Serial Mediation Models of Future Anxiety and Italian Young
Adults Psychological Distress: The Role of Intolerance of
Uncertainty and Non-Pathological Worry
Previous research has already examined the relationship between Future Anxiety, a construct
recently introduced in Italy, and mental health in young adults, although possible mediating
variables in this relationship have so far never been investigated. The present study attempts to fill
this gap by exploring the incidence of Future Anxiety on psychological distress (i.e., Stress, Anxiety
and Depression) in a group of 302 young Italian adults (18–30 years; M = 21.9; SD = 2.6; 49.0% males;
51.0% females), presenting and evaluating the simultaneous mediating effect of Intolerance of Uncertainty
and Non-Pathological Worry. Findings highlighted how Future Anxiety had a positive and
significant direct effect on Stress and Depression, but not on Anxiety. In the three serial mediation
models proposed, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Non-Pathological Worry mediated the relationship
between Future Anxiety and mental health outcomes. The results also confirmed the hypothesized
serial mediation effect by highlighting how young adults with greater Future Anxiety experienced
more Intolerance of Uncertainty, which positively affected Non-Pathological Worry levels
and, in turn, exacerbated psychological distress. Finally, results indicated that female participants
experienced more Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in relation to Future Anxiety compared to males.
Starting from the review of main references on this subject, the results discussed provide new insights
for understanding youth psychological distress. Finally, practical implications for the design
of supportive interventions for this study’s target group are proposed
