How does intolerance of uncertainty affect work stress and psychological well-being? effects of 6 February 2023 earthquakes on working life

Considering Turkey's tectonic location, earthquakes are arguably the most common natural disasters that cause the greatest loss of life and property. During earthquakes, people experience high levels of uncertainty. Furthermore, the stress experienced by people during natural disasters like earthquakes is intense. Similarly, psychological well-being fluctuates under intense uncertainty and stress. Furthermore, significant changes occur in the work environment, and new developments emerge. This study investigates the moderating effect of damage level on the indirect impact of work stress on the impact of intolerance to uncertainty on psychological well-being during an earthquake. In this context, a 34-question survey measuring intolerance to uncertainty, perceived stress, and psychological well-being was administered to 1,041 individuals working in businesses operating in various sectors in the Gaziantep province in the period immediately following the earthquake disaster on 6 February 2023. Of the sample, 38.5% were female and 61.5% were male, with 43.2% between the ages of 25 and 34, and 24.8% between the ages of 35 and 44. Analyses revealed that earthquake damage moderated the indirect effect of intolerance to uncertainty on psychological well-being through job stress. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the impact of job stress on psychological well-being was lower for employees living in less damaged homes, demonstrating the importance of living in more resiliently constructed homes for working lives.