Abstract

This study aimed to examine the sequential mediating effects of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and experiential avoidance in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and internalizing symptoms in college students. In doing so, we sort to elucidate the relationships between vulnerability factors for depression and anxiety, which have a high rate of comorbidity, and to identify potential intervention strategies for mental health. 438 college students completed self-report questionnaires to measure intolerance of uncertainty, dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, experiential avoidance, anxiety, and depression. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the mediating effects. The results indicated that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and experiential avoidance had significant mediating effects in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and internalizing symptoms, individually. Moreover, the sequential mediating effect of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and experiential avoidance in this relationship was found to be statistically significant. Additionally, a full-mediation model demonstrated a significantly better model fit than a partial-mediation model. The results of this study suggest that intolerance of uncertainty may contribute to the development of internalizing symptoms by increasing dysfunctional metacognition and experiential avoidance. Through an integrated understanding of transdiagnostic variables, we tried to find a treatment plan targeting common factors associated with psychopathology.