Mediating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Relationship between Parenting Stress and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Considering the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in adolescence, this period is the main stage of developing anxiety symptoms, including generalized anxiety disorder. Many causes and factors are involved in the development of this disorder. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty in the relationship between parenting stress and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Methods and Materials: 

The current research method was fundamental, cross-sectional, and descriptive of the correlation type. The statistical population included all secondary school students of Mashhad city (N= 63000) in 2023-2024, 203 of them and one of their parents (203 parents) were selected using the convenience sampling method. This research, used the parenting stress index, the intolerance of uncertainty scale, and the youth anxiety measure for DSM-5. The Pearson correlation method, confirmatory factor analysis, and path analysis were used in SPSS and LISREL statistical software for data analysis.

The results show that the direct effect of parenting stress on the intolerance of uncertainty is significant, but its effect on generalized anxiety disorder symptoms is not significant. The direct effect of intolerance of uncertainty on generalized anxiety disorder symptoms is significant. The indirect effect of parenting stress on the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder through intolerance of uncertainty is significant (CFI = 0.99, NFI = 0.97, NNFI = 0.96, IFI = 0.99, RFI = 0.92, GFI = 0.9, RMSEA = 0.064).

The results show that parenting stress and adolescents' intolerance of uncertainty play an important role in experiencing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. The findings of this research show the importance of interventions based on stress reduction and intolerance of uncertainty to reduce parenting stress and adolescents' intolerance of uncertainty and, as a result, symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.