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

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty can be explained as individuals negative emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to uncertain situations. Earthquakes, however, can exacerbate this intolerance and trigger a fear of earthquakes because their timing and location are unpredictable. This study aimed to examine the moderating role of gender in the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on earthquake fear. A descriptive and correlational research design was adopted. Data for the study were collected from different age groups (n = 555), including residents of 11 provinces in the Southern and Southeastern Anatolia regions of Türkiye, which were severely affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. 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. Gender was found to significantly influence earthquake fear, with females exhibiting higher levels than males. Gender also moderated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and earthquake fear, such that fear increased across low, medium, and high levels of intolerance of uncertainty, but more sharply among females. These findings indicate that intolerance of uncertainty and gender are significant determinants of earthquake fear. These results highlight the importance of considering gender differences in designing psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing earthquake-related fear.