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Volume 24, Issue 3 (Autumn 2022)
Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2022, 24(3): 164-178 |
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Delavarpouraghdam M, Moradi A, Hasani J, Nouri R. The role of self-complexity, evaluative self-organization, and self-concept clarity in predicting cognitive flexibility in Afghan immigrant adolescents. Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2022; 24 (3) :164-178
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1419-en.html
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1419-en.html
1- PhD Candidate of Health Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
2- Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran,Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
3- Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
4- Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
2- Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran,Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
3- Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
4- Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (1058 Views)
Introduction
Immigrant adolescents are considered to be an extremely vulnerable group who are at increased risk for a range of psychological problems. On the other hand, the increase in the number of immigrants may potentially impose substantial pressure on mental health services in the country they are hosting. The current situation in Afghanistan makes it likely that Iran is facing a new wave of immigrants, warranting more knowledge about facilitating and promoting the immigrant adolescent’s positive adaptation. Cognitive flexibility refers to the mental ability that enables immigrant adolescents to adjust effectively to changing environmental demands and switch between cognitive strategies. Considering that few studies have been done in this regard with the variables studied in this study at present; thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of structural properties of self, consisting of self-complexity, self-concept clarity, and evaluative self-organization in the cognitive flexibility of Afghan immigrant adolescents in Iran.
Methods
The research method was descriptive correlational, analyzing the relationship between research variables. Three properties of structural self, consisting of self-complexity, self-concept clarity, and self-organization, were used as predictor variables, and cognitive flexibility as criterion variable entered into the study. The statistical population included all male and female Afghan immigrant adolescents in Iran aged 11 to 19. The sample of this study included 147 adolescents from four cities (Tehran, Qom, Semnan and, Mashhad) who were selected by convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria for participation were: having the ability to read and write and informed consent to participate in the research. Furthermore, the criteria for exclusion were: history of psychiatric disorder, severe cognitive disability, and sight/hearing problems affecting a person’s ability to communicate with the researcher. In order to observe the ethical principles of the research, all subjects received information about the research. They were assured that all information would remain confidential and only be used for research purposes. Written informed consent and verbal assent were obtained from immigrant adolescents and their parents. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Kharazmi University Regional Research Ethics Committee (protocol number: IR.KHU.REC.1399.041). The Self-Descriptive Attribution-sorting Task, the Self-Concept Clarity Scale, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were used. In this study, Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation), conventional correlation, and multiple regressions to measure the research variables. In this study, a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Lastly, data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software.
Results
Of 147 participating adolescents, 80 were girls, and 67 were boys. The mean and standard deviation of the age of male adolescents (14.13, 2.12) and female adolescents (14.93, 2.48) were obtained. Besides, the mean and standard deviation of the total age of adolescents was 14.56 and 2.35. Most participants in the study (76.2%) were second-generation immigrants who were born in Iran or who immigrated to Iran before age 6. The results showed the relationship between evaluative self-organization and total number of errors (TNE) (P<0.05, r=-0.25), evaluative self-organization with number of perseverative errors (NPE) (P<0.05, r=-0.22), evaluative self-organization with number of completed categories (NCC) (P<0.05, r=0.25), self-concept clarity with TNE (P<0.05, r=-0.22), self-concept clarity and NPE (P<0.05, r=-0.19), and self-concept clarity with NCC (P<0.05, r=0.20) were significant. The highest correlation coefficient was between evaluative self-organization with TNE and NCC (-0.25). According to the regression analysis results, among structural properties of self, self-concept clarity and evaluative self-organization could play a role in predicting cognitive flexibility. They predicted 10.8% of Completed Categories measure (P<0.01) and 11.7% Total Incorrect measure (P<0.001) of WCST. Among predictor variables, evaluative self-organization could predict a 4.9% Perseverative Errors measure (P<0.01) of WCST. The relationship between self-complexity and cognitive flexibility was not significant. The result revealed that evaluative self-organization (compartmentalization vs. integration) has the highest predictive power among the properties of the structural self.
Conclusion
In summary, the present study's results revealed that self-concept clarity and evaluative self-organization–two properties of structural self-have a significant relationship with cognitive flexibility. According to the present study’s results, paying attention to the structural properties of the self can contain valuable points to improve cognitive flexibility. These findings suggest that increasing the level of self-concept clarity and compartmentalization of self-organization may promote adjustment and better performance in Afghan immigrant adolescents when faced with the stressful challenges of immigration. Therefore, according to the importance of immigrants’ adaptation and the role of structural self in predicting cognitive flexibility, it is necessary to develop specific, codified, and accurate programs to create a suitable environment for immigrant adolescents to engage in more social roles, relations, and activities. In addition, promoting more apparent positive and negative self-knowledge could enhance skills to effectively switch between conflicting contextualized identities. This study has some limitations that future research should be taken into consideration. The first one regards the cross-sectional nature of the study. In future research, the use of longitudinal design will help.
Among the research limitations, this research could mention the limited population, the cross-sectional statistical sample of the research, contradictory remarks about the validity and reliability of the Linville H index, the impossibility of examining all the other variables playing a role in this process, and self-report measure for self-concept clarity. Therefore, the use of longitudinal studies, the search for a more valid and reliable index for self-complexity, the comparison with different groups such as native adolescents, the expansion of the statistical population and sample, and examine the mediation and moderation role of other potential variables such as acculturation strategies, emotion regulation, and personality types can more appropriately explain the relationship.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
In order to comply with the ethical principles of the research, all subjects received information about the research. They were assured that all information would remain confidential and only be used for research purposes. Written informed consent and verbal assent were obtained from immigrant adolescents and their parents. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Kharazmi University Regional Research Ethics Committee (protocol number: IR.KHU.REC.1399.041).
Authors’ contributions
Morteza Delavarpouraghdam: Participated in the implementation of the research, data collection, initial writing of the article, and analysis and review of the results. Alireza Moradi: The corresponding author and guide for the implementation stages of the research and revision of the article. Jafar Hasani: Participated in the research article’s analysis. All authors discussed the results and participated in editing the final version of the article.
Funding
This research was carried out with the financial support of the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) with project number 96005280.
Acknowledgments
In the end, the authors are grateful to the Association for Protection of Refugees & Children HAMI in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, and Semnan, and all those who have facilitated the implementation of the research.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Immigrant adolescents are considered to be an extremely vulnerable group who are at increased risk for a range of psychological problems. On the other hand, the increase in the number of immigrants may potentially impose substantial pressure on mental health services in the country they are hosting. The current situation in Afghanistan makes it likely that Iran is facing a new wave of immigrants, warranting more knowledge about facilitating and promoting the immigrant adolescent’s positive adaptation. Cognitive flexibility refers to the mental ability that enables immigrant adolescents to adjust effectively to changing environmental demands and switch between cognitive strategies. Considering that few studies have been done in this regard with the variables studied in this study at present; thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of structural properties of self, consisting of self-complexity, self-concept clarity, and evaluative self-organization in the cognitive flexibility of Afghan immigrant adolescents in Iran.
Methods
The research method was descriptive correlational, analyzing the relationship between research variables. Three properties of structural self, consisting of self-complexity, self-concept clarity, and self-organization, were used as predictor variables, and cognitive flexibility as criterion variable entered into the study. The statistical population included all male and female Afghan immigrant adolescents in Iran aged 11 to 19. The sample of this study included 147 adolescents from four cities (Tehran, Qom, Semnan and, Mashhad) who were selected by convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria for participation were: having the ability to read and write and informed consent to participate in the research. Furthermore, the criteria for exclusion were: history of psychiatric disorder, severe cognitive disability, and sight/hearing problems affecting a person’s ability to communicate with the researcher. In order to observe the ethical principles of the research, all subjects received information about the research. They were assured that all information would remain confidential and only be used for research purposes. Written informed consent and verbal assent were obtained from immigrant adolescents and their parents. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Kharazmi University Regional Research Ethics Committee (protocol number: IR.KHU.REC.1399.041). The Self-Descriptive Attribution-sorting Task, the Self-Concept Clarity Scale, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were used. In this study, Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation), conventional correlation, and multiple regressions to measure the research variables. In this study, a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Lastly, data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software.
Results
Of 147 participating adolescents, 80 were girls, and 67 were boys. The mean and standard deviation of the age of male adolescents (14.13, 2.12) and female adolescents (14.93, 2.48) were obtained. Besides, the mean and standard deviation of the total age of adolescents was 14.56 and 2.35. Most participants in the study (76.2%) were second-generation immigrants who were born in Iran or who immigrated to Iran before age 6. The results showed the relationship between evaluative self-organization and total number of errors (TNE) (P<0.05, r=-0.25), evaluative self-organization with number of perseverative errors (NPE) (P<0.05, r=-0.22), evaluative self-organization with number of completed categories (NCC) (P<0.05, r=0.25), self-concept clarity with TNE (P<0.05, r=-0.22), self-concept clarity and NPE (P<0.05, r=-0.19), and self-concept clarity with NCC (P<0.05, r=0.20) were significant. The highest correlation coefficient was between evaluative self-organization with TNE and NCC (-0.25). According to the regression analysis results, among structural properties of self, self-concept clarity and evaluative self-organization could play a role in predicting cognitive flexibility. They predicted 10.8% of Completed Categories measure (P<0.01) and 11.7% Total Incorrect measure (P<0.001) of WCST. Among predictor variables, evaluative self-organization could predict a 4.9% Perseverative Errors measure (P<0.01) of WCST. The relationship between self-complexity and cognitive flexibility was not significant. The result revealed that evaluative self-organization (compartmentalization vs. integration) has the highest predictive power among the properties of the structural self.
Conclusion
In summary, the present study's results revealed that self-concept clarity and evaluative self-organization–two properties of structural self-have a significant relationship with cognitive flexibility. According to the present study’s results, paying attention to the structural properties of the self can contain valuable points to improve cognitive flexibility. These findings suggest that increasing the level of self-concept clarity and compartmentalization of self-organization may promote adjustment and better performance in Afghan immigrant adolescents when faced with the stressful challenges of immigration. Therefore, according to the importance of immigrants’ adaptation and the role of structural self in predicting cognitive flexibility, it is necessary to develop specific, codified, and accurate programs to create a suitable environment for immigrant adolescents to engage in more social roles, relations, and activities. In addition, promoting more apparent positive and negative self-knowledge could enhance skills to effectively switch between conflicting contextualized identities. This study has some limitations that future research should be taken into consideration. The first one regards the cross-sectional nature of the study. In future research, the use of longitudinal design will help.
Among the research limitations, this research could mention the limited population, the cross-sectional statistical sample of the research, contradictory remarks about the validity and reliability of the Linville H index, the impossibility of examining all the other variables playing a role in this process, and self-report measure for self-concept clarity. Therefore, the use of longitudinal studies, the search for a more valid and reliable index for self-complexity, the comparison with different groups such as native adolescents, the expansion of the statistical population and sample, and examine the mediation and moderation role of other potential variables such as acculturation strategies, emotion regulation, and personality types can more appropriately explain the relationship.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
In order to comply with the ethical principles of the research, all subjects received information about the research. They were assured that all information would remain confidential and only be used for research purposes. Written informed consent and verbal assent were obtained from immigrant adolescents and their parents. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Kharazmi University Regional Research Ethics Committee (protocol number: IR.KHU.REC.1399.041).
Authors’ contributions
Morteza Delavarpouraghdam: Participated in the implementation of the research, data collection, initial writing of the article, and analysis and review of the results. Alireza Moradi: The corresponding author and guide for the implementation stages of the research and revision of the article. Jafar Hasani: Participated in the research article’s analysis. All authors discussed the results and participated in editing the final version of the article.
Funding
This research was carried out with the financial support of the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) with project number 96005280.
Acknowledgments
In the end, the authors are grateful to the Association for Protection of Refugees & Children HAMI in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, and Semnan, and all those who have facilitated the implementation of the research.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Keywords: Cognitive flexibility, Self-complexity, Self-concept clarity, Evaluative self-organization
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2022/05/2 | Accepted: 2022/08/1 | Published: 2022/11/15
Received: 2022/05/2 | Accepted: 2022/08/1 | Published: 2022/11/15
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