Presentation Schedule
Ghosting Experiences and Psychological Symptoms in Emerging Adults: The Roles of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Attachment Styles (106733)
Session Chair: Subeksha Shrestha
Wednesday, 17 June 2026 15:05
Session: Session 3
Room: Room 108 (1F)
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
Background: Ghosting (i.e., unilaterally ceasing all communication without explanation) has become an increasingly common relationship dissolution strategy among emerging adults. University students, who are navigating romantic relationships during a critical developmental period, may be particularly vulnerable to the psychological consequences of ghosting. However, the mechanisms through which ghosting leads to mental health problems remain poorly understood.
Objective: This study examined whether intolerance of uncertainty mediates the relationship between ghosting experiences and psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress), and whether anxious attachment moderates this indirect effect.
Method: A sample of 346 Turkish emerging adults (M_age = 21.29, SD = 2.03; 75% female) completed measures of ghosting experiences, intolerance of uncertainty, attachment styles, and psychological symptoms. Mediation and moderated mediation models were tested using structural equation modeling with latent variables and bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals.
Results: Intolerance of uncertainty fully mediated the relationship between ghosting and all three outcomes (β = .08–.10, p < .01). Anxious attachment moderated both the first-stage (ghosting → intolerance of uncertainty; β = .49, p < .001) and second-stage paths (intolerance of uncertainty → symptoms; β = .17–.24, p <.05). The index of moderated mediation was significant for all outcomes, with the indirect effect significant only among individuals high in anxious attachment. Avoidant attachment showed no moderating effect. Conclusion: Intolerance of uncertainty is a key mechanism linking ghosting to psychological distress, with anxious attachment amplifying this vulnerability. University counseling services may benefit from interventions targeting uncertainty tolerance, particularly for students with anxious attachment patterns.
Authors:
Ruveyda Yegen, Gaziantep University, Türkiye
Aykut Kul, Gaziantep University, Türkiye
About the Presenter(s)
Ruveyda Yegen, PhD Candidate in Guidance and Psychological Counseling at Gaziantep University, Turkey.
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