Following the Disaster: The Mediating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty in the Relationship Between Fear of Earthquake and Fear of Death

The recent earthquakes in Türkiye have been recorded as the most severe natural disaster of the century. This research focused on the role of intolerance of uncertainty as a mediator in the association between fear of earthquakes and mortality fearfulness in individuals. The study consisted of 364 participants aged 18 years and older who resided in 11 provinces affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between the fear of earthquakes and both intolerance of uncertainty and mortality fearfulness. In addition, a significant positive correlation was observed between intolerance of uncertainty and mortality fearfulness. Intolerance of uncertainty was found to significantly mediate the relationship between fear of earthquakes and mortality fearfulness. The results highlight the significance of reducing and managing risk factors to enhance the psychological well-being of earthquake survivors as well as to assist in developing appropriate intervention and treatment programs.