The Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty in the Association with Depression Symptoms

Kaitlyn Bruns, & Alison C. McLeish, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati

INTRODUCTION
Over 20 million adults in the United States (9.5%) have a mood disorder Identifying malleable cognitive-emotional risk factors for mood disorders is important for prevention and intervention efforts Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), which reflects the tendency to react negatively to uncertainty because of beliefs that uncertainty is unfair and will result in negative consequences, is one such factor. Research on IU has largely focused on its role in terms of worry and general depression symptoms, though recent research suggests that IU may serve as a more transdiagnostic risk factor. Recognizing this possible risk factor is important for accurately understanding the unique and shared aspects of each disorders phenomenology, potentially aiding in more accurate diagnoses .

RESULTS
After controlling for the effects of gender, negative affect, and worry, IU significantly predicted general depression ( = .18, p < .01), dysphoria ( = .21, p < .01), and appetite loss ( = .14, p < .05), but not appetite gain, insomnia, or lassitude.
R t Criterion Variable: General Depression
2

sr

p < .01

Step 1 Gender PANAS NA Worry Step 2 IUS

.63 1.88 14.14 3.08 .02 3.72 .12 .02 2.14 1.34 .14 .01 .28 .01

ns < .01 < .05 < .05 < .05

Criterion Variable: Dysphoria

HYPOTHESIS
After controlling for the effects of gender, negative affectivity, and worry, intolerance of uncertainty will be predictive of global depression symptoms (general depression, dysphoria), as well as specific depression symptoms, including lassitude, insomnia, appetite gain, and appetite loss.

Step 1
Gender PANAS NA Worry Step 2 IUS Step 1 Gender PANAS NA PSWQ Step 2 IUS

.66
1.28 14.58 4.25 .02 4.36 .21 Criterion Variable: Appetite Loss .14 .91 .05 5.54 .39 -.42 -.03 .01 1.99 .15 .02 .05 .66 .20 .00 .27 .02

< .01
ns < .01 < .01 < .01 < .01 < .01 ns < .01 ns < .05 < .05

METHOD
PARTICIPANTS: 433 young adults with a self-reported measures - Mage = 19.8, SD = 3.70; 72% female; 84% Caucasian MEASURES: Intolerance of Uncertainty Questionnaire (IUS): Assesses tendency to react to uncertainty of life events with negative emotion Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule- Negative Affect Subscale (PANASNA): Assesses the tendency to experience negative affect Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS): Assesses thoughts, emotions, and feelings associated with depression and anxiety symptoms (general depression, dysphoria, lassitude, insomnia, appetite gain/loss) Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ): Assesses various concerns of life

.00 .09 .00 .01

DISCUSSION
Greater IU significantly predicted greater levels of general depression (1.9% unique variance), dysphoria (2.3% unique variance), and appetite loss (1.2% unique variance). These results suggest that IU is primarily associated with greater global levels of depression rather than specific symptoms of depression.