The relationship between obsessive compulsive symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety: A Covid-19 pandemic study

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obsessive compulsive symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: In this study, a total of 332 adult participants, with 233 (70.2%) females and 99 (29.8%) males, were reached via the internet and the mean age was 32.11±10.89 years. A Sociodemographic and Other Information Form, the Padua Inventory-Washington State University Revision (PE-WEÜR), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Short Form (IUS-12) and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I), respectively, were applied to all participants. The independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were used in data analysis. Results: In the study, when the participants were compared in terms of STAI-I total scores, it was observed that the anxiety levels of the participants, who were single, living alone, using public transportation, living at home with individuals from Covid-19 risk groups and having low economic income were higher. The simple linear regression analysis showed that both of the sub-dimensions of IUS-12, the prospective anxiety and the inhibitory anxiety, predicted the anxiety level. The multiple regression analysis showed that intolerance to uncertainty predicted anxiety when taken together, while obsessive compulsive symptoms did not. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it was observed that the individuals' level of intolerance of uncertainty was a predictive factor for obsessive-compulsive symptom levels. Considering the uncertain nature of the pandemic process, it was confirmed, as expected, that individuals with high level of intolerance to uncertainty also had high levels of anxiety during this period. Keywords: Covid-19, Pandemic, Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms, Intolerance Of Uncertainty, Anxiety