Predicting Positive and Negative Affect based on Cognitive Flexibility with the Mediating Role of Pain Catastrophizing in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain

Mardi, Zahra; Emamipour, Susan

doi:10.48311/ijmpp.2026.121078.82928

Predicting Positive and Negative Affect based on Cognitive Flexibility with the Mediating Role of Pain Catastrophizing in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zahra Mardi ¹

Susan Emamipour ²

¹ Psychology Faculty, Islamic Azad University - Central Tehran Branch, Iran, Tehran

² Associate Professor of Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

10.48311/ijmpp.2026.121078.82928

Abstract

Aims: 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 and Materials: This study 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 through 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.
Findings: Results of this study 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: This study showed that the positive and negative mood prediction is based on cognitive flexibility, with the mediating role of pain catastrophizing in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. This structural model will benefit physicians and psychologists in health and clinical settings to which the these patients referred.

Keywords

Positive and negative affect

Cognitive flexibility

Pain catastrophizing

Musculoskeletal pain

Subjects