Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

https://reference-global.com/journal/MHGCJ

ISSN 2612-2138

NAVIGATING ADVERSITY DURING EMERGING

ADULTHOOD: EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY OF

PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY, PSYCHOLOGICAL

CAPITAL & RESILIENCE

Ms. Athira Alex, Dr. Kailash Sureshkumar, Dr. C N. Ramgopal

Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India

Abstract

Introduction:

Youngsters, often seen as the promise of the future, constitute the largest

demographic in India. Recent research and statistical reports revealed a shocking decline in

the mental health status of Indian youth, who currently face an increase in mental health crises.

As per the existing data, emerging adults in India and all over the globe are vulnerable to

mental health problems compared to any other age group.

Purpose: The present study aimed to explore the relationship and predictive pathways among

Psychological Flexibility, Psychological Capital and Resilience, and to examine the mediating

role of Psychological Capital in the link between Psychological Flexibility and Resilience among

emerging adults.

Methodology: The study employed a cross-

sectional correlational design and purposive

sampling to recruit 149 emerging adults aged 18-

24 years from a college setting. The

Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Scale, the Compound Psychological Capital Scale-12

(CPC-12), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-

RISC) were used to collect the

data. The data were analysed using statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics,

Pearson correlation, regression, and mediation analysis (Hayes process macro).

Results: Findings revealed that global flexibility is positively related to PsyCap and Resilience, (r =

0.52, p <.01) & (r = .48, p<.01), whereas global inflexibility indicated negative correlation with

both (r = -0.41, p <.01) & (r = -

0.38, p<.01). Specifically, PsyCap was identified as a partial

mediator, (B=0.060, 95% CI [0.032, 0.091]) indicating that flexibility enable individuals to

develop internal psychological strength which in turn promote resilience.

Conclusion: By integrating the theoretical formulation offered by COR and Broaden–and–Build

theory, the findings provide a novel and comprehensive view of how adaptive cognitive-

emotional mechanisms promote resilience during the critical developmental period. The

existing body of research also validates these findings. Limitations, Implications and directions for

future research were discussed.

Keywords

Mental Health, Psychological Flexibility, Psychological Capital, Resilience

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Kailash Sureshkumar, Professor, Head of the Department of Psychiatry,

Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of R

esearch and

Education, Chengalpattu District, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India

E-mail: kaidoc02@gmail.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- 4.0 International

License (CC BY 4.0).

©Copyright: Sureshkumar et al, 2026

Publisher: Paradigm (De Gruyter)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v9i1.329

Submitted for

publication: 17

November 2025

Revised: 05 January

2026

Accepted for

publication: 04

February 2026

Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

https://reference-global.com/journal/MHGCJ

ISSN 2612-2138

Introduction

Emerging adulthood is a critical

developmental stage characterised by

challenges, transitions and identity exploration

and formation across multiple life domains.

According to Arnett (2005), five features

characterise emerging adulthood. The core

characteristics of emerging adulthood are: (a)

Identity Exploration: Individuals seek to explore

and form their identity, especially in terms of love

and work. (b) Instability: This indicates changes in

romantic relationships, jobs and where the

individual lives. (c) Self-Focus: Emerging adults

are self-focused, with obligations and interest in

others being low. (d) Feeling in between: The

period of emerging adulthood reflects the

transitioning nature, neither an adolescent nor a

full-fledged adult. (e) The age of possibilities: An

opportunity to transform their lives. (Santrock,

2011). During this phase, individuals often face

academic pressures as well as career

uncertainties and relationship instability, which

collectively heighten individuals’ vulnerability to

Psychopathology (Arnette, 2007). This highlights

the importance of developing core

psychological resources to cope with adversity

and sustain well-being.

Emerging adults in India

According to research presented by Amrut

Bang (2025) at the 11th Conference on Emerging

Adulthood held in the USA, 53% of Indian youth

(aged 18–28) are characterized as “personality

malnourished”. As reported by Ahmed (2025), this

term denotes a developmental deficit in at least

four of seven key psychosocial domains, with

significant gaps in emotional resilience, social

values, and interpersonal life skills among the

surveyed population (Ahamed, 2025). In addition

to this, another report says that there is a 61%

increase in the suicide rate among the student

population over the past 10 years. (Shiraz, 2025).

With the continuous rise in mental health issues,

there is an urgent need to identify and strengthen

protective psychological resources that can act

as a buffer against mental health issues and

foster sustained well-being.

One such promising framework, psychological

capital (PsyCap), is a strengths-based construct.

According to Luthans et al. (2007), Psychological

Capital (PsyCap) is defined as an individual’s

positive psychological state of development

characterised by hope, optimism, resilience, and

self-efficacy. It represents an individual's

hopefulness, resilience, confidence, and

optimism (Sridevi & Srinivasan, 2012). Specifically,

Hope is defined as a positive emotion often

occurs in the amidst of adverse or uncertain

circumstances; resilience is the ability to bounce

back from setback; The tendency to expect

good things in the future is called optimism and

self-efficacy represents the general belief of

individuals while they exhibit their performances or

behaviour (Conversano, et. al, 2010 & Schéle et

al., 2021). Empirical evidence indicates that

PsyCap directly predicts problem-focused

coping, suggesting that individuals with higher

PsyCap are more likely to adopt constructive

approaches to life challenges, thereby improving

their well-being (Wang & Siu, 2022).

A Unified Framework: Psychological capital,

Psychological Flexibility & Resilience

Studies have shown that the components of

PsyCap are directly and significantly positively

correlated with Psychological Flexibility (PF), a

fundamental protective factor for mental health.

It is also considered a self-regulation construct.

According to Hayes et. al (2006), Psychological

flexibility (PF) is defined as “the ability to be in the

present moment more fully as a conscious

human being, and to change or persist in

behaviour when doing so serves valued ends.

Levins et al. (2014) define Psychological

Inflexibility (PI) as a behavioural pattern of

excessive control over a person’s thoughts,

feelings, and emotions, with a tendency to avoid

unpleasant internal experiences at the expense

of more effective or valued action. A recent

study by Faustino et al. (2023) found that

psychological inflexibility, a core transdiagnostic

variable in mental health, reinforces PF's role as a

protective factor. Furthermore, it was also found

that, hope is influenced by psychological

inflexibility (PI) in such a way that when PI

decreases, hope increases; In addition, another

research states that PF predicts resilient mental

health trajectories such as hope, self-efficacy

and optimism, and the researchers suggested

that it is vital to cultivate psychological flexibility to

prevent mental health damage during potentially

traumatic events (PTE) and to favour resilience

trajectories. Furthermore, individuals with higher PF

exhibit higher self-efficacy (Jeffords et al., 2018;

Sarıçalı et al., 2021; Pellerin et al., 2022).

Need and Significance

While resilience is one component of PsyCap,

its dynamic role in recovery and adaptive

functioning warrants distinct attention. Despite the

individual contributions of PsyCap, Psychological

Flexibility & Resilience, previous studies have not

examined them together within a unified

framework. The universal character of these three

constructs lies in their pivotal role in preventing

psychopathology and maintaining well-being.

The present study seeks to address this gap by

Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

https://reference-global.com/journal/MHGCJ

ISSN 2612-2138

examining how these three constructs interact

and influence one another. Beyond its theoretical

contributions, understanding the interplay might

pave the way for an integrative intervention that

not only promotes well-being but also equips

young individuals with the psychological

resources necessary to navigate future life

challenges with confidence.

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to explore the

relationship and predictive pathways among

Psychological Flexibility, Psychological Capital

and Resilience in emerging adults. The study also

seeks to examine the mediating role of

Psychological Capital in the link between

Psychological Flexibility and Resilience. By

conducting the research within the social context

of emerging adulthood- a developmental stage

marked by challenges, transitions and identity

exploration and formation across multiple life

domains and opportunities, the study aims

toward establishing a strong theoretical

foundation for developing a new toolkit which

equip emerging adults not only to withstand the

challenges, but also to enable them to thrive,

innovate and lead meaningful life, and thereby

contributing to the long-term strengthening of the

society. In addition, the study aims to provide

methodological and practical insights into how

psychological resources can foster resilience.

Objectives:

•To explore the relationship and mediating

pathways between Psychological Flexibility,

Resilience, and Psychological Capital among

emerging adults

•To find out whether Psychological

Flexibility predicts Psychological Capital in

emerging adults.

Methodology

Hypotheses

•H1: Psychological flexibility will be a

significant predictor of psychological capital

•H2: Psychological flexibility will be a

significant predictor of Resilience

•H3: Psychological Capital will be a

significant predictor of Resilience

•H4: Psychological Capital will mediate

the relationship between psychological flexibility

and resilience

Research Design

The present study employed a cross-sectional

correlational design, a quantitative approach.

Quantitative research methods focus on

objective measurements, statistical analysis, or

numerical data collection. Data are collected

through various methods, such as surveys and

self-report questionnaires (Creswell, 2009).

Participants

The study used purposive sampling to recruit

149 emerging adults aged 18-24 years from a

college setting. Participants include regular

undergraduate and postgraduate students who

are proficient in English. Individuals were

excluded if they had a current diagnosis or were

undergoing treatment/psychotherapy for any

severe mental or physical illness or substance use

disorder .

Rationale for Participant Selection:

The selection of emerging adults (aged 18-24)

is rooted in the developmental significance of this

period. According to Arnett (2000), this stage is

characterized by identity exploration, instability,

feeling in between, and heightened

psychological vulnerability. All of these make it an

ideal period for examining psychological

flexibility, psychological capital, and resilience.

This study chose college students as they

undergo uniform life transitions, particularly

academic stress, career planning and social role

changes, and serve as a primary group of

interest in resilience and positive psychology

research. To ensure internal validity of the study,

English proficiency was required to ensure a clear

understanding of the measurement tools, and

exclusion criteria for pathology and substance

use were established to ensure that the data

reflect normative developmental challenges

without the influence of clinical conditions.

Measures

The study employed specific measures to

assess the relationships among the variables

under study. Psychological capital was assessed

using the Compound Psychological Capital

Scale 12 (CPC-12), developed by Timo Lorenz

(2012). Resilience was assessed using the

Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The

scale was used with appropriate copyright

permissions obtained from the authors prior to

data collection. Psychological flexibility was

assessed using the Multidimensional

Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) short form

(Rolffs, Rogge, & Wilson). (Since MPFI is a single

instrument, its theoretical structure is outlined into

two primary distinct dimensions: Global flexibility

and Global inflexibility. Therefore, for the

subsequent analysis, they were treated

separately.

Although flexibility, resilience, and

psychological capital are related concepts, they

represent distinct yet complementary aspects of

Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

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ISSN 2612-2138

positive psychological functioning. Psychological

flexibility is the process that enables the most

remarkable human ability: adaptation. In

contrast, resilience is the outcome of that

process: the capacity to recover from setbacks.

PsyCap is a broader, higher-order construct that

combines several positive psychological

resources-hope, efficacy, optimism and

resilience into an integrated personal asset.

Investigating the complex interplay among these

constructs enables an in-depth understanding of

how adaptive traits interact. These constructs can

be explained in terms of the conservation of

resources theory and the Broaden and Build

theory, which emphasise how interrelated

constructs build upon one another to enhance

flourishing.

Procedure

The study employed a single-phase design

comprising recruitment and assessment. During

the recruitment phase, potential participants

would be informed about the study and invited to

participate. During the screening phase,

participants would be assessed for eligibility

based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

During the assessment, participants would

complete the measures: the Compound

Psychology Capital Scale (CPC-12), the Connor-

Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the

short form of the Multidimensional Psychological

Flexibility Inventory (MPFI).

Data Analysis

The analysis followed a structured sequence.

Initially, descriptive statistics for the study variables

were computed. Subsequently, correlation

analysis and simple mediation analysis were

conducted.

Ethical considerations

Ethical approval for this study was obtained

from the Institutional Human Ethics Committee

(CARE IHEC-II). The Ref No: IHEC-II/0930/25.

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-

RISC-10) was used in this study with authorisation

from the copyright owner.

Informed Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from

all participants prior to their participation in the

study.

Results

Descriptive Analysis

Table 1: Summary of the Demographic

characteristics of the Sample (N= 149)

Serial

Number

Demographic

variable

Number

and

Percentage

M(SD)

Gender

Male

Female

(46.9%)

(53.02%)

0.47

(0.50)

Age (In years)

18-20

21-24

(65.1%)

(34.8%)

0.35

(0.48)

Education

103

(69.12%)

(30.87%)

0.31

(0.46)

The participant characteristics, Mean and

standard deviations are summarized in Table 1.

The total sample consists of 149. The sample

selected for the study was emerging adults. The

mean age was 20.72 years (SD = 1.32; range =

18-24). The sample consists of more Females

than males (n=79 [53.02%] females & n= 70

(46.9%] males). Among the sample, the majority

are pursuing an undergraduate degree (n =103

(69.1%)) while comparatively a smaller proportion

are enrolled in postgraduate studies (n = 46

(30.9%).

Pearson Correlation Analysis

Table 2: Intercorrelations among the variables

used in the study (N= 149)

Variable

1. Global

flexibility

2. Global

Inflexibility

0.25*

3. PsyCap

0.52*

0.41*

4. Resilience

0.48*

0.38*

0.55*

Table 2 presents the relationships among

psychological flexibility, psychological capital,

and resilience. Pearson correlation analysis

revealed that multidimensional psychological

flexibility was statistically significantly associated

with resilience and psychological capital. It was

found that global flexibility was positively

associated with Psychological Capital (PsyCap) (r

= 0.52, p <.01) and Resilience (r = .48, p<.01),

indicating that higher levels of psychological

flexibility are related to higher levels of PsyCap

and resilience. On the contrary, global inflexibility

showed significant negative correlations with

Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

https://reference-global.com/journal/MHGCJ

ISSN 2612-2138

PsyCap (r = -0.41, p <.01) and resilience (r = -

0.38, p<.01), suggesting that individuals with rigid

behavioural patterns or rigid adaptive styles tend

to report lower levels of psychological capital

and resilience. Furthermore, a strong positive

correlation was observed between PsyCap and

resilience (r = .55, p<.01), highlighting the close

relationship between these two psychological

resources. Consistent with theory, global flexibility

and global inflexibility were negatively correlated

(r = -0.25, p < 0.01), confirming their conceptual

opposition.

Regression Analyses Predicting

Psychological Capital and Resilience

As a preliminary step to the mediation

analysis, three separate regression analyses were

conducted. The results are presented in Table 3

below.

Table 3: Regression models predicting PsyCap and Resilience (N= 149).

Dependent

Variable

Predictor

PsyCap

Global

Flexibility

0.48

0.15

0.46

3.19

<.001

0.098

7.97

Global

Inflexibility

-0.31

0.13

-0.39

-2.40

<.001

Resilience

Global

Flexibility

0.45

0.16

0.44

2.83

<.001

0.077

6.06

Global

Inflexibility

-0.28

0.14

-0.36

-2.03

<.001

Resilience

PsyCap

0.45

0.15

0.55

3.12

<.001

0.062

9.73

Note. N = 149. Values are unstandardized coefficients unless otherwise indicated. All models are

significant at p<.001

Psychological Capital (PsyCap)

A simultaneous multiple regression analysis

was performed to examine the extent to which

global flexibility and global inflexibility predict

psychological capital. The overall model was

statistically significant, F(2, 146) = 7.97, p < .001,

and accounted for 9.8% of the variance in

PsyCap (R2 = 0.98).

Examination of the individual predictors

revealed that global flexibility significantly and

positively predicted PsyCap (β = 0.46, t = 3.19, p

< .001), indicating that greater flexibility is

associated with higher psychological capital. On

the contrary, global inflexibility emerged as a

significant negative predictor (β = -0.39, t = -

2.40, p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of

inflexibility are associated with lower PsyCap.

Resilience

A second simultaneous multiple regression

was conducted to assess the predictive value of

global flexibility and global inflexibility on

resilience. The model was statistically significant,

F(2, 146) = 6.06, p < .001, accounting for 7.7%

of the variance in Resilience (R² = .077).

Both predictors were statistically significant.

Global Flexibility was a positive predictor of

resilience (β = .44, t = 2.83, p<.001), while

global inflexibility negatively predicted resilience

(β =-.36, t = -2.03, p<.001). These findings

indicate that individuals with greater flexibility tend

to exhibit higher resilience, whereas those with

greater inflexibility tend to show lower resilience

Total effect of psychological capital on

resilience

To establish the baseline relationship between

psychological capital and Resilience for

subsequent mediation analysis, a simple linear

regression was conducted. The model was

statistically significant, F (1, 147) = 9.73, p < .001,

accounting for 6.2% of the variance in resilience

(R2 = .062).

Psychological Capital was found to be a

strong positive predictor of Resilience (β = .55, t

= 3.12, p <.001), indicating that individuals with

higher PsyCap are more likely to demonstrate

greater resilience.

Mediation Analysis.

A mediation analysis was conducted to

examine the effect of psychological flexibility on

resilience, with psychological capital (PsyCap) as

the mediator (see Table 4).

Global flexibility and Resilience

Global flexibility demonstrated a significant

positive total effect on resilience, B = 0.111, p

<.001, 95% CI [0.062, 0.160]. After accounting

for PsyCap, the direct effect of global flexibility on

resilience remained statistically significant, B =

0.072, p = 0.003, 95% CI [0.024, 0.120]. The

indirect effect of global flexibility on resilience via

PsyCap was also significant (B = 0.060, 95% CI

[0.032, 0.091]), indicating partial mediation.

Specifically, global flexibility was a significant

positive predictor of PsyCap (a1), b = 0.183,

p<0.001, 95% CI [0.131, 0.235], and PsyCap

significantly predicted resilience (b1), B = 0.326,

p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.290, 0.362].

Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

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ISSN 2612-2138

Table 4: Mediation Model Summary table (with 95% confidence intervals) for Psychological Capital as a

mediator between psychological flexibility and resilience (N = 149)

Predictor/ Path

Effect (B)

95% CI [LL, UL]

Global Flexibility

→PsyCap (a

)

0.183

<.001

[0.131, 0.235]

PsyCap → Resilience

(b1)

0.326

<.001

[0.290, 0.362]

Total effect on Resilience

0.111

<.001

[0.062, 0.160]

Direct effect on resilience

0.072

.003

[0.024, 0.120]

Indirect effect through

PsyCAP

0.060

[0.032, 0.091]

Global Inflexibility

→PsyCap (a

)

-0.094

<.001

[-0.137, -0.051]

PsyCap →

Resilience (b2)

0.326

<.001

[0.290, 0.362]

Total effect on Resilience

-0.163

<.001

[-0.205, -0.121]

Direct effect on resilience

-0.089

<.001

[-0.129, -0.049]

Indirect effect through

PsyCAP

-0.031

[-0.055, -0.010]

Note. Indirect effects based on 5,000bootstrap samples. CI Confidence Interval. Mediation is significant

when the 95% CI does not include zero

Global Inflexibility and Resilience

Global inflexibility showed a significant

negative total effect on resilience, B = -0.163, p

<.001, 95% CI [-0.205, -0.121]. The direct effect

of Global Inflexibility on Resilience, controlling for

PsyCap, remained significant, B = -0.089, p

<.001, 95% CI [-0.129, -0.049]. The indirect effect

through PsyCap was also significant, B = -0.031,

95% CI [-0.055, -0.010], suggesting a partial

mediation. Global inflexibility was a significant

negative predictor of PsyCap (a2), B = -0.094, p

< 0.001, 95% CI [-0.137, -0.051], and PsyCap

positively predicted Resilience (b2), B = 0.326, P

< .001, 95% CI [0.290, 0.362].

The present findings support the partial

mediating role of psychological capital in the

relationship between multidimensional

psychological flexibility and resilience.

Discussion

Summary of significant findings.

The present study aimed to explore the

relationships and predictive pathways among

multidimensional Psychological Flexibility,

Psychological Capital, and Resilience, and to

examine the mediating role of Psychological

Capital in the link between multidimensional

Psychological Flexibility and Resilience among

emerging adults. Findings revealed that global

flexibility is positively associated with PsyCap and

Resilience, whereas global inflexibility is negatively

associated with both. Specifically, PsyCap was

identified as a partial mediator, indicating that

flexibility enables individuals to develop internal

psychological strengths, which, in turn, promote

resilience. These relationships were further

supported by regression analysis, which showed

that participants with greater psychological

flexibility tend to exhibit higher levels of PsyCap

and Resilience. On the contrary, those with

greater psychological inflexibility reported lower

levels of resilience and PsyCap. Additionally, the

mediation analysis showed that PsyCap act as a

mediator through which flexibility domains

influence resilience. That means psychologically

flexible individuals may be more efficient in

employing psychological resources that enable

adaptive coping and persistence in challenging

situations than those with a rigid mindset.

The present results are consistent with the

existing body of research. Psychological flexibility

is associated with adaptive outcomes, including

reduced stress, enhanced coping and better

mental health across the population (Kashdan &

Rottenberg, 2010). Research by Cherry et al

(2024) reported that flexibility predicts lower

academic burnout and improved well-being.

Previous studies have also shown that

Psychological Capital is a core predictor and

mediator of positive psychological outcomes.

Psychological capital has been found to mediate

the relationships between mindfulness and life

satisfaction among college students, and

between emotional intelligence and well-being

(Huang & Kou, 2025; Carmona–Halty et al.,

2019). These findings validate the present results,

in which Psychology Capital serves as the

mediating mechanism through which flexibility

promotes resilience.

Regarding resilience, the strong correlation

between resilience and PsyCap in this study (r =

.55, p < .01) is consistent with existing evidence

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that PsyCap predicts resilience, positive coping,

and well-being among emerging adults (Luthans

& Yussef-Morgan, 2017). As a whole, these

findings once again establish the existing findings

that psychological flexibility promotes internal

psychological resources through (PsyCap),

thereby facilitating resilient functioning- a central

adaptive mechanism during emerging

adulthood (and throughout life), when individuals

face challenges related to life events and

developmental transitions.

Interpretation in light of theoretical

frameworks.

The present findings can be explained within

two major theoretical frameworks in Positive

Psychology. Firstly, Conservation of Resources

Theory (COR) (Hobfoll, 1989, 2001), states that

individuals strive to acquire, protect and preserve

valued resources, and when they are exposed to

psychological distress, these resources are lost or

endangered. Psychological resources, namely

optimism, self-efficacy, and hope, are valuable

because they facilitate the acquisition of

additional resources. In the context of the present

findings, psychological flexibility can be

considered a meta–resource that facilitates

individuals in managing their psychological

resources efficiently, thereby promoting the cycle

of resource gain. On the other hand,

psychological inflexibility may hinder adaptive

functioning and effective use of psychological

resources, leading to their depletion.

The mediating effect of PsyCap supports this

view. Flexibility appears to facilitate the

development of internal psychological resources,

such as optimism and hope, which are essential

for resilience. This aligns with recent findings that

PsyCap acts as a reservoir of psychological

resources that buffer against stress and burnout

(Kumyoung & Kumyoung, 2025; Malak & Quasim,

2025). PsyCap has also been found to act as a

protective mechanism against stressors by

fostering a sense of agency and optimism,

especially in academic and occupational

settings (Luthans & Youssef-Morgan, 2017).

Therefore, psychological flexibility may be a

crucial tool for emerging adults in building and

sustaining internal psychological resources as

they navigate identity shifts and social transitions.

Another central theoretical viewpoint that

aligns with the current finding is the Broaden-and-

Build theory of positive emotion (Frederickson,

2001). The theory states that positive emotions

broaden individuals’ cognitive-behavioral

repertoires, which, over time, help individuals to

build internal psychological resources.

Psychological flexibility likely contributes to this

process by encouraging openness and

acceptance, fostering positive emotions, and

expanding cognitive abilities. This, in turn, led to

the development of PsyCap, characterized by

hope, self-efficacy, and optimism that support

resilience. The present mediation results also

support this view- flexibility found to broaden

adaptive cognition and affect, thereby building

PsyCap, which ultimately facilitates resilience.

Existing evidence supports these

mechanisms. Research by Frederickson and

Joiner (2002) showed that positive emotions

generate an upward spiral of well-being and

resource building. Tugade and Frederickson

(2004) found that resilient individuals use positive

emotions to recover from stress, thereby

enhancing flexibility and resourcefulness. Also,

PsyCap is said to have emerged from positive

emotional and cognitive experiences that foster

resilience and functional adaptability (Youssef-

Morgan & Luthans, 2017). All these studies are

validating the crucial role of psychological

flexibility in building and sustaining internal

psychological resources.

Theoretical and Practical Implications

The result integrates positive psychology and

the theoretical conceptualization of third-wave

behavioral therapy from an ACT perspective.

Taken together, the study paves the way for

constructing a solid foundation for advancing a

primary intervention framework for the prevention

of psychopathology and mental health

promotion. The practical and social value of this

study lies in several aspects. The results provide a

proactive model for mental health prevention,

highlighting the complex interplay among

variables. The findings will also guide universities,

workplaces, and policymakers in designing

integrated training programs by underscoring the

importance of incorporating adaptive

psychological resources into youth development

and preventive strategies.

Strength, Limitations and Future

Directions

Strength of the study

The present study is both timely and highly

relevant as it investigates emerging adults- a

population that represents the future workforce,

parents and leaders. Examining and

understanding the relationships and predictive

pathways among psychological flexibility,

psychological capital, and resilience in this age

group is crucial, as their mental health and well-

being will shape current and future generations.

By examining the mechanistic pathways through

which these variables operate, the findings

provide a strong foundation for designing and

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implementing effective interventions that address

both prevention and treatment, thereby fostering

the resilience of an entire generation.

Limitations and Future Directions

While the present findings meaningfully

contribute to the literature, the study has a few

limitations:

•Participant unavailability constrained the

final sample size.

•The present study used a cross-sectional

design. Experimental and mixed-methods

research designs can yield causal inferences and

can also address the issue of relying entirely on

self-report measures.

•Future works can test how moderators

and contextual variables play any role in the

interplay between resilience, PsyCap and

Psychological flexibility. Additionally, focusing on

domain-wise exploration can yield theoretically

rich findings.

Practical and Social Value

The present study is distinctive in exploring the

novel, mechanistic pathway among resilience

(the buffer), Psychological Capital (the reservoir),

and Psychological Flexibility (the adaptive

regulator) as an integrated triad of protective

mechanisms for emerging adults. Using a

quantitative approach to examine their

interrelationships and mediating pathways, the

study offers a holistic framework for understanding

how young adults navigate their lives amid rapidly

changing social, economic, and personal

transitions. Drawing on Frederickson’s Broaden-

Build Theory of Positive Emotions & Conservation

of Resources Theory, the present finding reveals

that these variables together expand coping

repertoires, build enduring psychological

resources, and safeguard emerging adults as

they navigate major developmental transitions.

Furthermore, the study paves the way for

constructing a solid foundation for advancing a

primary intervention framework for the prevention

of psychopathology and mental health

promotion. The practical and social value of this

study lies in several aspects. The results provide a

proactive model for mental health prevention,

highlighting the complex interplay among

variables. The findings will also guide universities,

workplaces, and policymakers in designing

integrated training programs by underscoring the

importance of incorporating adaptive

psychological resources into youth development

and preventive strategies.

At its core, this research represents the first step

toward establishing a strong theoretical

foundation for developing a new toolkit that

equips emerging adults not only to withstand

challenges but also to thrive, innovate, and lead

meaningful lives, thereby contributing to the long-

term strengthening of society.

Conclusion

The present study aimed to explore the

relationships and predictive pathways among

multidimensional Psychological Flexibility,

Psychological Capital, and Resilience, and to

examine the mediating role of Psychological

Capital in the link between multidimensional

Psychological Flexibility and Resilience among

emerging adults. Findings revealed that global

flexibility is positively associated with PsyCap and

Resilience, whereas global inflexibility is negatively

associated with both. Specifically, PsyCap was

identified as a partial mediator, indicating that

flexibility enables individuals to develop internal

psychological strengths, which, in turn, promote

resilience. By integrating the theoretical

formulation offered by COR and Broaden–and–

Build theory, the findings offer a novel and

comprehensive view of how adaptive cognitive-

emotional mechanisms promote resilience

during the critical developmental period. The

existing body of research also validates these

findings.

Funding statement

The authors declare that this research did not

receive any specific grant from funding agencies

in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit

sectors. The publication fee was covered by the

authors.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known

competing financial interests or personal

relationships that could have appeared to

influence the work reported in this paper.

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