The mediator role of psychological flexibility in relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and trait anxiety

This study aimed to examine the relationship between trait anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, psychological flexibility levels of university senior students with demographic variables and to test the mediating role of psychological flexibility in relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and trait anxiety in structural equation modeling (SEM). The sample of the study using the correlational survey research method consisted of a total of 526 senior students (375 women, 149 men, 2 gender-free) who studied at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University. In this study, Demographic Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory/Trait Anxiety Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II were used as data collection tools.The data obtained for the study were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 21.0 programs. The missing data and outliers in the dataset were examined and the normality of the distribution was tested before the analysis within the scope of the study were carried out. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable and bivariate correlations were analyzed by Pearson Correlation analysis. Independent Sample T-test and One-Way ANOVA were used to find out the relationship between trait anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty and psychological flexibility in relation to demographic variables (gender, age and faculty). Finally, structural equation modeling analysis was carried out to test the mediating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between trait anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty.The results of the current study revealed that the trait anxiety levels of university senior students differed significantly in terms of gender but it did not differ significantly in terms of age and type of faculty. It was also found out that students' level of intolerance of uncertainty and psychological flexibility did not differ significantly in terms of gender, age and type of faculty. When the bilateral relationships between the research variables were analyzed, the results revealed that there was a positive and significant high level of relationship between trait anxiety, intolerance to uncertainty, and low level of psychological flexibility. In addition, it was concluded that intolerance of uncertainty had a positive relationship with low level of psychological flexibility/high level of psychological inflexibility.The results of the structural equation model (SEM) showed that intolerance of uncertainty and psychological flexibility positively and significantly predicted trait anxiety. In addition, as a result of the analysis carried out in line with SEM, it was concluded that psychological flexibility fully mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and trait anxiety. The findings of this current study were discussed and interpreted in light of the literature. Implications and recommendations for practitioners and future research were presented.Keywords: Trait anxiety, Intolerance of uncertainty, Psychological flexibility University senior students