Relationship between Intolerance of Uncertainty, Career Decision Ambiguity Tolerance, and Resilience among University Students

Abstract

Rapid increase in technology, including integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

into the workforce, have contributed to the growing career uncertainty among university students.

Such ambiguity has been associated with adverse psychological outcomes including heightened

levels of stress and anxiety. The uncertainty in career - decision making process may negatively

affect students’ overall well-being by an increase in emotional distress and reduce effective coping.

There have been many studies exploring the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the lives of

students in relation to anxiety and resilience. However, with limited research examining the

relationship among intolerance of uncertainty, resilience and career decision ambiguity tolerance,

the novelty of this study is to explore that relationship among university students. A total of 80

university students participated in the study and completed the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale

(IUS-12); Brief Resilience Scale (BRS); and Career Decision Ambiguity Tolerance Scale (CDAT).

The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between Resilience and Preference, (a

sub- dimension of Career Decision Ambiguity Tolerance). Thus, it is suggested that high resilience

in students makes them more willing to engage in ambiguous career situations. But, since there is

no significant association between intolerance of uncertainty, resilience and career decision

ambiguity tolerance, separate strategies may be needed to address the need of resilience in

students’ life and also focusing on the general discomfort with uncertainty and building.