The Predictors of Self-Esteem in University Students: Intolerance of Uncertainty and Alexithymia

Abstract

Self-esteem is characterized by self-evaluation and affects the social, emotional, and academic aspects of life. In this respect, high self-esteem is important for human mental health. This research aimed to determine university students' intolerance of uncertainty and alexithymia levels to predict their self-esteem. The research group comprised 365 undergraduate students. The data were collected using the “Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)," "Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)," and “Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS)." The analysis results of this study, in which the predictive correlational design was employed, revealed that self-esteem decreased as the level of alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty increased. Besides, alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty were significant predictors of self-esteem. It is hypothesized that interventions to increase self-esteem will reduce levels of alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty. The integration of findings regarding alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty, which are more common in clinical samples, into education will improve academic achievement and welfare.