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A Chain mediation model linking experiential avoidance, cognitive flexibility, negative emotions, and sleep quality in university students
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  • Published: 18 March 2026

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

  • Yucong Jiang1,
  • Tao Peng1,
  • Ning Wang1,
  • Jie Peng1,
  • Xinxin Tan2 &
  • …
  • Yang Liu3 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Health care
  • Psychology

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.

Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due [our experimental team’s policy] but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangxi MINZU University, Nanning, China

    Yucong Jiang, Tao Peng, Ning Wang & Jie Peng

  2. Zhangjiajie College, Zhangjiajie, China

    Xinxin Tan

  3. Chengdu Experimental Middle School, Chengdu, China

    Yang Liu

Authors
  1. Yucong Jiang
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  2. Tao Peng
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  3. Ning Wang
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  4. Jie Peng
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Contributions

Yucong Jiang12345, Tao Peng1235, Ning Wang1235, Jie Peng135, Xinxin Tan1256, Yang Liu 123456.1 Conceptualization;2 Methodology;3 Data curation;4 Writing - Original Draft;5 Writing - Review & Editing;6 Funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Xinxin Tan or Yang Liu.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The study was approved by the Guangxi Minzu University Ethics Committee (Approval No.202510608052). Informed consent was obtained from the participants and their guardians before the start of the program. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Jiang, Y., Peng, T., Wang, N. et al. A Chain mediation model linking experiential avoidance, cognitive flexibility, negative emotions, and sleep quality in university students. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44776-y

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  • Received: 28 November 2025

  • Accepted: 13 March 2026

  • Published: 18 March 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44776-y

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Keywords

  • Experiential Avoidance
  • Sleep Quality
  • Cognitive Flexibility
  • Negative Emotions
  • College Students
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