Meral SOZEN, Ali ARSLANOGLU
Medical Science and Discovery - 2026;13(3):51-58
Objective: The gut-brain axis has predominantly been investigated through biological mechanisms, whereas behavioral dimensions such as microbiota awareness have received limited attention. This study aimed to examine the relationship between microbiota awareness and cognitive flexibility among health sciences students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 490 undergraduate students enrolled in a Faculty of Health Sciences in Istanbul. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the Microbiota Awareness Scale (MAS), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). The association between MAS and CFI scores was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. Predictors of cognitive flexibility were examined using multiple linear regression. Results: Participants' MAS scores indicated a moderate-to-high level of microbiota awareness, while CFI scores suggested generally good cognitive flexibility. A statistically significant positive correlation was identified between total MAS and CFI scores (p < 0.05). In the multiple regression analysis, microbiota awareness remained a significant predictor of cognitive flexibility after controlling for demographic and lifestyle variables. The overall model was statistically significant and explained 21.5% of the variance (R² = 0.215, F = 13.124, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Microbiota awareness is positively associated with cognitive flexibility. These findings contribute a behavioral dimension to the gut-brain axis literature. Longitudinal studies incorporating biological measurements are warranted to clarify causal relationships.
