Structural Equation Modeling of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Symptoms of Depression and General Anxiety Disorder: Investigation of the Mediating Role of Rumination

Abstract

Objectives Generalized anxiety disorder and depression, one of the common problems in childhood and adulthood is associated with many problems in the field of health. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of rumination in the relationship among Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) and symptoms of depression and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Methods In this descriptive correlational study, a sample of 250 students from Iran University of Medical Sciences were selected using cluster sampling method. The participants responded to intolerance of uncertainty scale and rumination scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire Inventory-revised (GAD-Q-IV), and Beck depression inventory. The obtained data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). For statistical analysis, SPSS V. 22 and LISREL 85.9 were used to classify, process, and analyze the data and to investigate the hypotheses of the research. Results The evaluation of hypothetical model with fit indexes demonstrated that the hypothetical model fits the measurement model (CFI=0.98, NFI=0.96, and RMSEA=0.060). Structural relations analysis also indicated intolerance of uncertainty indirectly through rumination over depression and directly and indirectly general anxiety disorder. Conclusion Thus, based on the current research findings, rumination has a mediating role in relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and symptoms of depression and general anxiety disorder. Considering these dimensions, the employed mechanisms can be useful in developing efficacious preventive and therapeutic interventions for depression.