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Volume 25, Issue 160 (6-2026)                   Journal of Psychological Science 2026, 25(160): 1-19 | Back to browse issues page


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Dehghanidowlatabadi S, Pordelan N. (2026). Explaining the Model of Depressive Symptoms Based on Perfectionism with the Mediation of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Female University Students. Journal of Psychological Science. 25(160), : 9 doi:10.66224/jps.25.160.9
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-3230-en.html
Department of Counseling, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. , pordelan@iau.ac.ir
Abstract:   (426 Views)
Background: Previous studies have indicated that depressive symptoms are a common mental health problem among female university students, and perfectionism plays a significant role in depressive symptoms. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship, particularly the role of intolerance of uncertainty as a mediator has been less explored.
Aims: This study aimed to explain a model of depressive symptoms based on perfectionism with the mediation of intolerance of uncertainty.
Methods: The research utilized a correlational method using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all undergraduate students at Alzahra University (ages 18 to 24) in the year 2025. Among them, 500 female university students were selected through multi-stage cluster random sampling and the participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, 1960), the Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (TMPS, Basharat, 2007), and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Short (IUS-12, Carleton et al., 2022). For data analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling technique were employed using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24 softwares.
Results: The findings of this study revealed that self-oriented perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.41), other-oriented perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.36), socially prescribed perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.39), and intolerance of uncertainty (p<0.001, β=0.64) were positively and significantly associated with depressive symptoms. In the direct model, the relationships between self-oriented perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.41), other-oriented perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.35), and socially prescribed perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.38) were also positively and significantly associated to depressive symptoms. In the mediation model with adding the mediating variable of intolerance of uncertainty, the relationships between self-oriented perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.32), other-oriented perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.27), and socially prescribed perfectionism (p<0.001, β=0.31) remained significant, although the beta values were decreased, indicating a partial mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty.
Conclusion: These findings explain the underlaying mechanism between the three dimensions of perfectionism and depressive symptoms, suggesting that preventive programs could focus on reducing the negative dimensions of perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty to help female university students to experience lower levels of depressive symptoms.
Article number: 9
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2025/11/24 | Accepted: 2026/04/19 | Published: 2026/06/22

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