A Chain mediation model linking experiential avoidance, cognitive flexibility, negative emotions, and sleep quality in university students

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between experiential avoidance and sleep quality among university students, with particular attention to the chain mediating effects of cognitive flexibility and negative emotions. Using convenience sampling, 840 students were recruited from southwestern and southern China, and the final analytical sample included 833 participants with a mean age of 18.83 ± 0.99 years, including 242 males and 591 females. Demographic variables were statistically controlled in the analyses. Results revealed a significant negative cross-sectional association between experiential avoidance and sleep quality. Additionally, a significant chain mediation pathway was found, indicating that experiential avoidance influenced sleep quality through the sequential mediators of cognitive flexibility and negative affect. These findings suggest that implementing long-term psychological monitoring for students with high levels of experiential avoidance and effectively intervening in their cognition and negative affect, thereby reducing the levels of all three, may contribute to improving their sleep quality and promoting their overall healthy development.