Objective: The purpose of this study was to predict positive and negative affect based on cognitive flexibility with the mediating role of pain catastrophizing in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
Method: The study employed a practical approach and, in terms of the descriptive method, employed a correlational approach using the structural equation method. The population of this study comprised all patients with musculoskeletal disorders in Tehran in 2025. For this purpose, 250 patients with musculoskeletal disorders were selected from convenience and voluntary sampling. Participants completed Watson et al.`s Positive and Negative Affect Questionnaire. Dennis and VanderWal`s Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire, and Sullivan et al.`s Pain Catastrophizing Questionnaire. Data analysis involved correlation and structural equation modeling, conducted using SPSS version 26.
Results: Results showed that the positive and negative mood affect has a good fit with the mediating role of pain catastrophizing in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. In other words, cognitive flexibility has positive and negative effects on the mediating role of pain catastrophizing in patients with musculoskeletal disorders (P= 0.001).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the positive and negative mood prediction is based on cognitive flexibility, with the mediating role of pain catastrophizing in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. There is a structural model, and the findings of this study will benefit physicians and psychologists in health and clinical settings.