The moderating role of gender in the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on earthquake fear

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the moderating role of gender in the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on earthquake fear. The population of the study consisted of people from different age groups (n=555). In terms of gender distribution, 71.2% of the sample consisted of female individuals, while the mean age was calculated as 41.1 ± 4.4 (Min = 18; Max = 79). Personal Information Form, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and Fear of Earthquake Scale were employed as data collection tools. The data of the study were examined using SPSS 26 and AMOS 23 package software. The moderation analysis was conducted using the "Process Macro" developed by Hayes. Regression analysis based on the bootstrap method was performed to determine the moderation role of the "gender" factor on the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the fear of earthquakes. According to the findings, as the level of intolerance of uncertainty increases, the fear of earthquakes also increases. In addition, gender was found to be effective in the fear of earthquakes. Females exhibit higher levels of earthquake fear compared to males. In addition, this effect of gender plays a moderating role in the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on fear of earthquakes. Fear of earthquakes increases at low, medium, and high levels of intolerance of uncertainty, but this increase is higher in females than in males.