Intolerance of uncertainty moderates the relations among religiosity and motives for religion, depression, and social evaluation fears.

OBJECTIVES: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) underlies several psychological disorders, and religion may help some individuals cope with IU and/or protect against psychological symptoms. It was hypothesized that IU would moderate the relations between coping motives for being religious, as well as religiosity, and common psychological disorder symptoms: Depression and social evaluation fears.

METHODS: Study 1 included 473 self-reporting community members (M age  = 48, 48% female, 80% Protestant/Catholic). Study 2 included 412 self-reporting undergraduates ( M age  = 19, 71% female, 76% Protestant/Catholic).

RESULTS: For Study 1, coping-based motives related to greater depression for young adults with above-average IU and to lower depression for young adults with below-average IU. For Study 2, religiosity related to lower depression and fear of negative evaluation for individuals with above-average IU and to greater fear of positive evaluation for individuals with below-average IU.

CONCLUSION: IU may be an important mechanism between aspects of religion and psychological disorder symptoms.