DEPRESSION, RESILIENCE AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF RUMINATION AND COVID-19 BURNOUT.

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the mediating role of rumination and COVID-19 burnout in the relationship among depression, resilience and intolerance of uncertainty. This is a correlational study. The study sample is composed of 436 (F=259, M=177) Turkish university students recruited via convenience sampling method. The participants responded to the Depression Scale, COVID-19 Burnout Scale, Rumination Scale, Resilience Scale and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale face to face. The model that was developed within the scope of the current study was tested via path analysis, which is a technique of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The study findings show that resilience and intolerance of uncertainty predict depression and rumination at a statistically significant level. Moreover, rumination directly predicts COVID-19 burnout, while COVID-19 burnout predicts depression. On the other hand, indirect effect modelling shows that resilience predicts depression with the mediating effect of rumination and COVID-19 burnout at a statistically significant level. Lastly, intolerance of uncertainty predicts depression with the mediating effect of rumination and COVID-19 burnout at a statistically significant level. The current findings suggest that an increase in the level of intolerance of uncertainty and a decrease in the level of resilience increase rumination, which in turn increases depression by increasing COVID-19 burnout.