Concurrent and prospective associations of intolerance of uncertainty with symptoms of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depression after bereavement

Paul A Boelen, Albert Reijntjes, Geert E Smid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study examined associations of Prospective IU and Inhibitory IU with symptom-levels of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), Posttraumatic Stress-Disorder (PTSD), and depression in a sample of bereaved individuals. Specifically, 265 bereaved individuals completed measures of IU, PGD, PTSD, and depression in the first year after the death of a loved one; 134 participants again completed symptom-measures six months later. Cross-sectional analyses showed that Inhibitory IU (but not Prospective IU) was positively associated with symptom-levels of PTSD and depression (but not PGD), even when controlling for neuroticism, worry, and rumination. Prospective analyses showed that Prospective IU (but not Inhibitory IU) at baseline, predicted PGD severity six months later (but not PTSD or depression at follow-up) while controlling for baseline symptom-levels. The findings support the notion that IU is a vulnerability factor for different emotional problems, including those developing after the death of a loved one. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)65-72
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume41
Early online date11 Mar 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Keywords

  • Intolerance of uncertainty
  • Prolonged grief
  • Posttraumatic stress
  • Depression
  • Bereavement

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