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Cited by 62Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum DisordersPerfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety StudiesAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY AS A MEDIATOR OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERFECTIONISM AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOM SEVERITY: Research Article: IU Mediating Perfectionism and OCD Symptoms

Open access
Reuther, Erin T., Davis, Thompson E., Rudy, Brittany M., Jenkins, Whitney S., Whiting, Sara E., May, Anna C.·2013·Depression and Anxiety
DOI 10.1002/da.22100
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Abstract

Background Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and perfectionism have both been shown to predict severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in populations diagnosed with OCD, as well as analogue samples. According to cognitive models of OCD, symptoms are maintained by dysfunctional beliefs including IU and perfectionism. The purpose of the current study is to extend research on the cognitive theory of OCD by describing how dysfunctional thoughts interact with each other. Methods In an analogue sample for OCD (N = 475), undergraduate students completed measures online pertaining to IU (IU scale), perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), and OCD symptoms and severity (Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory). Results The proposed model of IU fully mediating the relationship between perfectionism and OCD severity was supported using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Bootstrapping testing within AMOS 20 and Sobel tests further corroborated full mediation. Conclusions Results from the current study suggest that IU fully mediates the relationship between perfectionism and severity of OCD symptoms. This finding has an impact for understanding the nature and treatment of OCD with perfectionism as a primary symptom. Findings suggest that in order to address perfectionism, it is necessary to first treat cognitions and obsessions associated with IU and that this practice would lessen distress and interference associated with perfectionistic obsessions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/da.22100

Cites

28 of 29 references verified0 citation errors · 1 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

1 of 23 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    Using cross-sectional samples with SEM models is generally considered an acceptable way to measure mediation when longitudinal data are not available.

    “However, using cross-sectional samples with SEM models is generally considered an acceptable way to measure mediation when longitudinal data are not available.[24][25][26]”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [24] Edwards, 2007, Methods for integrating moderation and mediation: a general analytical framework using moderated path analysis, Psychol Methods source
    • cites [25] MacKinnon, 2002, A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects, Psychol Methods source

      The paper’s introduction discusses testing intervening-variable effects with path models and notes that observational studies investigate them. Its Discussion emphasizes the value of temporal precedence for causal inference, but does not say that cross-sectional SEM is generally an acceptable substitute when longitudinal data are unavailable. The indexed passages provide no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.81)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [26] Tesser, 1976, Toward a causal model of love, J Pers Soc Psychol source
  • Findingown data

    The structural model demonstrated good fit: χ2(2)=3.661, P=.160, CFI=.997, RMSEA=.04, SRMR=.03.

    “The structural model demonstrated good fit, χ 2 (2) = 3.661, P = .160,CFI = .997,RMSEA = .04,SRMR = .03.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    All paths in the structural model were significant in the predicted directions.

    “All paths were significant in the predicted directions (see Fig. 1 for standardized path estimates).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Bootstrapping within AMOS 20 and Sobel tests further corroborated full mediation.

    “Bootstrapping testing within AMOS 20 and Sobel tests further corroborated full mediation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The proposed model of IU fully mediating the relationship between perfectionism and OCD severity was supported using structural equation modeling (SEM).

    “The proposed model of IU fully mediating the relationship between perfectionism and OCD severity was supported using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis.”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “Results from the current study support IU as fully mediating the relationship between perfectionism and OCD.”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · hedged
      “In conclusion, results from the current study suggest that IU fully mediates the relationship between perfectionism and severity of OCD symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 9
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 8

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Sobel test statistics were significant for both FOCI scales (severity: test = 8.17, P < .01; symptom checklist: test = 7.27, P < .01).

    “Sobel test statistics were significant for both FOCI scales (severity: test = 8.17, P < .01;symptom checklist: test = 7.27, P < .01).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Perfectionism had a significant indirect effect of .03 on both FOCI scales through IU; a 1 SD increase in perfectionism was associated with a .03 SD increase in FOCI symptoms and severity.

    “Perfectionism had a significant indirect effect of .03 on both FOCI scales [Ps < .05;90% CI: severity .17-.27, symptom checklist .15-.24) through IU; a 1 SD increase in perfectionism was associated with a .03SD increase in FOCI symptoms and severity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) predicts obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in analogue samples and in individuals diagnosed with OCD.

    “IU plays an important role in the phenomenology of obsessions, and has been shown to predict symptoms of OCD in both analogue samples of OCD and in individuals diagnosed with OCD.[5][6][7]”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain
      “In populations diagnosed with OCD, IU is also predictive of severity in OCD symptoms.7”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [5] Calleo, 2010, Obsessions and worry beliefs in an inpatient OCD population, J Anxiety Disord source
    • cites [6] Fergus, 2010, Do symptoms of generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder share cognitive processes?, Cognit Ther Res source
    • cites [7] Tolin, 2003, Intolerance of uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder, J Anxiety Disord source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    In the current sample, Cronbach's α was .800 for the OCD symptom checklist and .879 for the OCD severity scale.

    “Cronbach's α for the current study was .800for the OCD symptom checklist and .879for the OCD severity scale.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Most previous studies of dysfunctional thoughts and OCD have primarily used correlation and hierarchical regression to examine effects.

    “Most previous studies of dysfunctional thoughts and OCD have primarily used correlation and hierarchical regression to examine effects.7,9”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [7] Tolin, 2003, Intolerance of uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder, J Anxiety Disord source
    • cites [9] Freeston, 1994, Why do people worry?, Pers Indiv Differ source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The FMPS and IUS have been widely used in research examining OCD.

    “The IUS 9 and FMPS 12 have been widely used in research examining OCD”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9] Freeston, 1994, Why do people worry?, Pers Indiv Differ source
    • cites [12] Frost, 1990, The dimensions of perfectionism, Cognit Ther Res source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) is a reliable and valid measure of IU.

    “This is a 27-item self-report scale that measures IU.It has been used in many studies examining both GAD and OCD, 10 and has good reliability and validity.9”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9] Freeston, 1994, Why do people worry?, Pers Indiv Differ source
    • cites [10] Gentes, 2011, A meta-analysis of the relation of intolerance of uncertainty to symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Clin Psychol Rev source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In the current sample, the FMPS total score had a Cronbach's α of .921.

    “The total score (M = 87.79,SD = 19.21)was used in this study, and Cronbach's α was .921for the sample.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Finding the same effect using additional well-established measures allowed for further corroboration that dysfunctional thoughts of IU and perfectionism predict OCD symptoms and severity.

    “Finding the same effect of dysfunctional beliefs contributing to OCD symptom and severity using additional well-established measures allowed for further corroboration that the dysfunctional thoughts of IU and perfectionism predict OCD symptoms and severity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    To date there has only been one other study to examine dysfunctional thoughts using SEM.

    “To date there has only been one other study to examine dysfunctional thoughts using SEM.13”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] Taylor, 2010, How are dysfunctional beliefs related to obsessive-compulsive symptoms?, J Cognit PsychotherInt Q source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) is a reliable and valid measure of perfectionistic tendencies.

    “This 35-item self-report scale measures perfectionistic tendencies, and has been shown to have good reliability and validity.12”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Frost, 1990, The dimensions of perfectionism, Cognit Ther Res source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Grayson (2010) highlights the importance of addressing IU in treatment of OCD and reviews several treatment techniques that have been shown to help abate IU cognitions in OCD.

    “Grayson (2010) 23 highlights the importance of addressing IU in treatment of OCD and reviews several treatment techniques that have been shown to help abate IU cognitions in OCD.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [23] Grayson, 2010, OCD and intolerance of uncertainty: treatment issues, J Cognit Psychother source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FOCI) is a reliable and valid measure of OCD symptoms and severity, comparable to the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale when self-reported.

    “This measure has been shown in previous studies to be a reliable and valid scale for OCD, and when given as a selfreport scale, is comparable to other established measures for OCD, including the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.18 Reliability and validity have been supported in prior research; 17”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [17] Storch, 2007, Florida obsessive-compulsive inventory: development, reliability, and validity, J Clin Psychol source
    • cites [18] Goodman, 1989, The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: I. Development, use, and reliability, Arch Gen Psychiatry source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In the current sample, the IUS total score had a Cronbach's α of .956.

    “The total score (M = 53.02,SD = 19.61)was used, and Cronbach's α was .956for the current sample.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    In order to treat individuals with perfectionism, one must first address cognitions about IU in everyday life.

    “This implies that in order to treat individuals with perfectionism, one must first address cognitions about IU in everyday life.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
15 of 15

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • ConsistentF(4, 470) = 0.93reported p = .445 · recomputed p = .446

    “F(4,470) = .93,p = .445”

  • ConsistentF(16, 1427) = 1.4reported p = .132 · recomputed p = .133

    “F(16,1427) = 1.40,p = .132”

  • Consistentχ²(2) = 3.661reported p = .16 · recomputed p = .160

    “χ 2 (2) = 3.661, p = .160”

3 of 3

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Reported indirect effect falls outside both confidence intervals

    Major

    The reported indirect effect is .03 for each OCD scale, but both stated 90% confidence intervals exclude .03. The effect estimate and its intervals cannot describe the same quantity.

  • Tested mediation reverses the proposed causal direction

    Major

    The introduction proposes that intolerance of uncertainty drives perfectionism. The tested model instead places intolerance of uncertainty between perfectionism and OCD outcomes, making perfectionism the predictor of intolerance of uncertainty.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Steketee, 2002, Anxiety and Its Disorders, 516

Cited by

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Related

Authors
Reuther, E. T., Davis, T. E., Rudy, B. M., Jenkins, W. S., Whiting, S. E., & May, A. C.
Affiliations
Louisiana State University (US)
Corresponding author
Reuther, Erin T.
ORCID
Venue
Depression and Anxiety
Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Published
2013-04-22
Volume
30
Issue
8
Pages
773-777
ISSN
1091-4269 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1002/da.22100
OpenAlex
W1502992824
Cited by
62
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2013: 1
FWCI
4.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 862 d)
Locations
  • Depression and Anxiety (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Civil War Book Review (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
intolerance of uncertainty, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mediation, cognitive models of OCD, dysfunctional attitudes, university students
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Uncertainty, Young Adult

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

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Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

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