Self-Compassion, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Psychological Distress: Emotion Dysregulation as a Shared Mediating Mechanism Among Young Adults

Abstract

The experiences of psychological distress in emerging adulthood depend on various psychological protective mechanisms and cognitive vulnerability indicators. Specifically, self-compassion might play a role in decreasing psychological distress by helping an individual form a better relationship with their difficulties, while intolerance of uncertainty can increase such distress through an increase in the perceived threats and risks in unclear situations. The present study examined emotion dysregulation as a shared mediating mechanism linking self-compassion and intolerance of uncertainty with psychological distress. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. The final sample consist of 249 participants, predominantly young adults, recruited through purposive sampling. Participants completed measures of self-compassion, intolerance of uncertainty, emotion dysregulation, mindfulness, and psychological distress. Pearson correlations and mediation analyses using Hayes’ PROCESS macro were conducted. Self-compassion was negatively related to emotion dysregulation and psychological distress, whereas intolerance of uncertainty was positively related with both emotion dysregulation and psychological distress. Emotion dysregulation showed the strongest association with psychological distress. Mediation analyses indicated that emotion dysregulation significantly mediated the relationship between self-compassion and psychological distress after controlling for intolerance of uncertainty. The relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and psychological distress was significantly mediated by emotion dysregulation after controlling for self-compassion. The direct effect of self-compassion remained significant, suggesting partial mediation, whereas the direct effect of intolerance of uncertainty became non-significant after emotion dysregulation was included. Above findings suggest that emotion dysregulation is a central psychological pathway through which both protective and vulnerability-related factors are associated with psychological distress. Interventions aimed at reducing distress among young adults may benefit from strengthening self-compassion, improving tolerance of uncertainty, and targeting difficulties in emotion regulation.