Life Under the COVID-19 Lockdown: On the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Psychological Distress

Objective: One of the significant features of the recent lockdown caused by the coronavirus 2019 coronavirus pandemic was the lengthy period of uncertainty that accompanied it. The present study examined a moderated model that links conditions of uncertainty with psychological distress during the coronavirus 2019 lockdown. Method: Married parents in Israel (N = 186), all of whom were working at home during the lockdown, completed several measures, including those assessing intolerance of uncertainty (IU), psychological distress, dispositional optimism, and work arrangements at home. Results: Data analysis supported the association between IU and psychological distress. Two additional measures, optimism and work schedule, were found to act as moderators. Whereas optimism buffered IU's negative ramifications, the inability to schedule proper work arrangements at home during the lockdown comprised a risk factor for IU and psychological distress. Conclusions: Findings suggest that IU is associated with psychological distress. Theoretical and practical ramifications of the study findings are presented.