The effects of intolerance of uncertainty and meaning in life on psychological and physical health
Date
2021
Authors
Morse, Jessica L., author
Steger, Michael F., advisor
Dik, Bryan J., committee member
Davalos, Deana B., committee member
Luong, Gloria, committee member
Prince, Mark A, committee member
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Abstract
Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is a dispositional characteristic that informs how people think about, feel, and behave in response to uncertainty. A growing research base suggests IU is a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology (e.g. Koerner & Dugas, 2008; Carleton, 2012), yet few researchers have investigated IU as a risk factor for physical disease. The current investigation adopted a new perspective from the Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress (GUTS; Brosschot et al., 2016a, 2016b, 2018) to explain how high IU might perpetuate a sense of generalized unsafety (GU), promoting chronic heightened physiological dysregulation that, over time, impairs psychological and physical health. The current studies also examined a potential protective resource, Meaning in Life (MIL), as a buffer against the deleterious effects of IU based on previous research indicating MIL provides a sense of safety and certainty that may counter the effects of IU on GU and health. Structural equation modeling of the hypothesized moderated mediation wherein IU conveys risk for physical and psychological illness via GU (mediator), with MIL (moderator) buffering against this risk, did not yield significant indirect effects in the three distinct samples tested. Moderation effects were significant in one sample, suggesting MIL may provide some protective benefit against GU for people high in IU. Additionally, results of hierarchical models support MIL's role in protecting against negative psychological consequences for high IU individuals. The discussion provides explanations of these results in the context of GUTS and suggestions for future empirical research to explore risk and protective factors in the development of physical and psychological illness.
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Subject
intolerance of uncertainty
stress
meaning in life
health