Uncertainty and Well-Being in Turkish Adults: Exploring the Role of Religiosity and Psychological Symptoms

Abstract

Religiosity offers individuals a sense of purpose and connection, which can lead to greater life satisfaction and improved psychological well-being and happiness. On the other hand, psychological challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty dealing with uncertainty can negatively affect life satisfaction. This study examined these dynamics using a hypothetical model, incorporating mediation and moderation analyses to explore the connections between intolerance of uncertainty, life satisfaction, religiosity, and psychological symptoms in a group of 565 participants (286 of whom were female). The findings revealed notable positive and negative relationships among these variables. Specifically, the study found that (i) religiosity and psychological symptoms both play a mediating role in the link between intolerance of uncertainty and life satisfaction, and (ii) religiosity serves as a moderator in this relationship. The moderation analysis showed that when religiosity levels are low, the negative effect of intolerance of uncertainty on life satisfaction is significantly stronger. In contrast, high levels of religiosity significantly weaken this negative relationship, indicating that religiosity acts as a buffer against the adverse impact of uncertainty on life satisfaction. These results underscore the potential value of religiosity in helping individuals cope with the harmful effects of uncertainty on their sense of life satisfaction. Additionally, lower levels of psychological symptoms and reduced intolerance of uncertainty were associated with higher life satisfaction, suggesting that religiosity may play a protective role in promoting overall well-being.