Cognitive Flexibility, Grit and Work Engagement among Early Career Mental Health Professionals

Abstract

This current research study was examined the relationship between cognitive flexibility, grit and work engagement among early career mental health professionals. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be a significant relationship among study variables. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was used. Non-probability purposive sampling was employed to recruit the sample of (N=200) early career mental health professionals (ages 20-35) from different hospitals and organizations of Lahore. The scales comprised the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory by Dennis et al. (2010), the Short Grit Scale (GRIT-S) by Duckworth & Quinn (2009), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) by Schaufeli et al. (2010). The results were generated by the means of SPSS v-27, employing Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, and the Moderation Analysis by the PROCESS HAYES macro, and the Independent Sample t-test. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation among early-career mental health professionals between cognitive flexibility, grit, and work engagement. Multiple linear regression analysis findings revealed that cognitive flexibility and grit positively predicted work engagement among early career mental health professionals. Furthermore, this study investigated the moderation analysis, which revealed that grit significantly moderates the relationship of cognitive flexibility and work engagement.  Furthermore, there is also a significant gender difference in terms of cognitive flexibility, grit and work engagement among early career mental health professionals. This study will help clinical psychologists and practitioners understand the role of cognitive flexibility and grit in their work engagement. So that individuals who are well trained in life skills and their psychological well-being remain intact.