Correlation Between Biographical Reflection And Tolerance Of Ambiguity

Abstract

Tolerance of ambiguity is most needed in unpredictable and difficult life situations, where one has to make decisions and life choices. However, the basis of the reflexive mechanism underlying this phenomenon is still undiscovered. Biographical reflection is a type of reflection one demonstrates when introspecting on one's life events, where life choices have to be made. The study hypothesis is the assumption that biographical reflection is a predictor variable for tolerance of ambiguity. The sample consists of the data obtained from 250 people aged 18 to 45. The criteria measured were biographical reflection (Biographical Reflection Questionnaire or BRQ, by M.V. Klementyeva) and tolerance of ambiguity (The Multiple Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance Scale, MSTAT, by D.L. MacLain, adjusted to the Russian context). The data obtained was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U-test, and linear regression. The discovered correlation between biographical reflection and tolerance of ambiguity proves that people with stronger biographical reflection show better tolerance of ambiguity (p ≤ 0.01). Biographical reflection and tolerance of ambiguity decrease with aging: the respondents aged 35 and over reported a lower degree of biographical reflection (p = 0.001) and tolerance of ambiguity (p = 0.001). We have discovered that a higher degree of biographical reflection implied a higher MSTAT score (p = 0.001). Besides, the impact of biographical reflection on the variability of ambiguity tolerance becomes stronger with aging, mainly in the female sample. Stronger biographical reflection reduces the life choice ambiguity effect when people experience doubts and alienation.