Does fear of death mediate the link between intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality? Insights from earthquake survivors in containers

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of fear of death in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality in earthquake survivors. Participants were 190 voluntary earthquake survivors (n_men = 64, n_women = 123, three of them not specified) aged between 18 and 64 years. Data collection tools were the Multidimensional Mortality Awareness Measure, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Basic Scale on Insomnia Complaints/Quality of Sleep, and sociodemographic information form. Data were analyzed via correlation and mediation analyses. Significant positive correlations were found between intolerance of uncertainty and poor sleep quality, intolerance of uncertainty and fear of death, and fear of death and poor sleep quality. Fear of death had no mediating role in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality. Given that intolerance of uncertainty and fear of death are related to sleep quality, it is critical to consider these variables in sleep quality intervention programs for earthquake survivors.