The explanation of students’ adjustment to university based on perceptions of parents: mediating mechanism of cognitive flexibility

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between adjustment to university and parental perceptions. The research method was descriptive-correlational. The research population included all undergraduate students of the University of Birjand in the second semester of 2019-2020. For this purpose, 286 participants, selected available sampling method, completed the Perceptions of Parents Scale (Robbins, 1994), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), and Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (Baker and Siryk, 1984). The results showed that parental perceptions have an indirect and significant effect on students' adjustment to university through the mediating role of cognitive flexibility (P<0/01). The fit indices confirmed the goodness of fit of the stated model. The results indicate that improving students' academic adjustment requires supportive parenting practices and strengthening cognitive flexibility.