The intolerance of uncertainty index: replication and extension with an English sample.
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is related to anxiety, depression, worry, and anxiety sensitivity. Precedent IU measures were criticized for psychometric instability and redundancy; alternative measures include the novel 45-item measure (Intolerance of Uncertainty Index; IUI). The IUI was developed in French with 2 parts, assessing general unacceptability of uncertainty (15 items, Part A) and manifestations of uncertainty approximating more common anxiety disorder symptoms (30 items, Part B). The psychometric stability of the back-translated English items of the IUI as well as the incremental variance of Parts A and B remain to be assessed. The current study involved 2 samples of English-speaking community participants (n = 437 and n = 309; 73% women and 27% men) who completed the IUI and several related measures. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested a refinement of IUI items as well as a unitary structure for Part A and a 3-factor structure for Part B. Regression results suggested Parts A and B each provide incremental validity in measures of worry, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, negative problem orientation, and depression. Comprehensive results, implications, and future research directions are discussed.
Carleton
R Nicholas
RN
Anxiety and Illness Behaviour Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2.
Gosselin
Patrick
P
Asmundson
Gordon J G
GJ
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D035501:Uncertainty