This study investigates the function of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between emotional clarity and emotion regulation and examines the differential effect between belief and ability for cognitive flexibility on them.

The 151 participants respond to the questionnaires measuring emotional clarity, emotion regulation, and cognitive flexibility, which is also measured by task reflecting on real ability.

Data from this study show that self-reported cognitive flexibility mediates the effect of emotional clarity on emotion regulation. Cognitive flexibility measured by task has no mediating effect on them.

These results suggest the cognitive flexibility play a role in the mechanism linking emotional clarity to emotion regulation and belief of own’s ability to cope flexibly is more important than real ability. Finally, this paper includes implications, limitations, and suggestions for the future study.