When a loved one is missing, those left behind need to be able to tolerate high levels of uncertainty, sometimes for sustained periods of time. This study aimed to examine the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and psychological symptoms among people with a missing loved one, and tested the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties and psychological inflexibility. A cross-sectional sample of 110 people with a missing loved one completed a questionnaire containing demographics and measures of IU, difficulties in emotion regulation, psychological inflexibility and psychological symptoms. Results indicated that psychological inflexibility was a significant mediator of the associations between IU and psychological distress, prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Emotion regulation difficulties did not emerge as a significant mediator in any of the models. Findings suggest that stronger tendencies to respond negatively to uncertain situations are associated with increased attempts to avoid uncomfortable internal experiences (e.g., thoughts, feelings, memories or sensations) which, in turn, exacerbates psychological symptom levels. The findings have implications for developing interventions aimed at strengthening the ability to tolerate uncertainty and addressing psychological inflexibility among people with a missing loved one.

当亲人失踪时，留下来的人需要能够忍受高度的不确定性，有时是持续一段时间。本研究旨在研究失去亲人的人对不确定性的不容忍（IU）与心理症状之间的关系，并测试情绪调节困难和心理不灵活的中介作用。一个由 110 名失去亲人的人组成的横断面样本完成了一份问卷，其中包含人口统计数据和 IU、情绪调节困难、心理不灵活和心理症状。结果表明，心理不灵活是 IU 与心理困扰、长期悲伤和创伤后应激症状之间关联的重要中介因素。在任何模型中，情绪调节困难都没有成为重要的中介因素。研究结果表明，对不确定情况做出消极反应的强烈倾向与避免不舒服的内部体验（例如，思想、感觉、记忆或感觉）的尝试增加有关，这反过来又会加剧心理症状水平。这些发现对制定旨在加强对不确定性的承受能力和解决失去亲人的人的心理灵活性的干预措施具有重要意义。加剧心理症状水平。这些发现对制定旨在加强对不确定性的承受能力和解决失去亲人的人的心理灵活性的干预措施具有重要意义。加剧心理症状水平。这些发现对制定旨在加强对不确定性的承受能力和解决失去亲人的人的心理灵活性的干预措施具有重要意义。