Intolerance of uncertainty and mental wellbeing: the mediating and moderating role of doomscrolling

Kaya B., Griffiths M. D.

Behaviour and Information Technology, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/0144929x.2024.2314747
  • Journal Name: Behaviour and Information Technology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, FRANCIS, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, CINAHL, Communication & Mass Media Index, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, Educational research abstracts (ERA), INSPEC, Library and Information Science Abstracts, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Metadex, Psycinfo, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Doomscrolling, Intolerance of uncertainty, Mental wellbeing, Mental wellbeing‌, Social media use
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty can adversely affect wellbeing. However, little is known about the role of doomscrolling in this relationship. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between intolerance of uncertainty and mental wellbeing, as well as moderation and mediation analysis included doomscrolling. The sample comprised 432 participants aged between 18 and 55 years. The study data were collected through an online survey that included the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Doomscrolling Scale, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Short Form. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted with the PROCESS macro. The direct effect of intolerance of uncertainty on both doomscrolling and mental wellbeing was significant. Moreover, the direct effect of doomscrolling on mental wellbeing was significant. Also, an indirect effect of doomscrolling between intolerance of uncertainty and mental wellbeing was found. In addition, the moderator analysis showed that intolerance of uncertainty had an inverse impact on mental wellbeing at low and medium) levels of doomscrolling. The results of the present study suggest that intolerance of uncertainty is a risk factor for mental wellbeing and that doomscrolling enhances the risk.