.001
Background
Mental health issues are reaching epidemic proportions among our youth. Understanding factors associated with emotional and physical functioning are critical to developing effective interventions and preventive strategies. Despite evidence of the association of cognitive fusion and emotional and physical health among adults, little is known about how this is associated with emotional and physical well-being in emerging adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine how cognitive fusion is associated with different domains of health after controlling for psychosocial variables.
Methods
A sample of 353 undergraduate students completed measures on sleep, stress (Perceived Stress Scale- 14), domains of health (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey), the five facets of dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Scale), social support (Lubben Social Network Scale), and cognitive fusion (Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire).
Results
Using step-wise hierarchal multiple regression, we examined the variance accounted for by health behaviors and psychosocial variables in various domains of health (emotional, physical, social, general health, fatigue/energy, pain and limitations from physical/emotional functioning). After controlling for psychosocial variables and sleep, cognitive fusion was a significant predictor of six out of eight domains of health. In the domains of physical functioning and general health, facets of mindfulness (nonjudging and awareness, respectively) emerged as significant factors.
Conclusions
This study suggests that cognitive fusion plays an important role in some areas of health for emerging adults, even more so than other established predictors. Among emerging adults, it appears that thoughts play a key role in well-being and cognitive defusion techniques may be useful to enhance health among this population
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