Shahid Beheshti University Sports Psychology 2676-3729 16 2 2024 12 21 Relationship between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Psychological Health Symptoms in Female Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer's: The Mediating Role of Physical Vulnerability Relationship between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Psychological Health Symptoms in Female Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer's: The Mediating Role of Physical Vulnerability 292 306 106435 10.48308/mbsp.2022.1059.1125 FA Maryam Eskanderpour PhD in general psychology, Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran. Journal Article 2024 07 23 Purpose: This study aimed to test a structural model examining the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and mental health symptoms, with physical vulnerability as a mediator, among female caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: Employing a descriptive-correlational design, the study recruited 320 female caregivers from the Alzheimer’s Association of Tehran in 2020 via convenience sampling. Data were collected using the revised Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale–12 (IUS-12), and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Data were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS software. Results: The findings indicated that the proposed model had a good fit with the data (χ²=70.87, χ²/df=2.08, CFI=0.987, GFI=0.956, RMSEA=0.076). All direct paths were significant: intolerance of uncertainty to mental health symptoms (β=0.250, P=0.001), physical vulnerability to mental health symptoms (β=0.136, P=0.001), and intolerance of uncertainty to physical vulnerability (β=0.241, P=0.001). The indirect effect of intolerance of uncertainty on mental health symptoms through physical vulnerability was also significant (β=0.118, P=0.001). Conclusions: The findings suggest that intolerance of uncertainty is directly associated with more severe psychological symptoms in female caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Moreover, physical vulnerability serves as a partial mediator in this relationship. This highlights the importance of comprehensive interventions that address both psychological and physical well-being in supportive programs for this population. Purpose: This study aimed to test a structural model examining the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and mental health symptoms, with physical vulnerability as a mediator, among female caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: Employing a descriptive-correlational design, the study recruited 320 female caregivers from the Alzheimer’s Association of Tehran in 2020 via convenience sampling. Data were collected using the revised Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale–12 (IUS-12), and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Data were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS software. Results: The findings indicated that the proposed model had a good fit with the data (χ²=70.87, χ²/df=2.08, CFI=0.987, GFI=0.956, RMSEA=0.076). All direct paths were significant: intolerance of uncertainty to mental health symptoms (β=0.250, P=0.001), physical vulnerability to mental health symptoms (β=0.136, P=0.001), and intolerance of uncertainty to physical vulnerability (β=0.241, P=0.001). The indirect effect of intolerance of uncertainty on mental health symptoms through physical vulnerability was also significant (β=0.118, P=0.001). Conclusions: The findings suggest that intolerance of uncertainty is directly associated with more severe psychological symptoms in female caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Moreover, physical vulnerability serves as a partial mediator in this relationship. This highlights the importance of comprehensive interventions that address both psychological and physical well-being in supportive programs for this population.

https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106435_478161e8fb5801ee7a33b6ff3b41898f.pdf