THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED UNCERTAINTY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

Abstract

Uncertainty is a multidimensional concept that every society and individual inevitably experiences in social life. When the relevant literature is examined, it is seen that variables related to uncertainty have positive relationships with the increase in psychological structures such as depression and anxiety. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which Turkish and French university students perceive the uncertainty, which is anticipated to become more visible particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as any potential cultural differences in certain psychological variables related to this perception. For this purpose, data collection was conducted simultaneously from university students in Turkey (N = 421) and France (N = 391). The data obtained were combined in a single data set and the sample groups were coded as two categorized variables. The relationship between the level of uncertainty perceived by university students and their intolerance to uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and stress levels, which are considered as common psychological health constructs, was analyzed. In addition, it was tested whether the level of intolerance to uncertainty mediates the relationship between perceived uncertainty and common psychological health constructs and whether these relationships differ in two cultural groups. The results showed that intolerance of uncertainty partly mediated the relationship between perceived uncertainty and common psychological health constructs. However, this mediation model does not show a significant difference in Turkey and France samples. Therefore, it was concluded that reactions to uncertainty do not differ culturally for Turkish and French samples. These original findings are discussed based on the literature.

Keywords

• Perceived Uncertainty
• Intolerance of Uncertainty
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress

ALGILANAN BELİRSİZLİK VE PSİKOLOJİK SAĞLIK ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİLER: KÜLTÜRLERARASI BİR İNCELEME

Abstract

Belirsizlik sosyal yaşamın kaçınılmaz bir parçası olarak her toplumun ve bireyin deneyimlediği çok boyutlu bir kavramdır. İlgili alanyazın incelendiğinde, belirsizlikle ilgili değişkenlerin depresyon, anksiyete, travma sonrası stres bozukluğu gibi psikolojik yapıların artmasıyla pozitif ilişkiler barındırdığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada özellikle COVID-19 pandemisi sonrası görünürlüğünün artması beklenen belirsizliğin üniversite eğitimlerine devam eden Türk ve Fransız öğrenciler tarafından ne derece algılandığı ve bu algının ilişkilendiği kimi psikolojik değişkenlerde olası kültürel farklılıklar incelenmek istenmiştir. Bu amaçla Türkiye’de (N = 421) ve Fransa’da (N = 391) eğitimine devam eden öğrencilerden veri toplaması eş zamanlı olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler tek bir veri setinde birleştirilerek örneklem grupları iki kategorili değişken olarak kodlanmıştır. Üniversite öğrencilerinin algıladıkları belirsizlik düzeyinin, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlükleri, yaygın psikolojik sağlık yapıları olarak değerlendirilen depresyon, anksiyete ve stres düzeyleri ile ilişkisi incelenmiştir. Ayrıca algılanan belirsizlik düzeyi ve yaygın psikolojik sağlık yapıları arasındaki ilişkiye belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük düzeyinin aracılık edip etmediği ve bu ilişkilerin iki kültürel grupta farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı test edilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlüğün algılanan belirsizlik ve yaygın psikolojik sağlık yapıları arasındaki ilişkiye anlamlı ve kısmi bir aracılık ettiği gözlemlenmiştir. Ancak bu aracılık modeli Türkiye ve Fransa örneklemlerinde anlamlı bir farklılık göstermemektedir. Dolayısıyla belirsizliğe verilen tepkilerin kültürel olarak Türkiye ve Fransa örneklemleri için farklılaşmadığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Elde edilen bu özgün bulgular alanyazından yola çıkarak tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

• Algılanan Belirsizlik
• Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük
• Depresyon
• Anksiyete
• Stres

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