The Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Religiousness in Schizotypal Personality and Life Satisfaction: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty is an important trans-diagnostic determinant of mental disorders. It is related to psychotic symptoms and religiousness. Religiousness is related to schizotypal personality and wellbeing. Therefore, in a cross-sectional study, we studied the effects of intolerance of uncertainty and religiousness on schizotypal personality and the schizotypal personality-mediated effects of intolerance of uncertainty and religiousness on life satisfaction. On a sample of 734 college students (age, M = 20.3, SD = 3.48), intolerance of uncertainty, religiousness, life satisfaction, and schizotypal personality were measured through paper-pencil questionnaires. The results showed that intolerance of uncertainty had positive (direct) relationships with all schizotypal personality dimensions. However, intolerance of uncertainty had positive (mediated by ideas of reference and magical thinking) and negative (mediated by eccentric behavior) indirect effects on life satisfaction. Religiousness had direct as well as indirect (mediated by eccentric behavior) positive effects on life satisfaction. However, the behaving (mediated by ideas of reference) and belonging (mediated by magical thinking) sub-dimensions of religiousness had some indirect negative effects on life satisfaction. Thus, the present study shows that intolerance of uncertainty is an important contributor to psychotic proneness. Religiousness is largely health-enhancing. Moreover, there is a nuanced pattern of interactional relationship between intolerance of uncertainty, religiousness, schizotypal personality, and life satisfaction. We have discussed the theoretical and applied implications of the findings.

Keywords:

• Personality
• psychopathology
• religion
• wellness
• stress and coping
• psychotherapy
• anxiety

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all participants and acknowledge the data collection help rendered by Sakshi.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Sanjay Kumar

Sanjay Kumar is a Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology at D.A.V. College of Muzaffarnagar, India. He has researched in diverse fields including neuropsychology and anthropology to social psychology. Currently, he is working on theoretical psychology (theories of religion and caste), digit ratios, caste consciousness, social dominance orientation, and entrepreneurship orientation.

Charlie A. Davidson

Charlie A. Davidson, PhD is a Licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. who focuses his clinical practice, research, and advocacy on individuals and families experiencing psychosis and serious mental illness (SMI). He has worked in academic, digital industry, and various healthcare roles. He is currently operating a private practice, working in a nonprofit healthcare center for uninsured and unhoused people, and engaging in collaborative advocacy for sustainable evidence-based mental health services.

Reena Saini

Reena Saini, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at D.A.V. College of Muzaffarnagar, India. She has conducted research work on intolerance of uncertainty, religiousness and psychometrics. Currently, she is working on the social psychology of system justification approaches.

Ranjeeta Jain

Ranjeeta Jain, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department of D.A.V. College, Muzaffarnagar. She is teaching post-graduation students Biological Psychology and Health Psychology. Her research interest is in religiousness, the psychology of cultural traditions, and the social psychology of caste.