title: Fearing the unknown: a short version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale.
abstract: Intolerance of uncertainty is the tendency of an individual to consider the possibility of a negative event occurring unacceptable, irrespective of the probability of occurrence. It is a key component of worry, state anxiety, and related anxiety pathologies. The 27-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) was developed to measure intolerance of uncertainty. Previous psychometric analyses of the IUS have suggested both four- and five-factor models. High inter-item correlations, factor instability, and previous theoretical research support the development of a reduced measure. The present study used two undergraduate samples and evaluated a psychometrically stable 12-item two-factor version of the IUS. The reduced measure (IUS-12) retained exemplary internal consistency, while correlating extremely well with the original IUS and related measures of anxiety and worry. The IUS-12 also demonstrated a stable two-factor structure, representing both anxious and avoidance components of intolerance of uncertainty. Directions for future research and potential applications for assessment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, University of Regina, Regina, Sask., Canada S4S 0A2. carletor@uregina.ca <carletor@uregina.ca>
authors.forename: R Nicholas
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Carleton
authors.forename: M A Peter J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Gordon J G
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Asmundson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D001290:Attitude; D003071:Cognition; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires