The Moderating Role of Psychological Flexibility in the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Flourishing

Introduction: This study investigates the moderating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and flourishing among counseling and psychology students. Intolerance of uncertainty creates educational challenges, particularly affecting students' mental health during practical training. Previous research has linked intolerance of uncertainty to various psychological outcomes, while psychological flexibility serves as a protective factor. Method A descriptive-correlational design with structural equation modeling was employed to examine 300 students through convenience sampling in 2024. Data collection utilized the Prosperity Scale(Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2021), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (Vadivel et al., 2022), and Psychological Flexibility Scale (Tabrizi et al., 2023). Analysis was conducted using SPSS 26 and Amos 24. Results Analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between intolerance of uncertainty and flourishing (β=-0.10, p < 0.001), and a positive correlation between psychological flexibility and flourishing (β = 0.53, p < 0.001). The moderating role of psychological flexibility was confirmed in the relationship between uncertainty intolerance and student flourishing. Conclusion Results confirm the moderating role of psychological flexibility, highlighting its importance for educational consultants and administrators in enhancing the effectiveness of student guidance programs. These findings suggest that promoting psychological flexibility may buffer the negative effects of uncertainty intolerance on student well-being.