The buffering effect of self-esteem and mindfulness on worrying in the context of intolerance of uncertainty

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the number of worries and the intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is rising in the population. It has been established that heightened worry and IU are transdiagnostic factors related to anxiety disorders. In contrast, mindfulness and self-esteem have been related to reduced anxiety. This study aimed to investigate whether the established findings of self-esteem and mindfulness remain significant when tested as moderators between IU and worry. This study was a cross-sectional study where participants were 434 bachelor's students of the behavioral science department of a Dutch university aged 18 – 58 years (M = 22; SD = 3.26). All constructs were assessed through self-report questionnaires. The two moderators' self-esteem and mindfulness were added individually stepwise before they were combined, which led to a total of three regression models. The results of the regression analysis did not support the moderator role of self-esteem and mindfulness (e.g., ΔR2 = 0.001, ΔF (3, 433) = 0,82, p = .365). More specifically, the main effects of self-esteem and mindfulness reduced worry; however, as moderators, they could not reduce the association between IU and worry. The results could not support the hypothesized effects, yet, supported the stance that self-esteem and mindfulness have a reducing tendency towards worry while IU has an increasing effect on worry and vice versa.