The mediating role of the father's intolerance of uncertainty i̇n the relationship between adolescents' attitudes toward violence and the mother's intolerance of uncertainty

The primary aim of this study is to examine the relationship between adolescents' attitudes toward violence and the mother's level of intolerance of uncertainty, and to test the mediating role of the father's intolerance of uncertainty in this relationship. The study group consists of a total of 311 high school students—201 female and 110 male—selected from the Akyazı and Hendek districts of Sakarya and the Mamak district of Ankara. To measure adolescents' attitudes toward violence, the "Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Violence Scale" was used, while the parents' levels of intolerance of uncertainty were assessed using the short form of the "Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale." To determine the relationship between adolescents' violent attitudes and the levels of intolerance of uncertainty in mothers and fathers, a correlation analysis was conducted. In addition, an independent samples t-test was employed to examine whether adolescents' attitudes toward violence differed by gender, while an ANOVA was used to assess differences by grade level. The mediating role of the father's intolerance of uncertainty in the relationship between the mother's intolerance of uncertainty and adolescents' attitudes toward violence was tested using the AMOS software through path analysis. The results of the study revealed that adolescents' attitudes toward violence were positively and moderately associated with both maternal and paternal levels of intolerance of uncertainty. Findings also indicated a significant difference in violent attitudes based on gender: male students demonstrated more approving attitudes toward violence compared to female students. In terms of grade level, the results showed that attitudes toward violence significantly varied depending on the students' grade. While no significant difference was observed between students in grades 9 and 10, it was found that ninth-grade students exhibited a higher tendency to endorse violence compared to those in grades 11 and 12. The path analysis conducted via AMOS confirmed that the father's intolerance of uncertainty plays a mediating role in the relationship between the mother's intolerance of uncertainty and the adolescent's attitude toward violence. In conclusion, the findings suggest that parental difficulties in coping with uncertain situations constitute a significant factor contributing to adolescents' tendency to normalize violence. The results are discussed in light of the existing literature, and suggestions are offered for future research and practice.