IMPACTO DEL DISTRÉS Y LA INTOLERANCIA A LA INCERTIDUMBRE SOBRE LAS CONDUCTAS ADICTIVAS EN UNIVERSITARIOS EN TIEMPOS DE PANDEMIA.

Addictive behaviors constitute one of the major problems worldwide, which has increased even in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic; in this scenario, two factors that have an important impact on regulation are stress and intolerance to uncertainty. Objective: To determine the impact of distress and intolerance to uncertainty on addictive behaviors in Peruvian university students. Methods: A multivariate correlational study, 552 students of both sexes aged 18 to 30 years were selected by convenience sampling. The MULTICAGE CAD-4 questionnaire, the Intolerance to Uncertainty scale and the Distress scale were applied. Results: Two structural regression models tested had good fit indices, showing that the variables distress and intolerance to uncertainty experienced by students have direct effects on addictive behaviors; intolerance to uncertainty plays a mediating role for addictive behaviors, increasing almost twice the effect of distress. Conclusion: Distress has a direct effect on the practice of addictive behaviors and these are mediated and enhanced by intolerance to uncertainty in the university sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]