{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T19:46:14Z","timestamp":1791834374847,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791504000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Psychol Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Emerging adulthood is a transitional life stage in which parent\u2013child relationships remain meaningful for psychological adjustment and well-being of individuals. The present study examined the associations among cognitive flexibility, assertiveness, and parent\u2013child relationship quality among a sample of Indian emerging adults, as well as the theoretical predictive associations of cognitive flexibility and assertiveness with parent\u2013child relationship quality within a regression framework, drawing on Social Learning Theory. A sample of 376 participants aged 18\u201329\u00a0years completed the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior (SIB), and the Network of Relationships Inventory\u2013Behavioral Systems Version (NRI\u2013BSV). Using a correlational cross-sectional design, Spearman\u2019s correlations, regression analyses and Mann\u2013Whitney U tests were conducted. Results indicated significant positive associations among cognitive flexibility, assertiveness, and parent\u2013child relationship quality. Regression analyses demonstrated statistically significant models, with assertiveness showing a statistically significant theoretical predictive association with relationship quality for both mothers and fathers, whereas cognitive flexibility demonstrated a statistically significant theoretical predictive association only with father\u2013child relationship quality. No significant gender differences were observed across the study variables. Together, cognitive flexibility and assertiveness accounted for a modest proportion of the variance in parent\u2013child relationship quality, suggesting that they represent only one part of a broader network of psychological, relational, familial and sociocultural factors. The findings suggest that adaptive thinking and assertive interpersonal behaviour are associated with perceived parent\u2013child relationship quality among a predominantly college-going sample of Indian emerging adults from intact families. As an exploratory study, the insights derived provides a foundation for future research examining additional factors and the mechanisms through which parent\u2013child relationships are shaped across diverse populations and contexts. The findings may also inform counselling and psychoeducational interventions that strengthen adaptive thinking and effective communication as part of a broader, multifaceted approach to promoting supportive parent\u2013child relationships.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/00332941261488391","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T12:28:30Z","timestamp":1791548910000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Cognitive Flexibility and Assertiveness as Predictors of Parent-Child Relationship Quality in Emerging Adulthood"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9676-7252","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tehzeeb","family":"Choudhury","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CHRIST (Deemed to be University)"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sudhesh","family":"Nellikkattuthodi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CHRIST (Deemed to be University)"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_8_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-35590-6_15"},{"key":"e_1_3_8_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/spc3.12317"},{"key":"e_1_3_8_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2004.06.019"},{"key":"e_1_3_8_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0146-6402(90)90004-A"},{"key":"e_1_3_8_6_1","volume-title":"Scale for interpersonal behavior (SIB) [database record]","author":"Arrindell W. 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