Impact of Depression, Anxiety on Life Satisfaction and Cognitive Flexibility Among Female University Students

Abstract

The present study examined the impact of anxiety and depression on cognitive flexibility and life satisfaction among female university students in Sialkot, Pakistan. University students frequently encounter academic, social, and personal challenges that increase their vulnerability to psychological distress, which may adversely affect cognitive functioning and subjective well-being. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed. A total of 200 female undergraduate and graduate students aged 18–30 years were recruited from public and private universities through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale (AKUADS), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson product–moment correlation, simple linear regression, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25. The findings revealed a significant negative relationship between anxiety and depression and cognitive flexibility (r = −.220, p = .002), as well as a strong negative relationship between anxiety and depression and life satisfaction (r = −.495, p < .001). Cognitive flexibility showed a positive but non-significant association with life satisfaction (r = .110, p = .127). Regression analyses indicated that anxiety and depression significantly predicted cognitive flexibility (R² = .048, p = .002) and life satisfaction (R² = .245, p < .001), with a stronger predictive effect on life satisfaction. ANOVA further demonstrated significant differences in life satisfaction across varying levels of psychological distress, whereas cognitive flexibility did not differ significantly. The findings highlight the importance of early identification and management of anxiety and depression to enhance cognitive functioning and life satisfaction among female university students. Universities should strengthen counseling services and implement evidence-based mental health interventions to promote students' psychological well-being.