Psychometric properties of the Brazilian Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Version (IUS-12)

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the intolerance of uncertainty scale: a multinational study

INTRODUCTION

It is common for people to experience anxiety when contemplating their unknown future. Studies have shown that those who tend to worry more about their future are more likely to be intolerant of uncertainty. In order to study the way people from the Middle East tackle uncertainty, a valid and reliable scale is needed. In this context, the present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12) in a community sample of native Arabic-speaking participants from Lebanon, Egypt, and Kuwait.

METHODS

A sample of 2038 university students answered the survey, with a mean age of 22.30 ± 4.15 years and 77.5% females. A Google Form link was dissipated among participants that included some demographic questions, the IUS-12 and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8).

RESULTS

Following the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), a bi-dimensional model of the Arabic version of the IUS-12 was found. The scale showed an excellent internal reliability for the prospective anxiety (ω = 0.85 / α = 0.85) and inhibitory anxiety (ω = 0.87 / α = 0.87). Additionally, the results illustrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance across genders and countries. Furthermore, Egypt and Lebanon were seen to have statistically significant higher levels of inhibitory anxiety compared to Kuwait, while only Egypt showed statistically significant higher prospective anxiety compared to Kuwait. Finally, higher psychological distress was significantly and positively associated with higher prospective and inhibitory anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide support for the psychometric reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the IUS-12, allowing for its generalizability and suitability for use among individuals from different Arabic-speaking nations.

The effect of intolerance of uncertainty on anxiety and depression, and their symptom networks, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Individuals vary in their ability to tolerate uncertainty. High intolerance of uncertainty (the tendency to react negatively to uncertain situations) is a known risk factor for mental health problems. In the current study we examined the degree to which intolerance of uncertainty predicted depression and anxiety symptoms and their interrelations across the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined these associations across three time points (May 2020 - April 2021) in an international sample of adults (N = 2087, Mean age = 41.13) from three countries (UK, USA, Australia) with varying degrees of COVID-19 risk. We found that individuals with high and moderate levels of intolerance of uncertainty reported reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms over time. However, symptom levels remained significantly elevated compared to individuals with low intolerance of uncertainty. Individuals with low intolerance of uncertainty had low and stable levels of depression and anxiety across the course of the study. Network analyses further revealed that the relationships between depression and anxiety symptoms became stronger over time among individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty and identified that feeling afraid showed the strongest association with intolerance of uncertainty. Our findings are consistent with previous work identifying intolerance of uncertainty as an important risk factor for mental health problems, especially in times marked by actual health, economic and social uncertainty. The results highlight the need to explore ways to foster resilience among individuals who struggle to tolerate uncertainty, as ongoing and future geopolitical, climate and health threats will likely lead to continued exposure to significant uncertainty.

The relationships of family income and caste-status with religiousness: Mediation role of intolerance of uncertainty

The relationship between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and religiousness is well known; however, its (psychological mediation) mechanism is not clear. In the present study, we studied the mediation role of intolerance of uncertainty (IU; a personality measure of self-uncertainty) in the effect of SES on religiousness and its dimensions (i.e., believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging), in two different samples (students sample, N = 868, and community sample, N = 250), after controlling the effects of factors like age, sex, handedness, and self-reported risk-taking. The results showed that IU mediated the effects of lower family income and lower caste status (in students’ sample only) on religiousness and its dimensions; higher caste status had a direct effect on religiousness (and its dimensions), and; among the sub-factors of IU, only prospective IU affected religiousness. Thus, along with showing that IU is a mediator of the effects of lower family income and lower caste status on religiousness, the present study supports the contention that religiousness is a latent variable that varied factors can independently initiate. Moreover, the present study suggests a nuanced model of the relationship between the hierarchical caste system and religiousness.

Coping moderates the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and stress in men during the Covid-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To test the explanatory power of coping strategies and intolerance of uncertainty on men's perceived stress levels and test the moderating role of coping strategies in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and perceived stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.

METHOD

This was an online cross-sectional study in which 1,006 men living in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic participated. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique and completed a questionnaire containing measures of all study variables. Data were examined using a correlation and a regression analysis.

RESULTS

Intolerance of uncertainty (β = .51) and refusal (β = .15) positively predicted perceived stress, whereas control (β = -.31) and isolation (β = -.06) negatively predicted it. Together, these variables explained 52% of men's perceived stress (p < .001). Isolation and social support lessened the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and stress (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Men high in intolerance of uncertainty and refusal were more vulnerable to stress during the pandemic. However, coping helped mitigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and perceived stress, thus being a promising psychosocial intervention in this context.

Psychological Distress in Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: The Role of the Sociodemographic Variables, Uncertainty, and Social Support

Objective: To analyze the relationships between sociodemographic variables, intolerance to uncertainty (INT), social support, and psychological distress (i.e., indicators of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) and perceived stress (PS)) in Brazilian men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with national coverage, of the web survey type, and conducted with 1006 Brazilian men during the period of social circulation restriction imposed by the health authorities in Brazil for suppression of the coronavirus and control of the pandemic. Structural equation modeling analysis was performed. Results: Statistically significant direct effects of race/skin color (λ = 0.268; p-value < 0.001), socioeconomic status (SES) (λ = 0.306; p-value < 0.001), household composition (λ = 0.281; p-value < 0.001), PS (λ = 0.513; p-value < 0.001), and INT (λ = 0.421; p-value < 0.001) were evidenced in the occurrence of CMDs. Black-skinned men with higher SES, living alone, and with higher PS and INT levels presented higher prevalence values of CMDs. Conclusions: High levels of PS and INT were the factors that presented the strongest associations with the occurrence of CMDs among the men. It is necessary to implement actions to reduce the stress-generating sources as well as to promote an increase in resilience and the development of intrinsic reinforcements to deal with uncertain threats.