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Behavioral Sciences
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Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing
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Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 February 2026 | Viewed by 6446

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Emily Sandoz

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Guest Editor
Psychology Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
Interests: psychological flexibility; psychological health and wellbeing; clinical behavior analysis; interbehaviorism
Dr. Thomas Sease

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA
Interests: psychological flexibility; flourishing; physical and psychological well-being; legal populations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Psychological flexibility has been increasingly established as a fundamental aspect of human health and well-being. Across physical, psychological, and social domains, this capacity to fully contact a range of experiences and take action consistent with personal values seems to be central to the process of thriving. In offering a sound conceptualization of what it means to be psychologically well, psychological flexibility has been fully integrated into the scientific study of wellness. Psychological flexibility seems to be measurable, as a number of assessment approaches have been validated and shown to be useful. Psychological flexibility also seems to be manipulable, as intervention studies in educational, clinical, performance, community, and correctional settings demonstrate increases in flexibility along with many positive outcomes. This Special Issue invites authors to submit publications on the topic of psychological flexibility as it relates to health and well-being. Conceptual, empirical, assessment, and review papers are welcome, and we hope for contributions from a range of disciplines across the realm of behavioral sciences.

Prof. Dr. Emily Sandoz
Dr. Thomas Sease
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • psychological flexibility
  • components of flexibility
  • health and wellness
  • resilience
  • thriving
  • flourishing

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 238 KiB  
Article
The Impact of a 3-Month Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention on Psychological Flexibility and Depression
by Samantha J. Schram and Jason Lillis
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060788 - 7 Jun 2025
Viewed by 216
Abstract
A significant portion of individuals with overweight or obesity seek behavioral weight loss, which aims to modify behaviors and habits related to diet, physical activity, and lifestyle and has been shown to result in clinically meaningful weight loss and improved cardiometabolic health. While [...] Read more.
A significant portion of individuals with overweight or obesity seek behavioral weight loss, which aims to modify behaviors and habits related to diet, physical activity, and lifestyle and has been shown to result in clinically meaningful weight loss and improved cardiometabolic health. While the physical outcomes of behavioral weight loss are well documented, relevant psychological processes and mental health outcomes are less studied. This secondary analysis examined psychological flexibility in relation to depression change and weight change in adults (N = 508) with a body mass index greater than 25 enrolled in a 3-month automated behavioral weight loss intervention. Psychological flexibility was assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes (CompACT), a tool based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) initiative Depression-Short Form, which collects information directly reported by patients, was used to measure levels of depression. Change in psychological flexibility was found to significantly moderate the positive relationship between weight change and change in depression over the course of a 3-month behavioral weight loss intervention, such that individuals with greater increases in psychological flexibility experienced greater reductions in depression levels when also losing weight. These results suggest that psychological flexibility may enhance the psychological benefits of behavioral weight loss and could be a useful target in a modified version of behavioral weight loss intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
21 pages, 301 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Parenting Avoidance (IPA): Scale Development and Psychometric Evaluation Among Parents of Transgender Youth
by Haley R. Hedrick, Stephanie V. Caldas and Danielle N. Moyer
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050625 - 3 May 2025
Viewed by 326
Abstract
Parental support and acceptance are strong protective factors for better mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse youth. Psychological inflexibility, specifically in the role of parenting, or “parenting inflexibility”, refers to an over-reliance on avoidance strategies at the expense of parenting values. [...] Read more.
Parental support and acceptance are strong protective factors for better mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse youth. Psychological inflexibility, specifically in the role of parenting, or “parenting inflexibility”, refers to an over-reliance on avoidance strategies at the expense of parenting values. Parenting inflexibility may be related to parental support, making it a useful target of intervention for parents of transgender youth. The aim of the present study was to develop a brief clinically useful measure of parenting inflexibility based on a synthesis of existing measures and to evaluate the psychometric properties across two study populations. Study 1 used exploratory factor analysis to examine this measure among parents in the general population recruited using MTurk. Study 2 used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the measure among parents of transgender youth recruited from a clinic. The final measure, the Impact of Parenting Avoidance (IPA) scale, is a one-factor 7-item measure of parenting inflexibility that is easy to administer and interpret in a pediatric health setting. The resulting measure demonstrated acceptable reliability, and it was significantly correlated with important outcome variables, such as negative parenting practices and lower perceived parental support among transgender and gender diverse youth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
11 pages, 233 KiB  
Article
Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program
by Amie Zarling, Meg Berta and Ashlyn Miller
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15030317 - 6 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1428
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of change in batterer intervention programs (BIPs) is essential for advancing effective interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). This study evaluates changes in psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors among men participating in an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based BIP for [...] Read more.
Understanding the mechanisms of change in batterer intervention programs (BIPs) is essential for advancing effective interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). This study evaluates changes in psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors among men participating in an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based BIP for men court-mandated to domestic violence classes. Participants (N = 56) were assessed across three time points using validated measures of psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors. Findings revealed significant improvements in psychological inflexibility and corresponding reductions in IPV behaviors over the intervention period, with medium to large effect sizes. Psychological inflexibility at the final assessment predicted IPV outcomes, accounting for 15% of the variance, even after controlling for baseline IPV, age, and race. These results highlight psychological inflexibility as a potential mechanism of change in IPV interventions. Despite this study’s strengths, including its longitudinal design and rigorous analyses, limitations such as a small sample size and lack of a control group warrant further investigation. This study underscores the potential of ACT-based interventions to reduce IPV by targeting psychological inflexibility and offers insights for refining BIPs to enhance their impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
13 pages, 927 KiB  
Article
The Roles of Psychological Inflexibility and Mindful Awareness on Distress in a Convenience Sample of Black American Adults in the United States
by Akihiko Masuda, Bradley L. Goodnight, Nicole E. Caporino, Cerila C. Rapadas and Erin C. Tully
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020112 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1001
Abstract
Background: In recent years, the conceptual framework of psychological flexibility/inflexibility has been of global interest in the field of behavioral health. Nevertheless, studies and evidence of psychological flexibility/inflexibility remain limited for underrepresented groups of individuals, including people of color in the United States [...] Read more.
Background: In recent years, the conceptual framework of psychological flexibility/inflexibility has been of global interest in the field of behavioral health. Nevertheless, studies and evidence of psychological flexibility/inflexibility remain limited for underrepresented groups of individuals, including people of color in the United States (U.S.). Among these groups of individuals are Black Americans in the U.S. In response to this empirical gap, the present cross-sectional study investigated whether psychological inflexibility and mindful awareness were uniquely related to general psychological distress, somatization, depression, and anxiety in Black American adults in the United States. Methods: A convenience sample of 359 Black American college students completed self-report measures of interest online. Results: As predicted, correlational analyses showed that psychological inflexibility was positively associated with general psychological distress, somatization, depression, and anxiety, and that mindful awareness was negatively associated with these four distress variables. A path analysis model revealed that psychological inflexibility, but not mindful awareness, was uniquely associated with these distress variables. Conclusions: The present study extended previous findings with a convenience sample of Black American college students, suggesting that psychological inflexibility may be a useful construct for understanding psychological distress, more so than mindful awareness, among Black American adults in the U.S. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
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15 pages, 575 KiB  
Article
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Single-Session Digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention
by Michael E. Levin, Miriam N. Mukasa, Emily M. Bowers, Korena S. Klimczak and Ty B. Aller
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15010075 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2008
Abstract
Adherence challenges are common among digital mental health interventions (DMHIs). Single-session DMHIs may help by providing a low-intensity intervention that takes less time to complete. This pilot randomized controlled trial sought to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a single-session DMHI based [...] Read more.
Adherence challenges are common among digital mental health interventions (DMHIs). Single-session DMHIs may help by providing a low-intensity intervention that takes less time to complete. This pilot randomized controlled trial sought to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a single-session DMHI based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in a non-clinical sample of college students. The trial was pre-registered (NCT06139718). A total of 61 students were recruited, which was below the target of 100 participants. The participants were randomized to the single-session ACT DMHI or to a waitlist condition, with assessments completed at 1-week and 1-month follow-ups. The vast majority of participants (87%) completed the single-session ACT program. The participants provided high program satisfaction ratings. There were no differences between conditions on psychological flexibility, distress, or mental health help seeking. However, the participants assigned to ACT improved significantly more than the waitlist on well-being from baseline to 1-month follow-up (d = 0.29). Overall, the results were mixed, with some support for the acceptability and potential efficacy of a single-session ACT DMHI but also a lack of effect, most notably on psychological flexibility as the process of change in ACT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
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Review

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32 pages, 793 KiB  
Review
A Scoping Review of the Relationship Between Psychological (In)flexibility and Living with and Managing Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
by Max Z. Roberts, Francesca A. Scheiber, Ashley A. Moskovich and Rhonda M. Merwin
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 792; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060792 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 71
Abstract
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is highly prevalent and carries a significant self-management burden and elevated risk of biopsychosocial sequelae. Psychological flexibility (PF) has been shown to benefit living with and managing chronic health conditions. The present scoping review aimed to synthesize the available evidence [...] Read more.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is highly prevalent and carries a significant self-management burden and elevated risk of biopsychosocial sequelae. Psychological flexibility (PF) has been shown to benefit living with and managing chronic health conditions. The present scoping review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the relationship between PF and factors central to living with and managing DM. A systematic literature search was conducted. Studies were included if they measured psychological (in)flexibility (PI/PF) and/or one of its component processes and sampled individuals with type 1 or type 2 DM. A total of 48 articles were included. Eighteen (37.5%) sampled individuals with T2D, 16 (33.3%) sampled individuals with T1D, and 14 (29.2%) had mixed diagnostic samples. Twenty-nine (60.4%) reported observational studies, and 19 (39.6%) reported 18 intervention studies. Studies were conducted across 17 countries and broadly found that PI/PF were associated with many clinically meaningful DM variables (e.g., HbA1c, diabetes distress, quality of life, and self-management). Intervention studies including individual, group, and digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions showed trends for beneficial change in PI/PF and diabetes outcomes, but some findings were mixed, and many studies were underpowered. Only two studies tested change in PI/PF as a mediator of diabetes-related outcomes, and most studies used the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, which has been increasingly criticized for poor discriminant validity. Overall, findings show PI/PF are associated with most aspects of living with and managing diabetes and are generally amenable to change through ACT interventions. However, more methodologically rigorous studies are needed to determine whether PI/PF are active change processes in improving diabetes management and outcomes. Six key calls to action are presented to expand and strengthen this important area of research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
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Other

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11 pages, 200 KiB  
Perspective
Follow, Flex, and Flout: A Relational Frame Theory Account of Flexibility in the Context of Rule-Governed Behavior
by Alison Stapleton, Conor McCloskey and Louise McHugh
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060795 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 176
Abstract
Being able to change what we are doing when a behavior no longer serves us is important for our health and wellbeing. In the context of rule-governed behavior, changing one’s behavior in line with shifting contingencies is often described as being “flexible”, with [...] Read more.
Being able to change what we are doing when a behavior no longer serves us is important for our health and wellbeing. In the context of rule-governed behavior, changing one’s behavior in line with shifting contingencies is often described as being “flexible”, with many basic laboratory experiments operationalizing flexibility as deviations from a given rule that no longer results in reinforcement. And yet flexibility is not just about flouting rules; sometimes, being flexible means persisting. This paper unpacks flexibility in the context of rule-governed behavior from a relational frame theory perspective, outlining applied examples relevant to health behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
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