The Effects of Cognitive Flexibility on the Relation between Community Violence Exposure, Bilingualism, and Mental Health Symptoms in Latinx Youth

Abstract

Abstract Latinx youth in the United States experience disproportionate exposure to community violence, which contributes to elevated rates of mental health symptoms. Research suggests that individual differences, such as cognitive flexibility (CF) and bilingualism, may serve as protective factors in the context of exposure to community violence. The present study examined associations among community violence exposure, bilingual proficiency, CF, and mental health symptoms among Latinx children. We also tested whether CF moderated associations between community violence exposure, bilingual proficiency, and mental health symptoms. Participants included 50 3rd -5th grade Latinx students ( M age = 9.84, age range = 8–12, SD = 1.04, 48% female) recruited from a charter school that serves a predominantly Latinx student body. CF was measured using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, bilingualism was assessed through the Woodcock-Muñoz Language Survey III, and mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression, were measured using the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results demonstrated that greater exposure to community violence was associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, and that CF moderated these effects, buffering against adverse mental health outcomes. Contrary to study hypotheses, bilingualism was not significantly associated with CF or mental health symptoms. These findings highlight CF as a potential marker of resilience among Latinx children exposed to community violence. Future research should explore interventions that enhance CF to mitigate the psychological impact of trauma in this population.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 2026 · DOI ↗