The mediating role of psychological well-being in the association between intolerance of uncertainty and academic life satisfaction among university students

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of psychological well-being in the association between intolerance of uncertainty and academic life satisfaction among university students. A cross-sectional design was employed in the research, which was conducted with 443 students attending a university in western country using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through Personal Information Form, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Academic Life Satisfaction Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling and mediation analysis. The participants were comprised of 55.5% females, with an average age of 21.31 ± 1.91 years. The results indicate that psychological well-being significantly mediates the relationship between inhibitory anxiety and both dimensions of academic life satisfaction. However, psychological well-being did not mediate the relationship between prospective anxiety and academic life satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of different types of anxiety in academic life and emphasize the necessity of promoting psychological well-being to enhance students’ academic life satisfaction. The study suggests that supporting university students’ psychological well-being could be an important strategy related to uncertainty intolerance and academic life satisfaction.