RESEARCH PAPER
Intolerance of uncertainty, curiosity, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective happiness
in the time of earthquakes in Türkiye
1
Department of Psychology, İstinye University, Istanbul, Türkiye
2
Department of Psychological Counseling, Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye
3
Department of Educational Sciences, National Defense University, Turkish Air Force Academy, Istanbul, Türkiye
4
Department of Child Development, İstanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Submission date: 2024-02-18
Final revision date: 2024-06-06
Acceptance date: 2024-07-08
Online publication date: 2024-09-10
Corresponding author
Sinan Okur
Department of Educational Sciences, National Defense University, Turkish Air Force Academy, Istanbul, Türkiye
Department of Educational Sciences, National Defense University, Turkish Air Force Academy, Istanbul, Türkiye
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
the role of personality in interpersonal relations and social behaviorsindividual differencesquality of life and well being
ABSTRACT
Background:
On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake disaster occurred in Türkiye, affecting millions. Mental health concerns were high due to people’s exposure to loss and possible earthquakes. In these times, variables that predict individuals’ mental health should be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty, curiosity, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective happiness using structural equation modeling.
Participants and procedure:
The research was conducted on Turkish individuals in 29 different cities in Türkiye. For the purpose of the research, data were collected from 345 participants (79.7% females, 20.3% males, age range = 18-61, Mage = 26.73 years). One hundred eighty nine of the participants were single (54.7%), 77 were married (22.4%), and the remaining 79 were in a relationship or engaged (22.9%). Additionally, it was found that 52 of the participants were parents (15.1%). In terms of socio-economic status, the majority fell into the middle-class category (n = 263, 76.2%).
Results:
It was found that intolerance to uncertainty predicted subjective happiness, and generalized anxiety disorder mediated this relationship. In addition, curiosity predicted subjective happiness, and generalized anxiety disorder mediated this relation-ship.
Conclusions:
All the findings obtained in the research revealed the mental health problems experienced by individuals after the earth-quake. This research on earthquakes and mental health makes important contributions to the field of psychology.
On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake disaster occurred in Türkiye, affecting millions. Mental health concerns were high due to people’s exposure to loss and possible earthquakes. In these times, variables that predict individuals’ mental health should be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty, curiosity, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective happiness using structural equation modeling.
Participants and procedure:
The research was conducted on Turkish individuals in 29 different cities in Türkiye. For the purpose of the research, data were collected from 345 participants (79.7% females, 20.3% males, age range = 18-61, Mage = 26.73 years). One hundred eighty nine of the participants were single (54.7%), 77 were married (22.4%), and the remaining 79 were in a relationship or engaged (22.9%). Additionally, it was found that 52 of the participants were parents (15.1%). In terms of socio-economic status, the majority fell into the middle-class category (n = 263, 76.2%).
Results:
It was found that intolerance to uncertainty predicted subjective happiness, and generalized anxiety disorder mediated this relationship. In addition, curiosity predicted subjective happiness, and generalized anxiety disorder mediated this relation-ship.
Conclusions:
All the findings obtained in the research revealed the mental health problems experienced by individuals after the earth-quake. This research on earthquakes and mental health makes important contributions to the field of psychology.
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