Psychological flexibility as a malleable public health target: Evidence from a representative sample

Background: Identifying salient and widespread health-promoting targets is a prerequisite for efficient public health initiatives. We tested the moderating influence of psychological flexibility - a fundamental, trainable set of intrapersonal and interpersonal processes that help people manage stressors and strengthen alternative adaptive behaviors - on the relationship between known risk factors and physical health, mental health, and well-being. Method: A representative sample of 1035 participants in Switzerland aged 18 - 74 years answered questions about their physical health, health care utilization, mental health, well-being, and three risk factors: stressful life events, daily stress, and low social support. Statistical models tested whether psychological flexibility moderated the relationship between risk factors and outcomes. Results: Psychological flexibility consistently moderated the relationship between stress and all tested outcomes, following a dose response: Higher levels were more protective. Conclusions: Targeting psychological flexibility - a salient and widespread set of trainable skills - could promote various health outcomes.