Cited by 177Patient-Provider Communication in HealthcareRisk Perception and ManagementAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

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A Little Uncertainty Goes a Long Way: State and Trait Differences in Uncertainty Interact to Increase Information Seeking but Also Increase Worry

Rosen, Natalie O., Knäuper, Bärbel·2009·Health Communication

DOI 10.1080/10410230902804125

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Abstract

This study examines the effect of an interaction between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and situational uncertainty (SU) on worry due to uncertainty and on information seeking. Health providers may benefit from knowing when communicating uncertain information is beneficial. The study was a 2 (IU condition: high vs. low) x 2 (SU condition: high vs. low) experimental design resulting in four conditions to which university students (N = 153) were randomly assigned. IU was manipulated through a linguistic manipulation of responses to an IU questionnaire coupled with written false feedback. SU was manipulated by modifying the information participants read about a fictitious infection. Individuals in the high IU and high SU condition sought the most information and worried most due to uncertainty compared to people in the low IU and low SU condition, who sought the least information and worried least. Findings suggest that high IU may increase positive health behaviors such as screening intentions when individuals are faced with an uncertain health threat, but that it also increases worries due to that uncertainty. Providing opportunities for discussing one's emotional response to uncertainty and providing instrumental support for managing uncertainty (e.g., booking the follow-up appointment) is essential when communicating uncertain information.

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Intolerance of uncertainty predicts indecisiveness and safety behavior in real-life decision making: Results from an experience sampling study
Appel, H., Krasko, J., Luhmann, M., & Gerlach, A. L. (2024) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104490 · Cited by 17
Tolerating Uncertainty in the Dark: Insomnia Symptoms, Distress, and Well-Being Among Parents of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Panjwani, A. A., Millar, B. M., & Revenson, T. A. (2020) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12529-020-09869-6 · Cited by 17
Trait anger and approach motivation are related to higher endorsement of specific and generic conspiracy beliefs
Szymaniak, K., Zajenkowski, M., Fronczyk, K., Leung, S. J., & Harmon‐Jones, E. (2023) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104374 · Cited by 17
The role of uncertainty, worry, and control in well-being: Evidence from the COVID-19 outbreak and pandemic in U.S. and China.
Howell, J. L., Sweeny, K. M., Hua, J., Werntz, A. J., Hussain, M., Hinojosa, B. M., Johnson, A. E., Lindgren, K. P., Meese, W. B., O'Shea, B. A., et al. (2022) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/emo0001163 · Cited by 16
“When people are faced with uncertainty, as in the case of COVID-19, they typically experience worry (Lee & Hawkins, 2016; Rosen & Knäuper, 2009; Tiedens & Linton, 2001).”
Background
Examination of an experimental manipulation of intolerance of uncertainty on obsessive-compulsive outcomes
Faleer, H. E., Fergus, T. A., Bailey, B. E., & Wu, K. D. (2017) · Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2017.07.002 · Cited by 18
How uncertainty affects information search among consumers: a curvilinear perspective
He, S., & Rucker, D. D. (2022) · Marketing Letters · doi:10.1007/s11002-022-09657-0 · Cited by 15
“Similarly, consumers who were more uncertain about a disease were more inclined to seek information (Rosen & Knäuper, 2009).”
Background
The Relationship Between Anxiety and Intolerance of Uncertainty Levels in Individuals Who Received Liver Transplant: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Yıldız, E. (2020) · Clinical Nursing Research · doi:10.1177/1054773820962918 · Cited by 15
“Although the uncertainty-anxiety and IU-anxiety relationship has been well established, only a few studies have investigated the effect of uncertainty and IU on anxiety (Chen et al., 2018; Oglesby & Schmidt, 2017; Rosen & Knäuper, 2009).”
Background
The Intolerance of Uncertainty and “Untact” Buying Behavior: The Mediating Role of the Perceived Risk of COVID-19 Variants and Protection Motivation
Zhao, S., Ye, B., Wang, W., & Zeng, Y. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.807331 · Cited by 19
Assessing the Readability of Covid-19 Testing Messages on the Internet
Garcia, P., Fera, J., Mohlman, J., & Basch, C. H. (2021) · Journal of Community Health · doi:10.1007/s10900-021-00973-6 · Cited by 13
Individuals Intolerant of Uncertainty: The Maintenance of Worry and Distress Despite Reduced Uncertainty
Ranney, R. M., Behar, E., & Bartoszek, G. (2018) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2018.08.006 · Cited by 13
Wanting information: Uncertainty and its reduction through search engagement
van der Sluis, F. (2024) · Information Processing & Management · doi:10.1016/j.ipm.2024.103890 · Cited by 12
Intolerance of Uncertainty and Perfectionistic Beliefs About Parenting as Cognitive Mechanisms of Symptom Change During Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Perinatal Anxiety.
Donegan, E., Frey, B. N., McCabe, R. E., Streiner, D. L., & Green, S. M. (2022) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2022.02.005 · Cited by 10
The role of intolerance of uncertainty and working alliance in the outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder delivered by videoconference: Mediation analysis
Marcotte-Beaumier, G., Bouchard, S., Gosselin, P., Langlois, F., Belleville, G., Marchand, A., & Dugas, M. J. (2021) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/24541 · Cited by 11
“Data suggest that intolerance of uncertainty is a causal risk factor for high levels of worry and GAD and that it plays a key role in the etiology of GAD [39-43].”
Background
An experimental investigation of intolerance of uncertainty and its impact on sub-clinical psychopathology
Geok, E.-T., Lee, K. Y. C., & Sündermann, O. (2021) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101718 · Cited by 11
What Drives Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories? Examining the Role of Uncertainty, Negative Emotions, and Perceived Relevance and Threat
Lee, T., & Koo, G. H. (2022) · Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10410236.2022.2134703 · Cited by 11
“When faced with uncertain situations, people are likely to experience anxiety (Reuman et al., 2015) and worry (Rosen & Knäuper, 2009).”
Background
A Structural Equation Modelling on the Factors Affecting Intolerance of Uncertainty and Worry Among a Select Group of Filipino Elderly
de Guzman, A. B., Lacao, R. A., & Larracas, C. (2014) · Educational Gerontology · doi:10.1080/03601277.2014.918837 · Cited by 13
“However, most of these studies had young adults as respondents (Lee et al., 2010; Dugas & Koerner, 2005; Rosen & Knauper, 2009) compared to the few investigations which involved the elderly group (Nuevo et al., 2009; Dugas et al.,1997).”
Result
Personality, Sex of Participant, and Face-to-Face Interaction Affect Reading of Informed Consent Forms
Knepp, M. M. (2014) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/17.07.pr0.114k13w1 · Cited by 10
“Furthermore, situational and trait uncertainty interacted to cause an increase of information-seeking behaviors in participants ( Rosen & Knäuper, 2009 ).”
Background
What do consumers want to know about antibiotics? Analysis of a medicines call centre database
Hawke, K., McGuire, T., Ranmuthugala, G., & van Driel, M. (2015) · Family Practice · doi:10.1093/fampra/cmv083 · Cited by 10
Longitudinal patterns in fear of cancer progression in patients with rare, advanced cancers undergoing comprehensive tumour genomic profiling
Butow, P. N., Müller, F., Napier, C. E., Bartley, N., Ballinger, M. L., Biesecker, B. B., Juraskova, I., Meiser, B., Schlub, T. E., Thomas, D. M., et al. (2021) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.5764 · Cited by 9
Information Quality, Uncertainty, and Quality of Care in Long-Distance Caregiving
Bevan, J. L., Jupin, A. M., & Sparks, L. (2011) · Communication Research Reports · doi:10.1080/08824096.2011.566105 · Cited by 9
“Furthermore, both caregiving (Lim & Zebrack, 2004) and uncertainty (Rosen & Knauper, 2009) can increase stress and anxiety, which could subsequently compromise quality care provision.”
Background
Real-world questions and concerns about disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): a retrospective analysis of questions to a medicine call center
Masri, H. E., Hollingworth, S., van Driel, M., Benham, H., & McGuire, T. (2020) · BMC Rheumatology · doi:10.1186/s41927-020-00126-7 · Cited by 9
How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa
Bijsterbosch, J. M., Keizer, A., Boelen, P. A., van den Brink, F., Danner, U. N., & Sternheim, L. C. (2021) · Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1186/s40337-021-00523-4 · Cited by 11
“Furthermore, experimental studies in adult samples have shown that changes in IU lead to corresponding changes in worry [31, 44, 54, 55].”
Background
Efficacy Assessments as Predictors of Uncertainty Preferences
Link, E., & Baumann, E. (2021) · European Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1027/2512-8442/a000092 · Cited by 8
Online Health Information Seeking and Cyberchondria Among Men at Risk of HIV Infection: A Moderated Mediation Model
Guo, Y. Q., Wang, Y., & Li, Y. (2024) · International Journal of Sexual Health · doi:10.1080/19317611.2024.2444590 · Cited by 7
“This finding does not coincide with that of Rosen and Kn € auper (2009), in which a positive effect of IU on intention to seek more health information was found in social experiments among participants who have concerns about sexually transmitted diseases.”
Exploring pathways from intolerance of uncertainty to worry in adults with generalised anxiety disorder
Wilson, E., Abbott, M. J., Norton, A. R., Berle, D., & Rapee, R. M. (2025) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2025.2478246 · Cited by 10
“Empirical research has found that experimentally manipulating IU can induce increased (or decreased) worry in community samples (Ladouceur et al., 2000; Rosen & Knäuper, 2009).”
Psychological outcomes in advanced cancer patients after receiving genomic tumor profiling results.
Vatter, S., Members of the PiGeOn Project, Schlub, T. E., Napier, C. E., Best, M. C., Bartley, N., Juraskova, I., Meiser, B., Ballinger, M. L., Biesecker, B. B., et al. (2022) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/hea0001181 · Cited by 7
Using Information to Manage Uncertainty During Organ Transplantation
Stone, A. M., Scott, A. M., Martin, S. C., & Brashers, D. E. (2013) · Qualitative Communication Research · doi:10.1525/qcr.2013.2.1.42 · Cited by 9
“…of information seeking and avoiding as a communicative means of managing uncertainty (Afifi & Weiner, 2002; Brashers, Goldsmith, & Hsieh, 2002; Hogan & Brashers, 2009; Knobloch & Solomon, 2002; Morrison, 2002; Rosen & Knauper, 2009; Sweeny, Melnyk, Miller, & Shepperd, 2010; Sweeny & Miller, 2012).”
Pilot of a randomised controlled trial of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline versus cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety symptoms in people with generalised anxiety disorder who have failed to respond to low-intensity psychological treatments as defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines
Buszewicz, M., Cape, J. D., Serfaty, M. A., Shafran, R., Kabir, T., Tyrer, P. J., Clarke, C. S., & Nazareth, I. (2017) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta21450 · Cited by 8
Empowering Parents to Protect Children during COVID-19 with Message Strategy Based on Efficacy, Threat Levels, and Channel Preferences
Park, S., & Avery, E. J. (2021) · Journal of Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10810730.2021.2024628 · Cited by 6
“People seek information during crisis in part to manage uncertainty (Spence et al., 2006), and individuals search for health information even more extensively as it is relevant to their well-being or even survival (Miller, 2014; Rosen & Knäuper, 2009).”
Background
On parents' choice of the school travel mode during the COVID-19 pandemic
Zhang, S., Jing, P., Yuan, D., & Yang, C. (2022) · Mathematical Biosciences & Engineering · doi:10.3934/mbe.2022438 · Cited by 6
The role of intolerance of uncertainty in the repeated exposure to cancer information
Chae, J. (2017) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347332.2016.1277822 · Cited by 6
“The results require a balance in communicating uncertainty (Rosen & Kn€auper, 2009).”
Background
Pursuing germline genome sequencing to reduce illness uncertainty may involve additional uncertainties for cancer patients: A mixed‐methods study
Bartley, N., Best, M. C., & Butow, P. N. (2021) · Journal of Genetic Counseling · doi:10.1002/jgc4.1398 · Cited by 6
“If an individual perceives uncertainty as negative or unacceptable, highly uncertain situations are likely to result in excessive worrying, whereas those who see uncertainty as an opportunity may worry less and be motivated to act positively (Rosen & Knäuper, 2009).”
Background
Health anxiety and attentional control interact to predict uncertainty-related attentional biases
Rogers, T. A., Daniel, T. A., & Bardeen, J. R. (2021) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101697 · Cited by 7
Social Media, Risk Perceptions Related to COVID ‐19, and Health Outcomes
Wright, K. B. (2021) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119751809.ch6 · Cited by 6
Who am I in retirement? Antecedents and outcomes of retirement self-uncertainty
Dossinger, K., & Beaver, G. R. (2025) · Work Aging and Retirement · doi:10.1093/workar/waaf007 · Cited by 6
The moderating role of parental cognitive perceptions in the link between children’s cancer predisposition genetic testing results and parent psychological adjustment
Sachner, L., Flynn, J. S., Hsu, C., Pan, H., Jurbergs, N., Blake, A., McGee, R. B., Harrison, L. W., Robinson, M., Adanri, T., et al. (2025) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsaf026 · Cited by 5
Epidemiology, Secondary School Curricula, and Preparing the Next Generation for Global Citizenship
Basch, C. E., & Basch, C. H. (2022) · JMIR Public Health and Surveillance · doi:10.2196/36006 · Cited by 5
“Damage from misinformation (unintentionally incorrect or misleading information) and disinformation (intentionally incorrect or misleading information) is exacerbated by low levels of reading and health literacy, and a lack of understanding about disease transmission, prevention, and control [28-31].”
Background

Authors: Rosen, N. O., & Knäuper, B.
Affiliations: McGill University (CA)
McGill University
Corresponding author: Rosen, Natalie O.
ORCID: Rosen, Natalie O.
Venue: Health Communication
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2009-05-04
Volume: 24
Issue: 3
Pages: 228-238
ISSN: 1041-0236 (ISSN-L)
1532-7027
DOI: 10.1080/10410230902804125
OpenAlex: W2059131762
Cited by: 177
References: 38
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
FWCI: 12.75
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Health Communication (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Topics: Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords: intolerance of uncertainty, situational uncertainty, information seeking, worry, uncertainty communication, health information, health behavior
MeSH terms: Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Motivation, Health Behavior, Intention, Uncertainty, Consumer Health Information

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A Little Uncertainty Goes a Long Way: State and Trait Differences in Uncertainty Interact to Increase Information Seeking but Also Increase Worry

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