Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Kevin Rosales

Abstract

The direct and indirect associations of executive functions (EF) and resilience hint towards a strong association between these variables, however there are still gaps in the literature. The current study aims to explore the relationship between EF's (inhibition, shifting, and updating) and resilience. We hypothesize that EF's scores will generally correlate with resilience. Specifically, we hypothesize that inhibition scores will positively correlate to resilience scores. That shifting scores will positively correlate to resilience scores. That updating scores will correlate positively with resilience scores. Finally, the strength of the association between EF's and resilience will change depending on which EF's is predicting it, with inhibition being the highest predictor, followed by shifting, then updating. Participants (N=89) were recruited by convenience from CSU, San Bernardino, using extra course credit as an incentive. In a controlled setting, across two parts, participants completed a demographic survey, two resilience measures, an EF's survey, and six EF's behavioral tasks. The Adult Resilience Measure - Revised (ARM-R) and the Rugged Resilience Measure (RRM) measured resilience. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions - Adult (BRIEF-A) served as a self-report measure of EF's abilities. The Antissacade and Go/No-Go tasks measured inhibition. The Global-Local and Number-Letter tasks measured shifting. The Letter-Memory and N-back task measured updating. A correlational design was used to compare EF's and Resilience. Multiple regression analysis was utilized to test  the predictability of the influence of EF's upon resilience. Results showed a significant correlation between resilience and updating, as well as resilience and shifting specifically between the ARM-R and the BRIEF-A Updating and Shifting subscale, as well as the ARM-R and the Letter-Memory task. No significant correlations were found between resilience and inhibition.

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