Intolerance of uncertainty predicts analogue posttraumatic stress following adverse life events |
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Authors: | Paul A. Boelen |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands;2. Arq?Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen, the NetherlandsP.A.Boelen@uu.nlhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4125-4739 |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is evidence that intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is associated with elevated post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. There is a scarcity of research examining whether IU is prospectively related to PTS following exposure to negative life events. Using data from a Dutch student-sample, we examined the degree to which IU predicts post-traumatic stress symptoms associated with negative stressful life events (analogue posttraumatic stress (PTS)).DESIGN: This was a prospective survey-study.METHODS: A group of 193 undergraduate students completed self-report measures of Inhibitory IU, Prospective IU, and anxiety sensitivity (at Time 1, T1). One year later (at T2), participants rated adverse life-events experienced between T1 and T2, and completed a questionnaire tapping PTS associated with the most distressing event experienced in this time-frame. We hypothesized that pre-event Inhibitory IU and—to a lesser extent—Prospective IU would predict analogue PTS, after covarying for anxiety sensitivity.RESULTS: As predicted, pre-event Inhibitory IU predicted post-event analogue PTS, even when controlling for anxiety sensitivity. With respect to distinct analogue PTS clusters, Inhibitory IU predicted PTS avoidance and PTS hyperarousal, but was unrelated to PTS reexperiencing.CONCLUSIONS: This study confirm that IU, particularly Inhibitory IU, may convey risk for elevated PTS following adverse life events. |
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Keywords: | Intolerance of uncertainty negative life-events PTSD risk-factor |
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