Modeling the relationship between theory of mind and executive functions (cognitive flexibility and response inhibition) in adolescents: the mediating role of emotional intelligence

Executive functions are important structures that play an important role in controlling and directing behavior. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between theory of mind and executive functions (cognitive flexibility and response inhibition). The current research method was correlation and structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the research included all female students aged 13 to 18 in Khomeini Shahr city in 2021, of which 300 were selected for the research sample using the available method. To collect data from the emotional intelligence questionnaire (Schutte et al., 1998), software tests of Wisconsian card sorting (Grant and Berg, 1984), go /no go (Hoffman, 1984) and mind reading through eye images (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) were used. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation model were used in AMOS-24 software. The findings showed that theory of mind had a positive and significant direct effect on emotional intelligence with a coefficient of 0.233 and on cognitive flexibility and response inhibition with a coefficient of 0.133 and 0.218 respectively (P<0.01), intelligence Emotion with cognitive flexibility and response inhibition had a positive and significant direct effect with coefficients of 0.144 and 0.337 respectively (P<0.01). The indirect effect of theory of mind on flexibility and response inhibition with the mediating role of emotional intelligence was 0.033 and 0.078, respectively. Therefore, the results indicated the decisive role of theory of mind and emotional intelligence in predicting cold executive functions (cognitive flexibility and response inhibition). Finally, considering the relationship between theory of mind, emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility and response inhibition, by increasing theory of mind and emotional intelligence, it is possible to help improve the components of executive functions.