Examining the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and pregnancy avoidance after an earthquake

Background Natural disasters such as earthquakes can cause severe psychological distress, including uncertainty about the future. This uncertainty may influence major life decisions, such as pregnancy planning. This study aimed to examine the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and pregnancy avoidance in women affected by the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquake in Turkey. Methods A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 246 women aged 18–40 who experienced the earthquake. Data were collected via an online survey between December 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, using snowball sampling. Tools included a Participant Introduction Form, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12), and the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy Scale (DAPS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression, adjusting for sociodemographic and reproductive variables. Results Participants had a mean IUS score of 38.52 (± 10.38) and a DAPS score of 2.25 (± 0.92). A significant positive correlation was found between intolerance of uncertainty and pregnancy avoidance (r = 0.222, p = 0.001). Regression analysis showed that intolerance of uncertainty significantly predicted pregnancy avoidance (β = 0.019, p = 0.001), explaining 16% of the variance in DAPS scores after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions Increased intolerance of uncertainty following the earthquake was significantly associated with a greater tendency to postpone or avoid pregnancy. This highlights the psychological impact of post-disaster uncertainty on reproductive decisions and emphasizes the need for integrated mental and reproductive health support in disaster-affected populations.