The comparison study of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Study engagement among university students

Abstract

Background: The strict quarantine of pandemic has a negative impact on students’ learning and social interaction such as increasing uncertainties and decreasing study engagement. Aim: To assess students’ intolerance of uncertainty and study engagement, and explore its’ associations. Target of the study: To determine the level of intolerance of uncertainty and the level of study engagement among study participants by using internationally used questionnaires. Material and Method: The study was designed as a cross-sectional study with a self-report questionnaire and conducted between December 5th and February 5th of 2022. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for students (UWES-S) and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12) are used in the current study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. Results: A total of 697 students aged 17-29 were included in this study, with an average age of 21.03±1.85. The total mean score of the IUS-12 questionnaire was 38.65±8.48, and when considering the sub-dimension, the students were more likely to be intolerant toward prospective IU (22.78±4.96) than inhibitory IU (15.87±4.03). While the students’ study engagement was reported from weak to an average level of vigor (average 47.1%, weak 34.3%), dedication (average 62.7%, weak 26.3%), and absorption (average 58.5%, weak 23.8%) upon their studies. Conclusion: The student who participated in the current study showed a higher level of intolerance of uncertain situations and a lower level of study engagement.