The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children
Open Access
Author:
Przeworski, Amy
Graduate Program:
Psychology
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
August 28, 2006
Committee Members:
Michelle Gayle Newman, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Thomas D Borkovec, Committee Member Brian A Rabian, Committee Member Dennis Edward Heitzmann, Committee Member
Keywords:
intolerance of uncertainty child anxiety
Abstract:
Intolerance of uncertainty has been demonstrated to be related to symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in adults (Dugas, Freeston, & Ladouceur, 1997; Holaway, Heimberg, & Coles, 2006; Ladouceur, Talbot, & Dugas, 1997; Steketee, 2005; Taylor, McKay & Abramowitz, 2005). Despite the proliferation of theory and research on the role that intolerance of uncertainty may play in anxiety, to date, the extant research has focused almost exclusively on intolerance of uncertainty in adults. Intolerance of uncertainty may play a similar role in the development and maintenance of anxiety in children. However, no studies have examined this construct in children and only one study has examined it in adolescents. Further, no measures exist for assessing intolerance of uncertainty in children. The purpose of the current study was to develop a measure of intolerance of uncertainty in children ages 7-14 and to examine its psychometrics. Parent and child versions of the Intolerance of Uncertainty for Children Scale were developed and demonstrated good internal consistency. Both scales were highly correlated with symptoms of worry and OCD in children.
