The moderating effects of intolerance of uncertainty and social connectedness on college students’ addictive behaviors and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to understand COVID-19 pandemic impacts on anxiety, depression, and addictive/excessive behaviors, with exploration of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and social connectedness as potential moderators. Participants: Adult college students participated. Method: Our online survey assessed symptoms and behaviors prior to COVID-19, during the initial outbreak (Wave 1), and during early 2021 (Wave 2). Results: Significant increases were found in anxiety, depression, binge eating, sexual behaviors, video game playing, internet/social media usage, and compulsive exercise in both waves. IU moderated the relationship between both depression/anxiety and certain excessive behaviors; social connectedness moderated the relationship between anxiety and smoking. Conclusions: This study replicated prior work and highlights new impacts on addictive/excessive behaviors, as well as moderating effects from social connectedness and IU. Future research is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of treatments targeting IU and social connectedness as the pandemic continues to unfold.
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Moderation effects between both depression and anxiety and problematic social media use were found.
“as well as moderation effects between both depression and anxiety and problematic social media use, was found [100].”
From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [100]
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- Authors
- Wojtaszek, J. A., & Saules, K. K.
- Affiliations
- Eastern Michigan University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wojtaszek, Julie A.
- Venue
- Journal of American College Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-07-26
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1551-1560
- ISSN
- 0164-4300 (ISSN-L)
- 0744-8481
- 1940-3208
- OpenAlex
- W4288037186
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 1.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of American College Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- intolerance of uncertainty, social connectedness, COVID-19 pandemic, university students, anxiety, depression, addictive behavior, binge eating, sexual behavior, video gaming, social media use, compulsive exercise, smoking, psychiatric symptoms
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Surveys and Questionnaires, Students, Universities, Behavior, Addictive, Uncertainty, Young Adult, Pandemics
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