Investigating the predictive power of cognitive flexibility, intolerance of uncertainty and difficulty in emotion regulation on social anxiety in university students

The aim of this study is to examine the predictive power of cognitive flexibility, intolerance of uncertainty and difficulties in emotion regulation on social anxiety in university students. The sample of the study consisted of 590 participants (474 female and 116 male) from various universities in Turkey. The data collection tools used in the study were Personal Information Form, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (ITS-12) and Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form. Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was conducted to determine the predictive power of cognitive flexibility, intolerance of uncertainty and difficulties in emotion regulation on social anxiety in university students. As a result of the study, it was found that university students' cognitive flexibility, intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation scores significantly predicted their social anxiety scores. Accordingly, cognitive flexibility, intolerance of uncertainty and difficulties in emotion regulation together explained 28.1% of the variance in social anxiety. The relative order of importance of the variables in predicting social anxiety is as follows: difficulty in emotion regulation, intolerance of uncertainty and cognitive flexibility. Difficulty in emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty predicted social anxiety positively, while cognitive flexibility predicted social anxiety negatively. The findings of the study were discussed within the framework of the literature and recommendations were presented.