Intolerance of uncertainty moderates the relations among religiosity and motives for religion, depression, and social evaluation fears

Abstract

Objectives Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) underlies several psychological disorders, and religion may help some individuals cope with IU and/or protect against psychological symptoms. It was hypothesized that IU would moderate the relations between coping motives for being religious, as well as religiosity, and common psychological disorder symptoms: Depression and social evaluation fears. Methods Study 1 included 473 self‐reporting community members (M age = 48, 48% female, 80% Protestant/Catholic). Study 2 included 412 self‐reporting undergraduates ( M age = 19, 71% female, 76% Protestant/Catholic). Results For Study 1, coping‐based motives related to greater depression for young adults with above‐average IU and to lower depression for young adults with below‐average IU. For Study 2, religiosity related to lower depression and fear of negative evaluation for individuals with above‐average IU and to greater fear of positive evaluation for individuals with below‐average IU. Conclusion IU may be an important mechanism between aspects of religion and psychological disorder symptoms.

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