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Predictive Effects of Intolerance of Uncertainty, Perceived Uncertainty and Need for Autonomy on Depression and Anxiety Levels of University Students in the Post‑COVID‑19 Era

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 148 - 167, 31.05.2025

Aybike Çavdar , İnci Boyacioglu

https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1552509

Abstract

This study investigates the predictive roles of perceived uncertainty, intolerance of uncertainty, and frustrated need for autonomy on depression and anxiety levels among Turkish university students during a period in which the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic persisted. Prior research indicates that emerging adults are especially vulnerable to heightened anxiety and depressive symptoms under pandemic conditions. Accordingly, we hypothesized that perceived uncertainty, intolerance of uncertainty, and frustrated need for autonomy would each significantly predict levels of depression and anxiety. Data were collected online from 421 university students in Türkiye (ages 19–25; 303 female, 117 male, 1 undisclosed), who completed validated measures assessing perceived uncertainty, intolerance of uncertainty, and basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration. Hypotheses were tested via hierarchical regression analyses conducted in Jamovi software, with gender entered as a control variable. Results demonstrated that, after controlling gender, both intolerance of uncertainty and frustrated need for autonomy significantly predicted increased depression and anxiety, whereas perceived uncertainty did not exert a direct effect in the regression models. To further clarify the role of perceived uncertainty, parallel mediation analyses were performed, revealing that perceived uncertainty indirectly predicted higher levels of depression and anxiety through its effects on autonomy frustration and intolerance of uncertainty. These findings underscore the importance of targeting underlying cognitive and motivational processes in interventions designed to mitigate mental health risks among university students.

Keywords

Depression Anxiety Intolerance of Uncertainty Need for Autonomy Perceived Uncertainty

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COVID‑19 Sonrası Dönemde Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük, Algılanan Belirsizlik ve Özerklik İhtiyacının Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Depresyon ve Anksiyete Düzeyleri Üzerindeki Yordayıcı Etkileri

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 148 - 167, 31.05.2025

Aybike Çavdar , İnci Boyacioglu

https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1552509

Abstract

Bu çalışma, COVID-19 salgınının etkilerinin devam ettiği bir dönemde Türkiye’de eğitimine devam eden üniversite öğrencileri arasında algılanan belirsizlik, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük ve engellenmiş özerklik ihtiyacının depresyon ve anksiyete düzeyleri üzerindeki yordayıcı rollerini araştırmaktadır. Önceki araştırmalar, beliren yetişkinlik dönemindeki gençlerin pandemi koşullarında artan anksiyete ve depresif semptomlara karşı özellikle savunmasız olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu doğrultuda, algılanan belirsizlik, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük ve engellenmiş özerklik ihtiyacının her birinin depresyon ve anksiyete düzeylerini önemli ölçüde yordayacağı varsayılmıştır. Veriler, Türkiye'deki 421 üniversite öğrencisinden (19-25 yaş; 303 kadın, 117 erkek, 1 belirtmek istemeyen) çevrimiçi olarak toplanmıştır. Katılımcılar algılanan belirsizlik, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük ve temel psikolojik ihtiyaç tatmini ve engellenmesini ölçen geçerli ve güvenilir ölçekleri doldurmuştur. Hipotezler Jamovi programında yapılan hiyerarşik regresyon analizleri ile test edilmiş ve cinsiyet kontrol değişkeni olarak girilmiştir. Sonuçlar, cinsiyet kontrol edildikten sonra hem belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlüğün hem de engellenmiş özerklik ihtiyacının artan depresyon ve anksiyeteyi önemli ölçüde yordadığını, algılanan belirsizliğin ise regresyon modellerinde doğrudan bir etkisi olmadığını göstermiştir. Algılanan belirsizliğin rolünü daha iyi anlamak için paralel aracılık analizleri yapılmıştır. Analizler algılanan belirsizliğin, engellenmiş özerklik ihtiyacı ve belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük aracılığında depresyon ve anksiyete düzeylerindeki artışı dolaylı olarak yordadığını göstermiştir. Bu bulgular, üniversite öğrencileri arasında ruh sağlığı risklerini azaltmak için tasarlanan müdahalelerde altta yatan bilişsel ve motivasyonel süreçleri hedeflemenin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Depresyon Anksiyete Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük Özerklik İhtiyacı Algılanan Belirsizlik

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Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Social Psychology
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Aybike Çavdar 0000-0001-6547-6630

İnci Boyacioglu 0000-0002-1863-3792

Early Pub Date May 31, 2025
Publication Date May 31, 2025
Submission Date September 18, 2024
Acceptance Date April 2, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Çavdar, A., & Boyacioglu, İ. (2025). Predictive Effects of Intolerance of Uncertainty, Perceived Uncertainty and Need for Autonomy on Depression and Anxiety Levels of University Students in the Post‑COVID‑19 Era. Current Research in Social Sciences, 11(1), 148-167. https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1552509
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