THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TOLERANCE TO UNCERTAINTY AND THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY AMONG STUDENTS

Abstract

The article considers different approaches to the interpretation of the term "uncertainty tolerance". It is determined that it is considered as an attitude to an ambiguous, dynamic, unknown situation; a stable personal characteristic that allows you to successfully live through crisis periods; a psychological construct that allows predicting a person's behavioral strategy when faced with unexpected situations. Instead, intolerance to uncertainty is characterized by the perception of uncertain situations as a source of threat, dichotomous worldview, inability to think in categories of probabilities. The purpose of the article is to investigate the relationship between tolerance for uncertainty and the level of students' anxiety. The following methods were used to conduct the empirical research: the "Tolerance to Uncertainty" method (S. Badner, adapted by G. Soldatova), the uncertainty response scale (V. Greko, D. Roger), the Spielberger-Hanin scale of reactive and personal anxiety. Pearson's linear correlation method was used to establish the relationship between anxiety level and uncertainty tolerance. Empirically, it was found that the majority of respondents have a low level of tolerance for uncertainty, while the greatest discomfort is caused by the awareness of the intractability and complexity of the problem, while the novelty of the situation is not a factor capable of destabilizing the personality. It was also established that most students have an average level of response to emotional and cognitive uncertainty, that is, these factors can cause a certain increase in anxiety, but this does not lead to a significant decrease in adaptation resources and is not a significant stressogenic factor. At the same time, a significant part of the respondents is characterized by a desire for change, which demonstrates a personal readiness to face unknown situations. Most of the interviewees have an average level of personal and reactive anxiety, which indicates an increased tendency to react to uncertain situations with negative emotions. A correlation between intolerance to uncertainty and anxiety has been established.