• +91-9555269393
  • info@ijdssh.com

International Journal of Development in Social Sciences and Humanities

(By Aryavart International University, India)

International Peer Reviewed (Refereed), Open Access Research Journal

E-ISSN:2455-5142 | P-ISSN:2455-7730
Impact Factor(2022): 6.725 | Impact Factor(2024): 7.012

IJDSSH
Typically replies within an hour

IJDSSH
Hi there

How can I help you?
Chat with Us

Paper Details

Flexible Thinking and its Relationship to Psychological Well-Being Among University Students

Vol 21, Jan-Jun 2026 2026 | Page: 1-24

Noor Ihsan Ali Haider
University of Baghdad, College of Education, Ibn Rushd for Human Sciences

Received: 02-12-2025, Accepted: 06-01-2026, Published Online: 19-01-2026


. Download Full Paper

Abstract

This research aims to determine the level of flexible thinking among university students and to assess their psychological well-being according to Moore’s grading. It also seeks to examine the significance of differences in the correlational relationship between flexible thinking and psychological well-being among a sample of university students. To achieve these objectives, a Flexible Thinking Scale and a Psychological Well-Being Scale were constructed. The study was administered to a sample of 400 university students of both sexes during the academic year 2025–2026 at the University of Baghdad, including 200 males and 200 females, representing both scientific and humanities disciplines. The Flexible Thinking Scale was developed by the researcher and consisted of 42 items based on Guilford’s scale (1973). The Psychological Well-Being Scale was developed according to Ryff’s model (1989) and comprised 42 items grouped into six dimensions: independence, personal growth, environmental mastery, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Each dimension included seven items.

Reference
  1. Debono .E.(2012):Thinking Flexibly .Students Handonts.Production of BBss -Thinking Flexibly. Aziz, I. A. (2017). Individual difference predictors of well-being among displaced persons living under stressful conditions (Doctoral dissertation, University of Leicester, UK).
  2. Bennett, J., & Müller, U. (2005). The development of abstraction and flexible thinking in preschoolers. Department of Psychology, University of Victoria.
  3. Costa, A. L., & Kallick, B. (2000). Discovering and exploring habits of mind. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).
  4. Ebel, R. L. (1972). Essentials of educational measurement. Prentice Hall.
  5. Fisher, T. (2003). Thinking taxonomy: Advancing competency through teacher–counselor collaboration. Education, 120(4), 668–674.
  6. Li, T. (2020). Use of magic performance as a schema disruption method to facilitate flexible thinking. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 36, 100650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100650
  7. O’Hare, W. P., et al. (2012). Analyzing differences in child well-being among U.S. states.
  8. Passig, D., Eden, S., & Hever, R. (2000). Improving flexible thinking in deaf and hard-of-hearing children using virtual reality technology. Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
  9. Ryff, C. D. (1989). Psychological well-being scale [Database record]. APA PsycTests.
  10. Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000353263
  11. Salami, S. O. (2010). Emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, psychological well-being, and students’ attitudes: Implications for quality education. European Journal of Educational Studies, 2(3), 247–257.
  12. Sternberg, R. J. (1988). Mental self-government: A theory of intellectual styles and their development. Yale University Press.
  13. Taylor, L., & Parsons, J. (2011). Improving student engagement. Current Issues in Education, 14(1), 1–32.