Pathways from uncertainty to anxiety: An evaluation of a hierarchical model of trait and disorder-specific intolerance of uncertainty on anxiety disorder symptoms
Open accessAbstract
Uncertainty is central to anxiety-related pathology and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) appears to be a transdiagnostic risk and maintaining factor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a hierarchical model to identify the unique contributions of trait and disorder-specific IU (i.e., uncertainty specific to generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder) to disorder-specific symptoms, beyond other disorder-specific cognitive vulnerabilities (i.e., negative metacognitive beliefs, fear of negative evaluation, inflated responsibility, and agoraphobic cognitions, respectively). Participants (N=506) completed a battery of online questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate model fit, as well as direct and indirect pathways. Trait and disorder-specific IU were significantly associated with multiple cognitive vulnerability factors and disorder symptoms. Indirect effects between trait IU and symptoms were observed through disorder-specific IU and cognitive vulnerabilities. The relative contribution of trait IU and disorder-specific IU to symptoms varied and theoretical and clinical implications are highlighted. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report. Avenues for further research include a need for replication and extension of the model in different samples and using experimental and multi-method research methods.
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- Authors
- Shihata, S., McEvoy, P. M., & Mullan, B. A.
- Affiliations
- Curtin University (AU)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- McEvoy, Peter M.
- Venue
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-01
- Volume
- 45
- Pages
- 72-79
- ISSN
- 0887-6185 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2560415691
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 9
- FWCI
- 7.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Keywords
- intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, cognitive vulnerability, fear of negative evaluation, inflated responsibility, transdiagnostic risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Uncertainty, Young Adult, Self Report
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